The herald., 1898-02-09

ference, MeSsrs. Wadsworth, Warne
and Williams being appointed conferees
Mr.. Taylor (Rep.) Of Ohio. Chairman
of Elections Committee No. l, then called
UP the contested election case of William
F. Aldrich VS.. Thos. s. Plowman, from
the Fourth Alabama District.
Mr.. Plowman, the sitting member is
a Democrat, and Mr.. Aldrich was the
Populist and Republican candidate
The majority of the committee reported
solidly in favor of the unseating of Mr.
Plowman. Mr.. Taylor, who opened the
debate with an elaborate argument in
favor of sustaining the majority report,
deplored the fact that a partisan body
was called upon to pass upon an cleo
tion 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 effect
lively 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 ev-
erywhere, not lurking or secret, but
bold and insolent.
Mr.. Fox, Democrat, of Missis-
sippi, presented 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 that any assumption that he COM
manded the full strength of the Repub-
licans and Populists of the district was
unwarranted. While there was time,
said Mr.. Fox, when the magic names of
Lincoln and Grant, together with base
less fear that the domination of their
former masters might again impress
them into slavery, kept the negroes
solid, that time had gone Republicans
from the north had no right to assume
that every negro was a Republican be-
cause his skin was black. He contro-
verted the claim that a conspiracy ex-
listed and maintained that revision of
the returns in accordance with the tes-
timony would still give Plowman plu-
rality of 24S7.
Mr.. Mann, Republican, of Illinois, a
member of of the committee who fol-
lowed. in concluding his argument in
favor of the majority report, said he
had gone into the case with his preju- |
dices in favor of the south. His people |
were all southerners. But after eX-
animation of the testimony fraud was
patent and he could not but condemn |
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 Republican associ- |
ates to vote to seat "the man who, in the |
face of vilifcation, had the nerve and |
the manhood to say to the rascals who |
pursued him, I will fight you till die "
Mr.. Settle, Democrat, of Kentucky
member of the committee. in opening his
argument 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 a combi-
nation of isolated Irregularities, none
Of which amounted to actual fraud, as
1 sop of conscience and vote to unseat
4 fellow member because he was Dem
0crat.
Mr.. Settle was very severe in his con-
lemnation of Mr.. Aldrich's tactics
His remarks were given close attention
and frequently aroused his political as
sociates to manifestations of enthusi-
lstic approval. Some of his sallies were
applauded even by Republicans. With
out completing his argument he yielded
TO motion to adjourn, and at sos p. m.
the house adjourned.