Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-05
FIGHTS FOR NECRO'S RIGHTS
Representative 0lmstsd has Hi, Resolution
Referred 10 Census Committee.
SOUTHERN MEMBERS OBJECT STRONGLY
Hopkins disappointment Bill Taken
I'D, Its Author Denouncing the
BurIeigh Measure as showing
Partially to Nebraska.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.--The house today
had another spirited struggle over the Ohm
sted resolution to investigate the abridge-
ment OF the suffrage in certain southern
states with a view to reapportionment upon
the actual basis OF suffrage. II was finally
referred to the census committee, where the
opposition desired II to go originally. Some
OF the republican leaders were not In
sympathy with the resolution, Mr.. Olmstead
tried to get Mr.. Hopkins to agree that the
committee would consider the resolution
within a week, but the chairman Of the
census committee declined to make any
pledge to that effect The debate was
marked by exceeding frankness. Some OF
the southern members avowed that the at
tempt to enfranchise the negro had been
a lamentable failure and the action OF
certain states in legally eliminating the
blacks as factors at the polls, they said,
was in the interest OF civilization and
progress. Mr.. McDermott OF New Jersey
asserted that every state in the union either
added to or substracted from the constitu-
tional requirements Of voters and chal-
lenged any member to show to the contrary
one that did not After the resolution had
been thus disposed Of, the reapportion-
ment bill was taken up and debated by
Mr.. Hopkins OF Illinois and Mr.. Shafroth
OF Colorado. An attempt to agree upon
time for the final vote on the bill failed,
although the general impression is that the
debate will conclude early next week.
Democrats Oppose OImsted BiII.
The house voted 1903 to 81 to consider the
resolution, whereupon MIR. Richardson moved
to recommit the resolution to the census
committee. Upon MIR. Richardson's motion,
Mr. Dlmatpd donna DHpd IN
tion, and Notwithstanding some dilatory
tactics by the democrats. with assistance
from several republicans, the previous ques-
tion ordered, 102 to 90. MIR. Olmsted
explained that his resolution was offered not
in antagonization of any of the apportion-
ment bill s. hut in o d r that the reapportion-
ment might be based upon constitutional
provisions.
Mr. Underwood of Alabama made a warm
speech In opposition to the resolution. He
had hoped, he said. that such a resolution
would not appear in the house. The real
purpose OF the fourteenth amendment had
been TO enfranchise the negro. It had
failed. The fifteenth amendment had been
successful for time, but in the end II
had proven a lamentable failure Both
amendments had been mistakes, not only
to the democrats, but to the republican
Inc time ndu come now, a1ter the
bitterness of the war was over, when the
people of the south in fairness and in JUS
tice to themselves and to the negro race
were trying not TO oppress the negro race
but only to project themselves and their
property against maladministration.
He admonished his friends from the north
that they did not live among the negroes
and did not understand the problem to be
solved. I'VE of the south" said he ad =
dressing the majority, ARE trying to solve
1t faithfully to both races and appeal to
you II you are in favor of upbuilding the
negro race, IL you are In favor OF protecting
the investments which the north has sent
there. to send this resolution to commit
tee and let II die there"
Mr. McDermott of New Jersey insisted
that there was not a state in the union
which had not added to or subtracted from
the constitutional requirements. lie pointed
out the qualifications added by the state Of
Pennsylvania. He denounced the action as
an attempt to stir up sectional strife"
Cry of sectionaIism Raised.
Mr.. williams Of Massachusetts, said that
of recent years some of the people of the
south had listened to the siren voice OF the
north that sectionalsm was dead. This
would pluck from the eyes of those who had
placed over them. After declaring that the
resolution was stupid and impracticable
and citing the voting requirements, Of
various other states he made an ardent de-
fense OF the course of Mississippi and other
southern states,
There Is no man who loves American
civilization" said he, "who is not glad in
bis heart that by constitutional and legal
methods, analogous to those In Massa-
chusetts Rhode Island and other states, the
south has solved this troublesome and al
most unsolvable problem"
Mr.. Olmsted. the author of the resolution.
said ne did not want the resolution to die
and would prefer its reference to the CEN
sus committee, II the chairman OF that
committee would agree to call tie commit
tee together to consider 1t within one week.
Chairman Hopkins said he was not in the
mood to make a bargain today but as
sured Mr., Olmsted that his committee
would do it's duty. Mr.. Olmsted then made
the motion to refer and II was carried with
out division.
Mr.. Hopkins Immediately called UP the
reapportionment bill and opened the de-
bate In a careful explanation Of his bill. He
stated that the majority of the census com
mittee favored keeping the membership
down to the present number, 357, from con :
alterations Of economy and diligent legisla
tion.
Mr. Shafroth of Colorado wanted Mr..
Hopkins to explain how 1t was that Colo