The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-12
They Attach No Particular Signifi.
canoe 10 the Matter.
THE SOUTH NOT ALONE AFFECTED,
Many Northera and Western States Have
Restricted Suffrage.
SOME OF THE OFFICIAL FIGURES GIVEN
To Show the Difference in the Effects
of the Voting Laws in Connecticut and
Massachusetts, and in Alabama.
Especial to The post3

Especial to The Postj
Washington, December 11.--only & com
paratively small percentage Of tho demo
Gratis in congress attach any particular sig
nihcance to the efforts being made by Rep
rosentative Crumpacker and other rabid re-
publicans 10 cut down the representation
in congress Of those Southern States which
have DISTINGUISHED the negro. The steps
being taken in the premises arc being
watched with interest by the members Of
the minority party. but most OF them
fail TO see any danger in the situation aud
think that there are great many ways
by which the Crumpacker hill can he ef
fectively fought, even though. as is claimed
by acme OF the republicans, the reduction
Idea is to he made a party policy.
II is little difficult 10 accurately outline
Just how the republicans feel about the
matter, hut there il reason to believe that
but few OF them, aside from Crumpacker
and his lmnediar- followers, believe that
IT win be possible TO pass the Crumphacker
bill or amy measure which is similar in it's
essential features. Cru,nnscker says that
his colleagues have practically without OK
certion, encouraged him 10 the extent of
signing the petition which he circulated
asking for the holding OF caucus to de-
eide whether or not this idea should be
made n party policy, and, N so. 10 arrive
al some decision regarding ways and means.
Those who nre keeping loosely up with the
situation. however believe that the major
ity OF the republicans are not IN favor OF
trying to push the Crumnacker bill through.
even though they arc perfectly willing 10
have thu various questions presented by 1t
brought before caucus. However. as
before stated, II is not easy TO say just
whnt Is the status OF this particular phast
OF the case. II seems reasonable to be
lleye that the republicans would he more
than willing 70 combine their forces IN sup
port Of the measure II they could be shown
that there was probability Of success FOR
II the stories concerning the immlnence Of
serious disagreement between the leaders
Of the party be true. it hehooyes the rank
aud file TO take even greater precautions
than usual in terrifying the party against
the ouslaughts If democracy. But II seems
that there are the best reaGons why the re
publicans should not mako the Crumpacker
hobby party policy. ana why tn. should
not believe that they car pass tho bill.
In the first place. Il Is not quite plain
why tho representation Of the Southern
states which have disfranchised tho negro
should I've cut down and the representation
Of those Northern and Western States
which have disfranchisCd q great many Of
;heh citizens through educational quail
hoatlon laws and eimllar measures be nj
lowed 10 remain as at present. Under the
circumstances II would seem that the re
publicans would make = serious blunder by
actively supporting Crumpacker, for such
an action on their part would pave the way
for very aggressive attack on the part
OF the democrats. an attack which would
have for its object the reduction Of the rep
rosentation Of those republican states
which are Just as amenablc under the pres
ent condition of affairs as are the South.
eru States which have taken the ballot
away from the ignorant black man.
Take the case OF California, for instance.
California, according 10 the census Of LAST
year, has 45,T54 Chii.ese. These Chinsmen
have not the right OF suffrage. NJ cnurse.
hut they are counted In the population at
the state and the number NJ representa-.
tives is based on the total population in
which the Chinese are included. Then, too.
the constitution or California provides tha
no person unable to read the constitution
shall have the right to exercise the privi-
lego OF an elect0r. Out Of a total pOpl-
lation OF $4,000 males over the voting age
only $4,000 voted a. the last presidential
election, and, leaving out Of the question
the probably small. percentage OF those who
did not vote simply because they were not
sufficiently interested or did not feel 80 in
clned. II appears that large number Of
nlltcrates in the State are barred by the
constitutional provision referred to. Yet u
is not on record that any Of the repub
leans wish to cut down the representation
OF California.
Then there is Connecticut, article 90 ri
the constitution OF which provides that no
person who is unable to read In the English
| language any section Of the constitution
1 or any section OF the state statutes shall
have the right OF suffrage. The voting pop
! ulaton OF thn state according TO the last
census Is 2sOa4O, yet at the last presi
! Dental election only $4,000 votes were
east. II might he well to remember II
| this connection. too. that the political sit
uation In Connecticut was, and Is, for that
matter. Of such nature as 10 cause al
/ qualified voters to wish TO exercise theli
rights This being the case, It is likely
that very large percentage OF the 90,34t
persons who failed TO vote failed because
they were barred by the constitutional pro
vision mentioned. The census figures show
that nearly all Of the illiterates are white
there being IN the state only 7l9 negroe'
unable 20 read and write. Yet Connecticut
! is one Of the oldest Of the states and hai
a common school system of which lis citi
zeus are more than proud.
In Massachusetts The right OF suffrage Ia