Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-15
PUNISHMENT FOR THE SOUTH.

converting OF Congress, is UNDERSTOOD 70
be very much in favor OF legislation
which will diminish the Congressional
and electoral vote of the South, osten-
sibly because of the light vote cast,
but In reality because it is Democratic
In order to do this, the Senator and
those who think and may act with
him. will be compelled to make rad
ical change in the present basis OF ap-
portionment of Congressman, which
now rests upon population, and makes
the basis the vote actually cas-. Such
change would manifestiy do violence
to both tradition and the idea that this
is a representative government. Mem
bers of Congress are representatives OF
the people-rpot of a few of the people,
the. portion, for instance, which may
choose to vote-but Of all the people,
whether casting vote or not. No man
is obliged to vote, Notwithstanding the
fact that every man competent to cast
ballot ought to do so, but because he
does not or cannot go to the polls is
not a sufficient reason for elimination
from computation in apportioning Con-
gressmen; which has always been upon
a basis of population without regard to
votes. 1t often occurs that thousands
and tens of thousand people fail or re-
fuse to vote. That happens at every
election, in the large cities particularly,
and New York is a notable example
Other men do not vote because of va
rious State laws. Rhode Island, until
lately, had a law greatly restricting the
ballot. In Republican Oregon negroes
are prohibited from voting, and in Mas
sachusetts, also Republican, there is an
educational qualification. And the
present administration has lately ap-
proved an educational qualification in
Porto Rico, which debars more than
.one-half of it's otherwise qualified vot-
ers from casting ballot.
But because the South is Democratic,
Mr. Scott proposes, with considerable
enthusiasm, to restrict the number OF
Congressman, and thus cut down the
electoral vote. The idea is purely po-
.litical scheme, and the pretext is that
laws have been adopted generally in
the South having for their object the
deprivation of the negro of his vote.
This assertion is untrue. In Texas,
Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia,
Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Virginia,
Georgia and South Carolina, no statu-
tory laws affecting the suffrage
and applying specifically or by
fair implication to negroes, have
been adopted, and the restrictive
laws of those States are COM
mon in the North. Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi and North Carolina, 1t is true,
!. have adopted constitutional qualitica-
lions. but in Mississippi the measure
apples equally to both races, while the
law as to North Carolina does not go
irto effect until 1902 The facts thus
are that but two Southern States have
enacted statutes Objectionable from any
point Of view, and they are not more
harsh than the law of Oregon or the
recent approval of an educational and
property qualification as to Porto Rico,
and are assuredly not as bad as the de-
liberate Republican disfranchisement
of tho negroes of the District of Column
bia because they happened to be in the
majority.
The small vote in the South can be
readily accounted for. What, for in
stance, is to be gained by Mississippi
Democrats piling up a majority of 75,-
900, when half that number would be
sufficient. And 175,000 majority in
Texas is just as good as 100000. The
Southern States are Democratic, and
enough votes to assure majority are
amply sufficient for all purposes. This
occurs in many States at every cleo
ton. Even on the 9th, in the Republi-
can State of Ohio, we read that 71,00C
voters refused to go to the polls
Doubtless there were twice as many in
New York and Pennsylvania, and tens
OF thousands are in New England and
in the West. But to curtail representa-
tion in Congress because of that fact
would be manifestly unjust and un-
fair, and if the Democracy was in pow
er and should attempt it or even pro-
pose it, as to the North, there would
be a holy howl, led by Senator Scott
and those upon whom he relies to car.
ry out his political scheme.
1t is possible that Senator Scott may
be able to enact the law he is alleged
to have IN mind and thus to practically
still the voice of the South, with 1t:
twenty millions of people. in the ma