The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-05

| III the mouse OF other States and thei
! Repre- senfatives"
| In order that the apportionment O
membership in the House may be deter
mined in constitutional manner the reso
luton provides for an investigation by tn
| Census Committee of the question of al
| iesed abridgment of the elective fran
chise in the States mentioned. its finding
to be reported to the House within thirty
days. and one week thereafter the com
mlttee is TO report an apportionment bill
I based on the provisions of the Fourteenth
{ Amendment The resolution also calls OF
the Director of the Census for the num-
Der Of male citizens over twenty-one years
| old in the United States, the number VINO
| by reason of State constitutional limita-
| lions or State constitutional legislation, ART
denied the right of suffrage, and whether
| the denial was on the ground of illiteracy
pauperism, polygamy. or property qualif-
| callons or for any other reason.
| AT the expiration of Mr.. Shattuc's time
| ME- Oimsted addressed the Chair in sup
| port OF his resolution This had, the
| author said. been prepared by him with
OUT consultation with anyone. with nc
| ldea OF opposition to anyone nor was il
directed against any particular State
| His whole desire had been, he said. to
| provide way by which Congressional
apportionment could be secured in ac-
Soi udnce with the Fourtcenth Amendment
OF the Constitution.
Mr.. Pearson asked il the necessary and
desired information could be secured in
time to be acted upon by this Congress.
Mr.. Olmsted replied that in his opinion
IL could. 1t was not the intention to in
vestigate elections, but to examine con-
stitutional and legislative enactments of
states that affect the right of suffrage
TO get from the census officials the num-
Der and proportion of males over twenty
one wears whose right to vote had been
denied in violation of the Fourteenth
Amendment and report their findings to
the House.
Mr.. Pearson said that he had been told
at she Census Bureau that this inforrla-
ton could not be secured under ninety
days Then" replied Mr. Olmsted 1.-The
committee cannot make its report in time
for this Congress to act. But whenever
the report is made the House can act
upon it,
Mr.. McDermott asked Mr. Olmsted if
there is any State in the Union where a
man may vote upon probate of the facts
that he is citizen of the United States.
an inhabitant of the State, and twenty
one years of age. In his opinion, every
State now has voting qualifications that
are unconstitutional.
Mr.. Olmsted answered that II would be
the purpose of the enquiry by the com
mittee to discover and report upon such
matters.
Mr.. Grosvenor asked Mr.. Olmsted
whether or not much of the necessary
information could be secured. In his own
state regulations regarding residence
doubtless deprived many voters of their
votes. Could the gentleman say how the
number OF them could be learned?
Mr.. Olmsted replied that IL the com
mittee could not learn the facts called
for, then nothing would come of its la
bors.
Mr.. CnderwOOd's Opposition.
Mr.. Richardson Of Tennessee. controll-
ing the time in opposition to the resoIu-
tion, yielded five minutes to Mr.. Under
wood who said:
Mr. Speaker, in FIVE minutes the issues
involved in this case cannot be discussed.
was in hopes that this question would |
not come up at this session of Congress. I
When the Fourteenth Amendment was |
adopted. 1t was the intention of !
the legislative body that enacted il end
1f the people who ratified 1t. to force the |
Southern people to give the elective fran
shise to the negro. That was the real /
purpose of the Fourteenth Amendment. 1t /
allied in that purpose The Fifteenth
amendment was adopted for the same pur-
Jose- That was successful for the time
)eing. II has proved a lamentable mis-
axe, not only to the people of the South
'ut to the people of the North, not CBiy
o the Democratic party but to the Re-
'ubliean party.
The tine has come when the bitter
less OF civil strife has passed. The peo-
lie OF the South, with fairness and JUS
ice to themselves, and fairness to that
ace that has been forced among them
he negro race--are attempting to work
way from those conditions. not to op-
ress or put their foot on the neck of the
egro race, but to protect their homes
nd their property against misgovernment
nd at the same time give this inferior
ace chance to grow up and acquire
heir civilization. When you bring his
before this House and thrust
as a drebrand into the legislation here.
ou do more injury to the negro race OF
he South than any man has done since
he Fifteenth Amendment was originally !
nacted tell you, siSs, there is but enc
ay to solve this problem You Fentle-
len Of the North, who do not live among
hem and do not know the conditions.
innot solve it. We of the South are try
lg. as God is our judge, to solve it fairly ,
D both races. IL cannot be done in
ly or week, and / appea! 10 you. If {
Ou are in favor of the upbuilding of the {
agrO race; if you are in favor of honest (
overnments in the Southern Sta .es; il
Oh are willing to let us protect our $
omes and our property; yes, and the in I
you have brought there among $
5; then / say to you, let us send this
solution to a committee where il may 7
@ and never be heard of again. When 7
e have done that; when we have worked v
1t the problem and put 1t upon a fair r
isis; then, if we are getting more rep +
sentation than we are entitled to, five
six or ten years from now, come to US
Ith the proposition fairly to repeal 10
e Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend nents {
I'd substitute in their place a constitu- 4
lnal amendment that will put regresen- +,
tiOn on a basis that we can all agree
fair and equitable. Do rot let us drive
along party lines. Let party lines be u
minated. Let Us see what we have got c
do in the South first. It is not going .
hurt you today"
Mr.. McDermott's Remarks a
Air. McDermott was next to speak in t,
position to the resolution saying in t.
rt: II
MT. Speaker. the objection is raised TO "
is resolution that it will be Impossible :,
obtain a comprehensive report under n,
That is true. 1t provides that the la
mmittee Shall investigate and report in il
nat States certain conditions exist. bl
,w. that does not make it incumbent r;
on the committee to examine The con u,
lions in every State that regulates the ot
: of the suffrage The proposition n,
ouid rather be negative than an af- nj
native one. and the resolution which | al
Id in my hand as a substitute would in ~
opinion, reach the heart of the matter =,
d enable an intelligent report to be g.
csented to this House. There is not a :,