The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-11-13
Mr. Swanson's Attitude To-
ward Less Representation.
OBSTACLES TO Such A MEASURE
Democratic senator's, He says, wsuId De-
bate IL Beyond Fourth Of March-Repre-
sentative Hay, of Virginia, says the Com
seryatise Republicans in the Hsuse VIII
time the Present Array for TIVE Years.

I'VE will fight EN- from start to finish"
With special accent on the last three
words, and a defiant sweep Of his right
hand. Representative Claude A Swan
son thus prefaeed a statement about the
Republican proposition, now frequently
discussed, TO deprive the South of a part
OF its representation. The young and
fiery Virginlan, who has every prospect
OF becoming the next governor of the Old
Dominion. stood In the lobby of the Riggs
Eouse as he continued with emphasis:
Every time the Republican party has
undertaken 10 crush the South In recent
years. II has destroyed itself II has al
ways inaugurated these tactics immedi-
afely after Presidential election Look
al the effect OF the force bill That was
taken up after Harrison's election. He
suffered ignominious defeat In 1892 The
Republican party is only the political
friend OF the negro; IL Is not his friend
in any material thing"
How Will you fight the bill, If Il Is in
PRODUCED and pressed for passage?" Mr.
Swanson was asked
Talk IL Cut In the senate.
The gag rules are not vet in force in
the Senate he replied promptly. land
We will talk their bill beyond the 4th of
next March. Ever since the Constitution
was adopted the Southern people have
been allowed to treat the negro problem
as a local question. We have adjusted
our laws with regard to them. Now the
Republican position "a that the black
men of the Philippines are not capable of
governing themselves. But If the black
men in the Philippines are not capable of
governing themselves. it is foolish to talk
about their governing white people in
the South"
Have you any hope of defeating such a
Dill In the House, should it be taken up?'
We will fight it there from start to fin.
ism. reiterated Mr.. Swanson 'They
have rotten boroughs in The North, Con-
necticut, for example"
Representative James Hay. Mr. Swan
sons colleague. was also in Washington
yesterday and registered at the Riggs. 81
DO not believe the conservative Repub-
licans of the House." said he. would at
tempt to pass a bill to reduce representa-
ton. There may be some talk about il
before the session, but one must remem-
Der that an enactment of that character
must be general In its application, Mas
YORK would lose one or two, because of
educational qualifications / not only be-
lieye that no such bill can be passed. but
also believe that Virginia will have ten
members of Congress during the next de-
cade. II the population for a Congress
sional district should be increased ma
terially the Old Dominion might lose one
member. but with apout $4,000 as the
basis we could retain our present repre-
sentation. The same is true OF Maryland
and likewise Michigan. With the votes of
large Republican States Ike Massachu-
sets and New York against reduction OF
representation, there is no danger of the
measure passing the House, let alone the
Senate, where 1t would surely be talked 70
DEATH"
Legislation for the Army.
Regarding army matters, Mr. Hay is
probably the foremost member on the
Democratic side of the House He Is an
ingenious and forcible opponent, and has
Otter carried his point In the face of the
strong Republican organization. Last
winter the staff reorganization bill was
killed by him, through insistence on more
hearings before the Committee on Military
Affairs. AS at present advised" said Mr..
Hay yesterday, Il should not oppose con-
tinuing the present status of the army
for two years-a permanent organization
Of 5000 men and volunteers to the num-
Der Of $500. We must maintain our force
:" the Philippines under the circum-
\. les, although $50 men have been killed
and 5000 wounded during the last four
months. / suppose that even those figures
are not complete. However, If Senator
Proctor thinks there will be no opposition
to his proposition for a permanent army
Of s., 600 or $1,000 he is mistaken.
Il understand at the War Department, ("
continued Mr.. Hay. that the Hull bin is
expected TO pass. That provides for skele-
ton companies of sixty men, that could
be filled out to 120 men, making total of
100, 900, at the Presidents discretion. This
would not diminish the number of officers
who want commissions, and at the same
time would give the President power to
have an army of $4,000 men or of 100, 900
men. II would virtually mean an army of
1O9,O0o. If We continue the present force
for two years We can learn what Our pol
icy toward the Philippines Is to be, after
which there will be ample time TO legls-
late for permanent army.
Mr. Hay says that his majority at the
recent election has been enormously re-
ported at 1900, whereas as a matter of
fact il was 1900. one OF the largest ma
jorities received by any member of Con-
gress in Virginia.