The times., 1899-12-12
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

Suffrage fn North CarOifna.-The
members Of the North Carolina delegation
in Congress are receiving great deal Of
mail and answering a great many ques-
tions about the meeting OF the Democratic
State COMMITTEES. which Will be held at
Raleigh on December u.
The principal matter TO come up for con-
sideration before that committee will be
the constitutional amendment which. it is
alleged, is designed to disfranchise many
thousands of cOlored voters.
The amendment was framed by the North
Carolina Legislature al its last session, but
has not been submitted to the people. Il
was the belief Of the Democrats at the
time the amendment was framed that 1t
would receive the support OF the POpulists,
but in this, it is said. the Democrats have
been disappointed the POpulists in a large
measure having Joined with the Republi-
cans in opposition to the amendment. One
of the leading Democratic daiIies in the
State antagonizes the measure, and IL IS
said that several local Democratic leaders
/ in the western counties have assumed
hostile attitude. The Republicans say that
thousands Of white Democrats. especially
among the illiterates Of the western
counties, will vote against the amendment
Bailey and WhecIer.-A prominent
Democratic member of the House is au-
thority for the statement that Representa-
tive Bailey of Texas will again oppose
! Gen Joe Wheeler and protest against his
( admission TO the House should General
( Wheeler return from Manila and present
/ himself to assume the position of Rrepre-
! sentative from Alabama. Mr.. Bailey, It is
said viii raise the same old contention
| that the soldier-statesma cannot hold two
! positions at the same time. In the last
/ Congress Mr.. Bailey took a vigorous stand
( against Wheeler on these grounds, and
when many Of his Democratic colleagues
voted in the generals favor Bailey an
| nounced that he 'abdcated the leadership
of the minority and would not again be
a candidate for the position.
The member in discussing the proposed
move of the Texan, said that Bailey
| would probably adopt the same method
as that used by the Republicans in the
l Roberts case by moving that General
Wheeler step aside should he come TO the
bar of the House to take the oath. Mr..
/ Bailey is quoted as saying that Mr..
/ Roberts has more constitutional rights
than General Wheeler. In any event. Mr..
| Bailey is on record as voting in favor OF
having the oath of Office administered to
the gentleman from Utah.
Senator ChandIer's Jo<e.-The last
act of Senator Chandler as a humorist is
causing him no little chagrin, and as the
serious side of the matter has become
known his colleagues are having no little
fun at his expense. Senator Chandler takes
occasion to joke with his position as a
legislator at stated intervals and seized
upon the first opportunity in the present
session to crafty his hankering in this
direction. On the first day in which bills
were lin order" he introduced a bill ITO
improve the course of study at West Point
and Annapolis Military and Naval Acad-
emies." The several sections of the bill
set forth the advantages of athletics over
mathematics and languages as prepaTa-
tiOn for Uncle Sans prospective fighters,
and concluded by proposing yearly tourna-
ments in football baseball, and other ath-
Ietic sports. The New Hampshire states
man took occasion when introducing the
bill to urge its claims before the Senate
and at the time was rebuked by Senator
Hoar who warned Mr. Chandler that those
who did not know him might look upon the
bill as being proposed seriously Since
that time Senator Chandler has had the
pleasure of opening some 500 letters from
athletic enthusiasts in all sections of the
country who congratulate him on the
stand he has taken and promise him the
united support OF all the athletic assOcia-
tions of the country in securing the passage
Of his bill. The athletes have without
question taken Senator Chandler seriously
and his mail continues to grow.