The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-25
Probing Vote Of the South.

Probing Vote Of the South.
Washington, Dec. 18.-Wide
misapprehension exists as to the
relation of the Moody and the
Crumpacker resolutions for deal
ing with the Southern represen-
tation problem. 1t has been
assumed that they amounted to
practically the same thing,
when, in fact, they are almost
opposites, as may be seen by
the effect of the two on the
Southern members. Mr.. Crum-
packers resolution assumes,
without further inquiry, that
disfranchisement of the colored
population in the Southern
States is a fixed fact, and pro-
ceeds to apply a reduction of
representation accordingly. Mr..
Moody's resolution is one of in
quiry of representation only as
an alternative, in case the South
is found to have been ingenious
enough to accomplish these dis
Embellishments without violation
of the federal instrument. He
is not willing to take for grant
ed that the existing Southern
plans are necessary, or to accept
the situation as something with
which the federal laws must be
put into harmony.
Southern Democrats have
never been afraid of the Crum-
packer resolution, because they
could at once ask the Northern
representatives how they knew
the extent of unconstitutional
disfranchisement, and what they
proposed to do. The Moody
resolution, however, has stirred
them to united action, and con-
ferences are already in progress.
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama,
who recently gave up a place on
the ways and means committee
to go on the committee on rules,
did so, it is understood, for the
purpose of leading this opposi-
ton. The Southern men as a
rule realize the terms of the
Louisiana Constitution much
better than Northern men do,
and are less inclined to have it's
meaning laid bare in Congress
sional debate. They fear that
they cannot hold their North
ern Democratic associates in a
contest over an inquiry into the
Louisiana instrument, which,
however, is merely typical.
John R. Thayer, for example,
a Democratic member from the
Worcester district, is not certain
that he shall follow Mr.. Under
wood in this battle. Mr.. Thayer
says that the stupidity of the
Southern people in bringing
this issue sosquarely to the at
tention of Congress passes all
bound; he thinks they could
havefound ways of :'controlling'
the negro vote, without flying
in the face of the Federal Con-
stitution. He believes the Louis
lana Constitution would be held
by the United States Supreme
Court to be in violation of the
Federal Constitution, and that
this should be the settlement Of
the question.
The attitude of Southern Re-
publicans is always interesting
in such controversies. They are
much more favorable to action
on the lines now proposed than
they were toward the force bill
of decade ago. Representative
Dayton Of West Virginia: typi-
fes their feelings when he says
that while his State is now Re-
publican, if there should be a
F.slip up" any year, the Demo
Gratis would promptly utilize
their power to eliminate the ne
gro, just as has been done in
Maryland. Mr.. Dayton is &C
cordingly very earnestfor action
on the Moody resolution.
The House Republican caucus
on the subject will be held after
the holidays, when both the
Moody and Crumpacker propos-
ais will be submitted by their
authors. AS the formers plan
is the more conservative of the
two it will doubtless receive the
support, by preference, of those
Republicans who want to do
nothing at all, and hence the
chances of it's success are good.