The age-herald., 1898-02-09
THE PlOWMAN CASE
Majority of the Committee Reported SolidIy in Favor of Uuseating Him.

Washington, Feb. S.-In the house today a bill was passed authorizing the Lewiston and Concord Bridge company to construct and maintain bridge across the Snake river, between Idaho and Washington
 The senate amendments to the agricul- tural bill were nofl-concurred in and the bill sent to conference.
 MT. Taylor (rep) of Ohio chairman of elections committee No. l then called up the contested election case of William r. Aldrich vs. Thomas S. Plowman from the Fourth Alabama district.
 MT. Piowman, the sitting member, IS democrat, and MT. Aldrich was the popu- list and republican candidate. The ma- jority of the committee reported Solidly in favor of unseating MT. Plowman.
 A Partisan Body
 MT. Taylor, who opened the debate with an elaborate argument in favor of sustann- ing the majority report, deplored the fact that a partisan body was called upon to pass on an election case, but In tnlS par ticular instance, he sadd, there had been no draft upon his political preJudices. He explained the Alabama election laws, which he said, could not have been framed more effectively to encourage fraud and thwart the peoples will The ilhterate voter, he said, was absolutely at the mercy Of the ticket marker.
 Mir Fox (dem. Miss), presented the case O Plowman was entitled to his seat He dwet upon the fact that MT. Aldrfch was not the regular nominee Of the republican party, and was opposed on the stump by leading republicans and populists ana that any assumption that he commanded the full strength of the republicans and populists of the district was unwarranted. While there was time, said MT. Fox, when the magic name of Lincoln and Grant together with a baseless fear that the domination of their former masters might again impress them into slavery, kept tho negroes solid, but that time had gone. Re- publicans of the north had no right to assume that every negro was republican because his skin was black. He contro- verted the claim that a conspiracy existed, and maintained that revision Of the re- turns in accordance with the testimony would still give MT. Plowman plurality of FAST.
 Prejudices In Favor of South
 MT. Mann frep. nl), a member of the committee, who followed, in concluding hts argument in favor of the majority report, said he had gone into the case with his prejudices in favor of the south. His peo- pie were all southerners. But after ex- animation of the testimony fraud was patent and he could not condemn condi- tion which by conspiracy sought to con- trol the congress of the United States and legisate through fraud for the business in- terests of the country. He appealed to his republican associates to vote to seat ''the man who, in the face of vilifcation, had the nerve and manhood to say to the ras- calls who pursued him, I will fight you till I die.'"
 MT Settle, (dem.) of Kentucky, another member of the committee, in opening his argument, said that while he feared the verdict against MT. Plowman was already made up. he could not believe that honest men would seize upon a combination of isolated Irregularities, none of which amount to actual fraud, as sop to con- science, and vote to unseat fellow mem Der because he was a democrat.
 MT. Settle was very severe in his con- demnation of MT. Aldrich's tactics. His remarks were given close attention, and frequently aroused his political associates to manifestations of enthusiastic applause. Some of his sallies were applauded even by the republicans.
 Without completing his argument he yielded to a motion to adjourn, and at 5:05 D. m. the house adjourned.