The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-25
GOVERNMENT FOR HAWAII
Mr.. Tiilman Discusses The Piatt
Amendment in the Senate.
lie Charges Mr.. Morgan With Dis
courtesy and Declines TO Give the
Right-Thc Question of Suppress
ing the Coiored Vote Brought Up.


the Senate Mr.. Hale reported the Diplo-
matte and Consular Appropriation bill, and
gave notice that at an early day this week
he will call it up for consideration.
At the conclusion Of the routine morning
business Mr. Penrose called attention TO
Fridays proceedings, whereby Mr.. Daniel
had proceeded with his speech on the Quay
case. and gave notice that he viii call up
the resolution tomorrow. He said, fur
Their. that If no member is ready at that
time TO speak on the majority report of the
Elections Committee, the minority will
proceed with the debate.
The calendar was then taken up and the
following Senate bills were passed:
To aid the establishment of schools of
mines in the public land States by setting
aside portion Of the receipts from land
sales.
For the appointment OF an additional
United States Commissioner in the north
western judicial district of the Indian Ter
ritory.
Granting to the State of North Dakota
100000 acres OF land TO aid in the mainte-
nance of a school of forestry.
A House bill to authorize the Union
Railroad Company to construct bridge
across the Monongahela River.
The bill TO provide government for the
Territory of Hawaii was taken up. the
pending question being an amendment Of
fered by Mr. Plat of Connecticut. giving
the appointment of the territorial judges to
the President of the United States instead
- III Of ha
Mr.. Tillman referring 10 the statistics
read a few days ago by Mr.. Wolcott, show
ing the disparity in the population and the
votes cast in South Carolina. stated that
there were 600 registered voters in the
State. of which 1000 were colored, and
that about 90 per cent of that vote was
cast at the summer primaries He called
attention 10 the vote in Massachusetts, in
1890, where out OF 66oG00 legal voters but
2s5 coo ballots were cast.
why do they accuse us Of the South OF
suppressing he vote when they are doing
the same thing in Massachusetts," he
asked. I'VE don't do half the devilment
in South Carolina this bill proposes TO do
in Hawaii"
He then referred TO an incident which
occurred few days ago when Mr.. Morgan
declined TO yield TO him in order that he
might reply 10 a statement made by Mr..
of South Carolina.
IL have felt Indignant" said Mr.. Till
man Eat the treatment / received from
the Senator from Alabama. Never since ]
became member of the Senate have
been treated so discourteously by any 9TH
er member.
At this point Mr.. Morgan endeavored to
interrupt Mr. TillmaD, but the latter re-
fused to let him be heard. vehemently de-
claring: Il decline TO yield 10 the Sen
ator. He has put himself outside the pale
OF courtesy and consideration so fer as
am concerned" Mr.. Tillman then de-
tailed the circumstance OF Mr.. Morgan's
refusal to permit him &c reply to Mr.. VOL
colt when | arose to explain the situa
ton in South Carolina as it was presented
by the Senator from Colorado" he said.
the Senator from Alabama said: No, ]
cannot permit you TO speak now. I'll
leave you to fight 1t out some other
time. ="
Continuing his discussion of the bill, Mr..
Tillman said that in its present form il
will give four or five years more Of con-
tract labor--of slave labor-to the sugar
barons OF the islands. who. he declared.
: are making s., geo coo out of the RENTED
duties on sugar.
"The oligarchy." he continued. which
petuates is powerful and INSCRIPTIONS.
It Is an autocracy greater than has ever
existed heretofore outside OF Russia" Mr..
Tillman said that he sympathized with the
Senator from Connecticut (Mr. PlatD in
his efforts to secure a properly appointed
judiciary for the islands-a Judiciary not
controlled by the faction which now has
its grip on every institution there. He
then read letter which declared that
man who dared TO oppose the sugar bar
ons in Hawaii was in jeopardy OF his life.
Mr.. Clark of wyoming asked the name
Of the writer. but Mr.. Tillman replied
that he was not at liberty to give 1t. He
said II served, however. TO open 20 view
the sores and ulcers in the Hawaiian bill
and the motive for rushing 1t through
Congress The bill he declared had been
purposely left so vague that it would take
seventeen Philadelphia lawyers 10 intor
pref IT, II re-enacts many OF the ex-
listing laws of Hawaii, and among them,
possibly. those in regard TO contract labor.
He wanted the language made so plain
that there would be no doubt about the
emancipation OF the 10000 contract labor
ers there.
Mr.. Tillman said that he sympathized
with the white people in Hawaii He be-
iieved they were the only race in the ISL
.snds which was capable of self-govern-
ment But he declared that the provisions
Of the bib placing property and educa-
tional qualification on the voters there was
un-American. lie charged the Republicans
with hypocrisy in DISTINGUISHING the black
man and the brown man in Hawaii and in
the same breath, denouncing the people of
South Carolina for the same action. Mr.
Tillman said he would at the proper time
propose as a substitute for the suffrage
81. TO-.
stitution OF South Carolina on the sub
feet. Turning 10 the Republican side, he
shouted: 81 dare you 20 vote for il; and
dare you not TO vote for it.''
Mr. Clark of wyoming said IL was with
very poor grace that the Senator from
South Carolina could charge The Repub-
Iicans with hypocrisy or with disfranchls-
ing anyone in view OF the fac; that the
entire colored vote IN that State was sup
pressed.
MIR. Tilrrnan declared that the entire reg
istered vote in South Carolina-some
Ill,000-was cast and counted as honestly
as in any State in the Union.
Mr.. CIark-Do you deny that in your
State you are trying 10 keep down the col
ored vote?
Mr.. Tiliman-No. ] acknowledge that we
haze done our level best TO keep every
Niger" In the State from voting.
Mr.. Clark said he thought that. in view
of that declaration, IL would be better
that the Senator from South Carolina en-
deavor to keep his own doorstep clean.
Mr.. Spooner argued in support OF Mr..
Platt's amendment, and Mr.. Morgan OPP
posed fits adoption.
Mr.. Tillman then offered as a substitute
for the suffrage sections OF the bill the
suffrage provisions Of the South Carolina
Cancf,ft-.ion Wffhnus diepogfng ~ che