The age-herald., 1901-01-07
DisfranchiSement of Blacks Will Not Affect Representation
OLMSTEO'S PLAN IS SHELVED
Considering They Are in Minority the l Democrats of the House Made a Hard and Partly Success
 ful Fight
BY ALBERT HALsTEAp.

Washington, January 6.-(Special)-The question of the disfranchisement of the negroes in the South will not have any in fiuence upon the reapportionment of Rep resentatives in Congress at least so far as the present session is concerned. After a prolonged fight Representative Olmsted of Pennsylvania succeeded in having his resolution making inquiry into the disfran- chisement of negroes considered by the House, after which 1t was referred to the committee on ceusus where it will remain until the end of the session. The Demo- crats, considering that they In the mi nority in the House, made hard fight to kill the resolution. Whether it was refer red to the census committee finally because of this Democratic fight Is question that will never be settled, but the fact remains that If the Republicans had insisted on debating the Olmsted resolution at length and had finally passed it, the Democrats in retaliation would have seriously delayed the business of the House. and probably have forced an extra session that appro- priation bills might be passed, by insisting on roll calls on every proposition advanced and every amendment to each bill consid- cred.
 The President had opposed the reduction of Southern representation, because of the negro disfranchisement on the ground that at was impolitic and the majority of the Republicans in Congress agreed with his view. But there was number opposed to disregarding this question and their sen timents were expressed in the Olmsted resolution Now that it is out of the way, the reapportionment bill and other business can be disposed of satisfactorily.
 Hurt Republican Party.
 It seems to be the view of the Demo- crats, at least that is what many of them say, that the prominence given to the dis franchisement question in the proceedings of the House on Thursday and Friday last will work to the disadvantage of the Re- publicans in the south.
 A southern member says the Olmsted res- olution showed that the claims of the Re- publicans to friendlfness for the south were hypocriticaA, and that any probable ten dency of Democrats to become Republicans will be ended.
 Reapportonment Bill.
 The most interesting question now is as to the fate of the reapportionment bill. On Tuesday a vote will be had on the Hopkins bill, with every other proposition touching the reapportionment. The debate on the bill so far inStaates that it cannot secure a majority vote in tte House. The opposi- tion of the members from Indiana, Mahne Kentucky, Kansas, Nebraska, Virginia and South Carolina lS very effective Strange as 1t may seem, the Ohio delegation. not withstanding the fact that It would lose one member of Congress under the Hopkins biN. is not opposing that measure very vig- orously. It appears that the Ohio Repub- aicans feel confident of being able to reap portion the State so that the loss of a Rep- ueesntative will come to the Democrats Then their relative importance with twen- fly members in a house of 357 members will be as great if not little greater, as it would be in a house of 3S7 members with a representation of twenty-one.