The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-11-28
THE SOUTH IS rHREArENRD.
QUESTION OF APPonFIoNMENT.

QUESTION OF APPOnTIoNMENT.
Extreme Republicans Want TO Cut
Down Representation to Actual
Vote Cast.
Mr.. VIM. E. Curtis, the most noted
newspaper correspondent in Washing
gton, in discussing the reapportlon-
mont In Congress, writes as follows
The fourteenth amendment to the
constitution OF the United States pro.
yldes that representatives in Congress
shall be apDortioned among the States
according to their respective numbers,
counting the whole number of persons
in each State, excluding Indians not
taxed at when the right to vote at
any election, etc, Is denied to any of
the male inhabitants OF such State,
etc., or In any way abridged, ETC., the
basis OF representation shall be reduc-
ed in the proportion which the number
OF such male citizens shall bear TO the
whole number OF male citizens II wears
Of age In Zach State.
The census returns, which arc now
being computed, will show the number
Of male citizens in zach State. The
returns from the recent elections In
Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima, Mississippi and other OF the South
eru States which have DISTINGUISHED
the colored population will show the
number allowed to vote. Ii different
basis Of calculation Is desired, the CEN
aus returns will give the number of
illiterates In each State. Several OF
the Southern States, In order to pro.
hibit negroes from voting, have estab-
lished an educational qualification.
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 Massachusetts,, Rhode Island and
perhaps some OF the other States as
we'll as in the Solth, but was adopted
1 for different reasons.
, 1t Is difficult to see how Congress can
ignore the fourteenth amendment in
| preparing the respportionment bill
+ which will be acted upon at the next
4 session, and the attention of Represen.
a tative Hopkins, who will be chairman
y OF the committee, Is respectfully di'
rected to that instrument. According
J. to the constitution the apporttonmenl
mus! be based upon the population O.
t the different States, after %deductine
the number OF illiterates that have
r been disfranchised in Massachusetts
n South Carolina and elsewhere. II thi,
is not lone the superintendent law may
! be set aside as void, Ii anybody viii
u take the trouble to bring the matter
before the supreme court.
c Some of the Republican leaders are
comforting rs TO tho propriety OF apply
Ing this constitutional provision to the
Southern StateS, which would LOSE
about one-third and in some cases one
% half OF their representation in Con
- gress and In the electoral college. |
the vote OF South Carolina, for exam
l. pie, Is made a basis Of apportionment
e that State will be entitled to one mem
Der of Congress-, because the entir,
number of ballots cast In the sever
Congressional districts did not exceed
IA the number polled for some OF tn,
~ members from the Northern States
.. Yet these seven South Carolina dis
u tricts have seven times as much repre-
s~entation in Congress and the ~elector q
III college as the districts in the North.
n II any one will take the trouble tc
look at the returns he will notice tina
20 very few Republican votes are eve
=, cast South Of Tennessee and Missouri
- No canvass was made by the Republi
', cans this year in any Of the Gulf State
50 or in South Carolina, Georgia or Ar
C. Kansas. The reason for this was re
u Gently explained in the United State
Senate by Mr.. Tillman, who said "w
cheated them, we bulldozed them, W
a sh> It them, and finally drove then
away from the polls" Under the Till
man system, for example, Mr.. Norto
OF South Carolina, was elected to Cor
gress by 1,765 votes to ISL for MI
Evans, his opponent, while Mr.. Cald
at we'll, OF Illinois, received %, 293, agains
1853 for his opponent. Mr.. Caldwell
" alone received nearly as many votes a
~ were cast Tor all the seven members O
~ Congress from South Carolina or Miss
~ issippi. Mr.. Foss, Of Illinois, receive,
I more.
VI An examination of the returns fror
id South Carolina shows a singular uni
ID formity In the number OF votes cast i
"A 1898 for five OF the seven members a
70 follows