The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-09
AN ALABAMA CONTEST
REPUBLICAN CONTESTANT ALDRlCH GETS
FAVORABLE REPORT.
Vote to Be Taken TO-DAY. Heated Speeches
on Either Side--Mr. Settles Effective
Plea for PloWman.

Washington. Feb. S.-The House to-
day entered upon the consideration of
the Aldrich-Plowman contested election
case from the Fourth Alabama district.
The majority of the committee reported
in favor of seating the Republican con-
testant on the ground of conspiracy, an
allegation vigorously denied by the Dem
ocratic minority Mr.. Pfowman's plu-
rality on the face of the returns was
1867. The majority revised the figures
so rs to give Aldrich plurality of 349.
Mr.. Taylor, Rep., Ohio, chairman of
Elections committee No. /, who opened
the debate with an elaborate argument
in favor of sustaining the majority re-
port deplored the fact that partisan
body was called upon TO pass upon an
election case but in this particular in
stance he said, there had been no draft
upon his political prejudiees. He ex-
planned the Alabama election laws
which. he said, could not have been
framed more effectively to encourage
fraud and thwart the peoples will. The
illiterate voter. he said, was absolutely
at the mercy of the ticket marker.
lurking or secret, but bold and insolent.
Mr.. Fox, Dem. Miss.), presented the
case of the minority which reported that
Mr. Plowman was entitled to retain dis
seat. He dwelt upon the fact that Al
drich was not the regular nominee Of
the Republican party and was opposed
on the stump by leading Republicans
and Populists and that any assumption
that he commanded the full strength
of the Republicans and Populists of the
district was umwarranted. While there
was time, said Mr.. Fox, when the
magic names of Lincoln and Grant to-
gether with a baseless fear that the
domination of their former masters
might again impress them into slavery.
kept the negroes solid, that time had
gone. Republicans of the North had
no right to assume that every negro
was Republican because his skin was
black. He controversial the claim that
a conspiracy existed and maintained
that a revision Of the returns, in accord
ance with the testimony, would still
give PIowman n plurality of 2,4S7.
MIR. Mann, (Rep., ILL.,, member of
the committee, who followed, in con-
Guiding his argument i'll favor of the
majority report said he had gone into
the case with his prejudlces III favor
of the South. His people were all
lSoutherncrs. But after examination OF
the testimony fraud was patent and he
could not but condemn IL condition.
which by conspiracy sought to control
the Congress OF the United States and
legislate through fraud for the business
interests of the country. He appealed
to his Bepublican associates to vote to
seat 1.-THE man who in the face of Wilt
tication had the nerve and the manhood
to say to the rascals who pursued him
i will fight you till / die
Mr. Settle, (Dcm., KY, another mem
Ter of the committee, in opening his ar
gument said that while he feared the
verdict against Mr. Plowman was al
ready made up he could not believe that
honest men would seize upon COM
binati0 of isolated irregularities, none
of which amounted to actual fraud as
a sop to conscience and vote to unseat "A
fellow member because he was a Demo
crat.
Mr.. settle was very severe in his
condemnation of Mr.. Aldrich's tactics.
His remarks were given close attention
and frequently aroused his political as
sociates to manifestations of enthusiasts
tic approyal Some of his allies were ap-
plauded even by the Republicans.
Without completing his argument he
yielded to motion TO adjourn and Mt
sos y. m. the House adjourned. 1t is
expected that vote will be reached to-
morrow.
During the early part of the session
the Senate amendments to the Agricul-
tural bill were disagreed to and the
bill was sent to conference. Messrs.
Wadsworth. Warner and Williams were
appointed conferees.