The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-11-29
THE SOUTH rs THREATENED.
QUESTION OF ApPoRrroNn,nNr

|
Extreme Republicans Want 60 @,
Down Representation to Actu,
Vote Cast.
Mr.. VIM. e. Curtis, the most note
newspaper correspondent In Washing
gton, In discuesing the reapportior
mont in Congress, writes as follows:
The fourteenth amendment to tn
constitution Of the United States prC
yldes that representatives in Congress
shall be appOrtioned among the State
according to their respective numbers
counting the whole number OF person
IN each State, excluding Indians no
taxed but when the right to vote O.
any election, ETC., is denied to any O
the male inhabitants of such State
etc., or In any way abridged, ETC., ths
basis OF representation shall be rsduc
ed In the proportion which the numbe,
OF such male citizens shall bear to the
whole number Of male citizons 21 yeari
OF 9ge in each State.
The census returns, which are now
being computed, will show the number
OF male citizens in each State. The
returns from the recent elections In
Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro-.
lima, Mississippi and other OF the South.
ern States which have disfranchised
the colored population will show the
number allowed to vote. II different
basis of calculation is desired, the CEN
sus 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 South, but was adopted
Tor different reasons.
1t Is difficult to see how Congress can
Ignore the fourteenth amendment In
preparing tho reapportionment bill
which will be acted upon 1T the next
session, and the attention of Rspresen-
tat.ve Hopkins, who will be chairman
OF the committee, is respectfully di-
rected to that instrument. According
to the constitution the apportionment
must be based upon the population OF
the different States, after deducting
the number Of illiterates that have
been disfranchised in Massachusetts,
South Carolina and elsewhere. If this
is not done the apportionment law may
be set aside as void, IL anybody will
take the trouble to bring the matter
before the supreme court
Some of the Republican leaders are
as 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. II
the vote Of South Carolina, for exam
pie, is made basis of apportionment,
that State will be entitled to one mem
ber OF Congress, because the entire
number OF ballots cast In the seven
districts did not exceed |
The number pOlled for some Of the |
members from the Northern States,
Yev these seven South Carolina dis |
riots have seven times as much repre- |
e ltation In Congress and the elector al |
college as the districts in the North.
II any one will take the trouble to !
ook at the returns he will notice that
'ery few Republican votes are ever
'ast South Of Tennessee and Missouri.
No canvass was made by the II 'publi-
'ans this year In any OF the Gulf States
'r IN SOutn Carolina, Georgia or Ar
Kansas. The reason for this was re-
emily explained In the United States
: enate by Mr.. Tillman, who said :" we
heated them, we bulldozsd them, we
lot them, and finally drove them
way from the polls" Under the Till |
nan syste n, for example, Mr.. Norton
II South Carolina, was elected to Con.
!ress by 1,765 votes to 15l for Mr..
evans, his opponent, while Mr.. Cald-
veil, OF Illinois, received 23 293, against
Il, ,053 for his opponent. Mr.. Caldwell |
'lone received nearly as many votes as |
we're cast Tor all tho seven N em bers OF |
)ocgress from South Carolina or M iss- |
IS ppi. Mr.. Foss, Of Illinois, received |
more.
An examir alton of the returns from
south Carolina shows singular uni
Ormlty in the number Of votes cast In |
89S for five OF the seven members as
OliOWs: