Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-03-01

crime, tne OASIS OF representation
therein shall be reduced in the proper
ton which the number of such male
citizens shall bear to the whole num-
ber of male citizens 81 years of age in
such state"
A previous section of the same
amendment defines the phrase "citi-
zens of the United States" as "all per-
sons born or naturalized in the United
States, and subject to the jurisdiction
thereof" It is, therefore, claimed
that the constitution calls as explicitly
for the scaling down of the represen-
tation which such states as South Car
olina and Louisiana now have in con-
gress and in the electoral college as it
calls for the taking of a decennisl CEN
sus or the election of a president. The
advocates in the next congress OF the
scaling down ofsouthern representation
assert that they might properly entitle
their measure "a bill to carry out the
terms of the constitution, and for other
purposes" They maintain that the
argument of the constitutional proprie-
ty would be very clearly with them,
as would also be the argument of COM
mon sense and fair play.
1t should be borne in mind, of course,
that this scaling down would be done
in all the states. Massachusetts would
have to deduct from her total number
of male citizens 81 years old the num-
ber who are disfranchised on account
of illiteracy, or by reason of any other
state requirement not enumerated III
the 18th amendment, such as "rebel-
lion or other crime" Almost every
state in the Union would have GER
tain ratio of correction applied to its
male population as determined by the
census, but in the north the change
wrought would be triAing, and it would
apply to all northern states 80 nearly
alike that there proportional represen-
tation would be unchanged thereby.
But in the southern states, where from
40 to so per cent. of the population Is
disfranchised by state law, the change
would be radical. South Carolina, for
instance, would come up to congress
with three representatives instead OF
seven, as at present.
The Republicans have never de-
manded the enforcement of this Sec
ton of the 18th amendment, because
their ostensible policy has been to pro-
tect the Negro in his right to vote.
This gave rise to the force bill agita'
tions. There is no way of securing
for the Negro equal rights at the bal
lot box with white men in states where
the Negro forms large per centage OF
the population, except by the use Of
Federal bayonets. Local sentiment
will not tolerate that equality. There.
fore, when the Republicans abandoned
the force bill propaganda, as they have
clearly abandoned II, they turned the
Negro over to inevitable disfrauchise.
ment. They necessarily acquiesced in
the notification of that amendment OF
the constitution which declares that
the right to vote shall not be denied
or abridged n on account OF
race, color or previous condition OF
seryitude. 1t is plain thatth Federal
government could not at the same time
enforce the 18th amendment just
quoted and that part of the 14th
amendment which provides for the di
minution of representation.
Mr.. Crumpacker, of Indiana, who
is one of the best lawyers in the house,
introduced bill on the 4th of Februa,
ry, intended, as "feeler." No report
has been made upon it. Everybody
realizes that any attempt to push it at
this congress would kill the census, to
which it is related, and 80 the Repub'
lican plan is to get the census author
lied in this congress, and in the next
congress attach some new requirements
along the lines laid down in Mr.. Crum,
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