The Portland daily press., 1898-02-09
THEALDRICH-PLO CASE.
House Begins the Consideration of the Fa-
nous Election Case.


House Begins the Consideration of the Fa-
nous Election Case.
Washington, Feb. S.-ThelHouse today
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 contest
ant on the ground of conspiracy. an al
legation vigorously denied by the Demo
cratic minority. Mr.. Plowman's plurall-
ty on the face of the returns was 1857.
The majority revised the figures SO as to
give Aldrich plurality 342. Two
speeches were made today on each SIDE,
by Messrs. Taylor of Ohio and Mann of
Illinois for the majority, and by Messrs.
Fox of Mississippi and Settle OF Ken
lucky for the minority. 1t is expected
that vote will be reached tomorrow.
Washington, February SIN the House
today the Senate amendments to the
agricultural appropriation bill were dis
agreed to and the bill was sent to Econ-
ference. Messrs. Wadsworth, Warner and
Williams were appointed cOnfereeS.
Mr.. Taylor. Republican Of Ohio, chair
man of election committee number one,
then called up the contested election case
of W. Il. Aldrich VS.. Thomas S. Plow-
man, from the fourth Alabama district.
Mr. Plowman. the sitting member, is a
Democrat and Mr.. Aidrioh was the Popu-
list and Republican candidate. The ma
jority of the committee reported in favor
Of seating Mr.. Plowman. Mr.. Taylor
who opened the debate with an elaborate
argument in support of the majority, de-
plored the fact that partisan was called
upon to pass upon an election case, but
in this particular 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 marker. Fraud,
he said, was not in secret, but bold and
insolent. Mr.. Fox, Democrat of Missis-
sippi, presented the case of the minority
which reported that Mr.. Plow1nan was
entitled to retain his seat. He dwelt upon
the fact that Mr.. Aldrich was not the
right NOMINEES of the Repub lican 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
was nnWarranted. While there was a
time, said Mr. Fox, whom the magic
names of Lincoln and Grant, together
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. Re-
publicans Of the north had no right to- as
sumo that every negro was a Republican
because his skin was black. He contro-
verified the claim that a conspiracy existed
and maintained that revision of the3re-
turns, in accordance with the testimony
would still give Plowman plurality of
PAT.
Mr.. Mann, Republican of Illinoiss a
member Of the committee who followed
in concluding his argument in fayors8of
the majority, said he had gone into the
case with his prejudice in favor of the
south. His people were all Southerners.
But after examination of the testimony
fraud was patent and he could not but
condemn condition which, by conspira-
CIV, sought to control Congress and legis-
late 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 villification
had the nerve and the manhood to say TO
the rascals who pursued him, 1 will fight
you till die.
Mr.. Settle, Democrat of Kentucky, an
other membe of the committee in open
feared the verdict against Mr.. Plowman
was already made up, hecculd not believe
that honest men would siege upon num-
Der of isolated facts, Done of which
amounted to actual fraud, as sop to con-
science and vote to unseat a fellow mem
Der because he was Democrat. Mi.
Settle was very severe in his condemna-
ton OF Mr.. Aldrich's tactics. His re-
marks frequently aroused his political as
eociates To manifestations of enthusiastic
approval. Some of his sallies were ap-
pIauded even by the Republicans.
Without completing his argument, he
yielded to motion to adjourn and at 5.O5
D. m. the House adjourned.
PETTIGREW ONLY SPEAKER.
Washington, February S.-Senator
Pettiorew of South Dakota, was the only
speaker on the Hawaiian annexation
treaty in the executive session OF the Sen
ate today. He opposed the treaty resum l.
ing his speech where he had left off q
week ago. He will continue his speech
tomorrow.
y