Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-09
ALDRICH PLOWMAN.
ALABAMA cosrEsTED-ELEcTros
CASE IN THE HOUSE.
CUBAN BEILICEREHCY RESOLUTIONS.
Three Separate and Distinct Ones
offered I'm the senate-Repubiican
Party Platform Quoted I'm One of
Them.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., February g.
The House to-day entered upon the con-
sideration of the Aldrich-Plowman con-
tested election case, from the Fourth
Alabama District. The majority of the
committee reported in favor of seating
the Republican contestant, on the ground
OF conspiracy, an allegation vigorously
denied by the Democratic minority. Mr..
Plowman's plurality on the face Of me
returns was 1861. The majority revised
the figures, so as to give Aldrich plu-
rality OF 3i2
Mr.. Taylor Republican,, OF Ohio. chair
man OF Elections Committee No. /, who
opened the debate with an elaborate ar
gument in favor Of sustaining the ma
jority report, deplored the fact that
partisan body was called upon to BASS
upon an election case, but in this par
ticular instance, he said. 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
illiterate voter, he said, was absolutely
at the mercy of the ticket-markers.
Fraud he said. was everywhere; not Turk
ing in secret, but bold and insolent
Mr.. Fox DemocraD, of Mississippi. pre-
sened the case of the minority. which
reported that Mr.. Plowman was entitled
to retain his seat. He dwelt upon the
fact that Aldrich 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 Popu-
lists of the district was unwarranted.
NEGROES NO LONGER SOLID.
While there had been a time, said Mr..
Fox, when the magic names of Lincoln
and Grant, together with a baseless fear
that the domination of their former mas
ters 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
n Republican, because his skin was black.
He cOntroverted the~claim that a con-
spiracy existed, and maintained that
revision of the returns in accordance
with the testimony would still give Plow-
man a plurality of 2,4S7.
Mr. Mann Repubican). Of Illinois, a
member of the committee. who followed,
In concluding his argument in favor Of
the majority report, said he had gone into
the case with his prejudices in favor
OF the South. His people were all south
erners. But after examination of the
testimony, fraud was patent, and he
could not but condemn condition. which,
by conspiracy, sought TO control the Con-
gress of the United States. and legslate
through fraud for the business interests
OF the country. He appealed TO his Re-
publican associates TO vote to seat 1.-THE
man, who, in the. face of villifcation,
had the nerve and the manhood to say to
the rescals who pursued him, L will fight
you till l die"
Mr. Settle DemocraD, of Kentucky,
another member of the committee, in
opening his argument, said that while
he feared the verdict against Mr.. Piow-
man was already made up, he could not
believe that honest men would seize upon
combination OF Isolated Irregularities,
none of which amounted to actual fraud,
as a sop to conscience, and vote to UNI
seat fellOw-member because he was
Democrat.
APPLAUSE FROM OPPONENTS.
Mr.. Settle was very severe in his con-
demnation of Mr.. Aldrich's tactics. His
remarks were given close attention, and
frequently aroused his political associates
TO manifestations of enthusiasm. Some
of his sallies were applauded even by the
Republicans.
Without completing his argument he
yielded 10 a motion to adjourn. and at
sos T.. NJ. the House adjourned.
1t is expected that vote will be reached
Tomorrow
During the early part of the session the
Senate amendments to the agricultural
bill were disagreed to- and the bill was
sent to conference. Messrs. Wadsworth,
Warner, and Williams were appointed
cOnferees.
CUBA IN THE SENATE.
Three propositions. differing materially
as TO methods, were presented to the
Senate to-day, for the relief of the Cuban
insurgents. Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska. Of
fered. az an amendment to the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill, a resolu-
ton recognizing the beiligerency or the
insurgents, and Mr.. Cannon. OF Titan, and
Mr. Mason. of Illinois, also offered reso-
lutions.
Mr.. Allen. of Nebraska, said in pre-
senting his amendment to the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill, that since
the opening of hostilities In Cuba. more
than three hundred thousand 'pacltcos
had died of starvation, or OF disease d.
rectly traceable to insufficient food, or
lack of proper sanitary conditions. lie
said that he had been informed that 1t was
the custom of the Spanish Government
TO herd hundreds Of families together in
Inadequate quarters, starving them until
they have been more than decimated by
disease.
He expressed the hope that the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations would act
promptly upon the amendment, so that
the Senate could have an opportunity to
vote upon II.
The amendment is as follows: THAT a
condition OF public war exists between
the government of Spain and the govern
ment proclaimed and for some time main
tanned by force of arms by the people OF
Cuba, and that the United States OF
America shall maintain a strict neutrality
between the contending Powers, and ac-
cord TO each all the rights of belli-
gerents in the ports and territory of the
United States"
Mr.. Allen said that he desired TO have
the amendment made a part of the Dip
lomatic bill, so that the House of Rep
resentatives might have an opportunity
to vote upon the proposition, and not be
stified by the Committee on Foreign Al
fairs of that body, or by other influences.
Mr.. Hale said the amendment proposed
was subject TO a point of order, even
though it should be reported by the For
eign Relations Committee, as 1t was
general legislation.
do you know Of any appropriation bill
passed In the last two years" inquired
Mr.. Allen, that has not carried with
IT general legislation"
Mr. Hale replied that much matter was
put into appropriation bills by unani-
nous consent that would be subject TO