The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-17
SOUTH IN THE HOUSE.
Problem of ApportiOnment a
Puzzle to Congress.

Chicago, Nov. 1.-THE Record pub
fishes the following special from Wash
ington:
The fourteenth amendment to the con-
stitution OF the United States provides
that representatives in congress shall be
apportioned among the states according
to their respective numbers counting
the whole number of persons in each
state, excluding Indians not taxed; but
when the right to vote at any election,
etc, is denied to any of the male inhab-
1tants OF such state, ETC., or in any way
abridged, ETC., the basis of representa-
ton shall be reduced in the proportion
which the number of such male citizens
shall bear to the whole number of male
citizens q years Of age in each state.
The census returns, which are now be-
ing computed, viii show the number of
male citizens in each state. The returns
from the recent elections in Virginia
North Carolina. South Carolina, Missis-
slpp1 and other of the southern states
which have disfranchised the colored
population will show the number allow
ed to vote. If a different basis of caIcu-
lation is desired, the census returns will
give the number of illiterates in each
state. Several of the southern states in
order to prohibit negroes from voting
have established an educational qualif-
cation. Persons who cannot read and
write are not allowed to vote unless
they served in the confederate army or
their parents were voters prior to the
adoption of the fifteenth amendment
That lets in the poor white trash" An
educational qualification prevails in
Massa chusetts, Rhode Island and per
haps some of the other states as well as
in the south, but was adopted for differ
ent reasons.
1t is difficult to see how congress can
ignore the fourteenth amendment in
preparing the reapportionment bill
which will be acted upon at the next
a OF r.f Z
tative Hopkins, who will be chairman of
the committee, is respectfully directed
to that instrument. According to the
constitution, the appOrtionunent must be
based upon the population of the differ
ent states. after deducting the number
of ilIiterates that have been disfranchis-
ed IN Massachusetts, South Carolina and
elsewhere. If this is not done, the an
poruonment law may be set aside as
void, If anybody will take the trouble to
bring the matter before the supreme
court.
Some of the Republican leaders are
comforting as to the propriety of apply
ing this constitutional provision to the
southern states, which would lose about
one-thtrd and in some cases one-nalf of
their representation in congress and in
the electoral college. If the vote of
South Carolina. for example is made a
basis OF apportionment, that state will
be entitled to only one member of con-
gress, because the entire number of
ballots cast in the seven congressional
districts did not exceed the number poll
ed for some of the members from the
northern states. Yet these seven South
Carolina districts have seven times as
much representation in congress and the
electoral college as the districts in the
north.
If any one will take the trouble to
look at the returns he will notice that
very few Republican votes are ever cast
south of Tennessee and Missouri No
canvass was made by the Republicans
this year in any of the Gulf states or in
South Carolina, Georgia or Arkansas.
The reason for this was recently ex-
planned in the United States senate by
Mr.. Tillman, who said, 1--WE cheated
them. 20 bulldozed them. we shot them
and finally drove them away from the
polls" Under the Tillman system for
example, Mr.. Norton of South Carolina
was elected to congress by 1,756 votes to
151 for Mr.. Evans, his opponent Mr..
Caldwell of Illinois received % 2s3
against 21,033 for his opponent. Mr.
Caldwell alone received nearly as many
votes as were cast for all the seven
members of congress from South Caro-
lima or Mississippi. Mr.. Foss of Illinois
: received more.
An examination of the returns from
South Carolina shows a singular uni
formity in the number of votes cast for
five of the seven members as follows: