The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-01
CONFUSION IN THE HOUSE
Mr.. Linuey's Speech Provokes
Great Disorder.
The Proposed ChnnEc i'm North Caro-
Iinn's Constitution the Text for ~
Hitter Debate-A Dcnnncintiou OF
IyIchIng-Nr. Williams of Nussi--
sirpi Warmly Defends the south.

The proceedings in the House yesterday
were exciting AZ times and interesting
throughout. Sharp passages of words were
| exchanged between Messrs Linney of
North Carolina and Talbert of South Caro-
lima. Party feeling ran high and az one
| time the Chairman. Mr.. Moody. was on the
| point of calling on the Sergeant at Arms 10
preserve order. The whole trouble was
| brought about by speech by Mr.. Linney,
who commented on the lynching of negroes
in the South and the suppression of the
| negro vote.
He was replied to by Mr. Williams OF
| Mississippi
The House was considering the Indian
/ Appropriation bill and general latitude was
allowed the members
After several speeches had been mndc
ON the question Of expansion, Mr.. Linney
of North Carolina took the floor. He said
he did not approve of the discussion of the
| Administration policy toward the Philip
| pines and deplored the intrusion INDUCED
| in by the opposition.
when. the earth is drinking the warm
| blood Of brave soldiers like General Law
! ton, said he. the duty of every repre-
sentative OF every man In the country is 10
stand by the flag and by the Commander
in-Chief. liplausel When resistance TO
American authority has ceaseG and when
! the heroes have completed the task that
has been committed TO them. and OF which
1 believe every American citizen is proud
then the time will have come 10 discuss
what We shall do with the Philippines.
Our present duty. the duty Of every one On
this door on both sides. is to strengthen
the arms that hold the swords and the
hearts of the men under their command in
every way"
Turning to the consideration of the sub
ject that he desired 10 speak OF, Mr.. Lin
ney read the expressions of the President
in his last message regarding lynchings
and elections. adding that free discussion
was essential TO the maintenance of re-
publican form of government Some poo
pie, he said. said TO him. 'I.inney. why do
you always talk about elections?" 1 tell
them the story of a good old preacher who J
always used the text, ''Ye must be born
again" He was asked. after he had |
preached ten or dozen times. why he |
always used it. because" Numbered the |
righteous old man, because ye must be |
born again" fI.aughter.l
Voice on the Democratic side-You'd !
better be born again.
Mr.. Linney-The gentleman frequently |
gives evidence OF being born again. Re
newed laughter1
Henry wntterron Quoted.
The speaker read at some length from |
the GRAFTON OF Henry Wattersop. at the |
opening OF the Chicago Exposition in
which he spoke of the suppression of legal 1
votes as the most serious fault existing in l
the political system in the country. and
warned the localities in which It was prac-
ticed against its effects. The orator was
right said Mr. I.inney, and the fruits OF
the policy were seen in the record OF
lynchings- These had averaged 142 year
since 1851, and nearly all OF them, said Mr.
Linney, had occurred in States which did
not cast ons-quarter OF their votes.
Mr.. Bartlett of Georgia enquired if the
gentleman knew what proportion of lynch
ings occurred in the Northern States.
Mr.. Linney replied that he did not: bu,
compared TO those in the Southern States
he was satisfied that they were as insg-
nificant as the shining Of lightning bug
compared to a flash OF electricity from tho
sky Laughter
Mr.. Linney said he spoke with some en-
baITassment, because he knew that what
ever he said on this subject would expose
him to criticism and yillification.
Mr. Burke OF Texas asked Mr. i.inney
to be fair TO the House and 10 the people
whom h. denounced by stating what pro-
portion Of lynchings were due to assaults
by black brutes upon the virtue of white
women in the South tApplausel
Mr.. Linney-Therc 1t is, Mr.. Chairman,
A man can't begin TO discuss this Iues-
tion without having somebody boiler
'nigger" at him. II.aughter.I
Mr.. Burke disclaimed any intention OF
IL.
cussiOn, and asserted with dignitied vehe-
mence that II the same state Of facts ex-
listed in the North the same justice would
be meted out TO the offenders
Mr.. White of North Carolina, the only
negro Representative on the floor, was per
mitted to tell Mr.. Burke and the House
that of the lynchings Of the past two and
a half years. for which period he had in
vestigated the subject. less than IL per
cent were due 10 assault
Amid increasing excitement, Mr.. Linney
resumed insisting that the negro qu estion
as such, had nothing To do with thu matter,
Addressing Mr.. Burke, he asked that gem
tleman to say If the fact that North Caro-
lima and Texas were comparatively free
from lynchiugs was not due to the fact
that they both had a pure ballot? Now
gird up your loins and answer"
Mr.. Burke replied that it was not ueces'
ssry for him 10 gird up his loiLs.
Neither" he added, sis It necessary for
me to be born again, rs the gentleman has
into the Republican party. tApPlause.l |
believe that hve-siXths of the lynchings
result from the cause have suggested
The niger question. SO called. Mr.
Lnney reiterated had nothing to do with
the situation in the Southern States except
possibly in Alabama.
Mr.. Linnc,'s Change of Heart.
Dir. Liuuey was here moved TO refer 10
his political afflistiou. He had been sam
Randall Democrat he said, but in 1854 he
Joined the Republican party, and he
thanked God for It. He only knew two
things that never changed their minds-a
dead horse aud live ass. lGreat laugh ,
teri
Mr. Dinsmore OF Arkansas asked Mr. Lin
ney If he remembered an opinion by Judge ,
Pearson, Republican member Of the ,
Supreme Court Of North Carolina. to the
effect that there was a tendency to the in
crease of the crime Of assault among the
negroes Of the South ,
MIR. Linuey replied that be remembered ,
1t perfectly. but that 1t did not apply TO {
negroes only. The cause for the lynchings. q
b. said, was the mad, wild rush for office
which would ultimately destroy the COM
inuni.y in which II was practiced Elab-
Diating tnis idea, Mr.. Linney read some ex- ,