The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-25


\ consultation was held at the Capitol
between Senator McComas. Representative
Mudd Representative Pearre. State Chair
man GoIdsborough, and City Chairman
Mason in regard to the suggested extra
session OF the Maryland Legislature. 1t
was decided to resist to the last extremi-
~ The proposition to amend the election
laws so as to require of voters an educa-
tionaI qualification. L will be opposed in
the Legislature, and if passed there its
cOnstitutionality VIII be questioned in the
State AID rational courts. The case will
be carried 10 the Supreme Court and may
even be taken before Congress.
Should the unconstitutionality of such
action be established by the courts it is
held by Republican leaders of the House
and Senate that the credentials of Sena-
tors elected by Legislatures chosen under
thai law, and even of members OF Con-
gress SO elected, can be questioned and
the Senator or member be. perhaps, re-
fused seat. Should the Legislature take
the action proposed II is almost a certain
y that the matter viii reach Congress
IN connection with this phase of the
case is the bearing It would have on the
question Of the representation OF the
Southern states in Congress. a large
number of members of the House and Sen
ate were asked for their opinions today as
TO the Influence an amendment of this
character 10 the election law would have
on the general subject. With no excep-
ton the Republicans declare it would 90
q great Way toward bringing the matter
10 an issue The Democrats did not wish
TO discuss the matter or express any opin-
ion, saying that it was a matter for the
people Of Maryland to determine for them
selves
One Republican member of the House
was frank enough to say ne did not think
even If the Democrats knew that by dis
: franchising the negroes IN Maryland they
would bring about the proposed reduction
! ii the representation OF the South-it
would have any influence On them as all
! such matters are determined by local en-
vironment
/ Representative Hopkins. Chairman of
the Committee on Census, which has
/ charge of the investigation into the ques-
ton Of loss Of votes by educa tionaI quail
ications. Was strong in his statement that
/ action in Maryland might be followed by
j action IN the House of Representatives
This whole matter has been agitated this
session, he said. and is now before the
coanLry- There are men on the Repub-
iican side in this House who feel that as
long as the disfraRchising or restricting
Of the right of suffrage is confined to
States where there is fear of negro dom
! nation. or that the government may fail
into the hands of the ignorant Congress
should not interfere Il is their influence
which now prevents action in the direc-
ton Of cutting down the representation of
certain States who have endangered their
representation in Congress and the Flee
toraI College. But il stands to reason
that should such efforts be carried into
States where there can be no fear OF ne
gro domino ton the majority in Congress-
by the necessity OF caring fer its own in
terests. may be forced to drastic measures
in the line Of executing the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Amendments to the Con-
stitutIon
Maryland is one of these States, a
State where there is absolutely 10 fear Of
negro domination or that it Will fall into
the control OF the ignorant classes. What
ever action may be taken toward dis
franchising the negroes Of that STATE can
be directed toward but one end-that of
wipiug out the Republican majority. It
would be a blow 10 the liberties Of the
American citizens and might have such
an effect upon the minds Of the members
mentioned that they would change their
views and instead OF restraining would
urge legislation against all the States
affected by the amendments named"
Representative GrosYeDOr Of Ohio, who
is a member of the Committee on Rules,
and has long been regarded as the spokes-
man Of the Administration on the floor Of
the House. said he had no doubt action
Of the kind proposed by such a State as
Maryland would 90 far toward precipita-
inc h dor ion of he sinh nv
Congress He thought that the next step
after DISTINGUISHING the negroes was to
deprive them OF educational facilities
and thus render them incapable of SUI
fTage at any time.
BY this policy Of Acknowledgement. %
he said you make enemies Of a race that
want 10 be your friends. # the people
of the North and East and West and the
rapidly growing sentiment Of the South.
educated as ii is by the wealth and in
telIiEence Of this country. cannot protect
ourselves against the political power Of
the South, I am willing TO go down into
the political vortex that IS coming, but
the danger exists that the Democrats
are Transforming q class Of friends into
a class of registered enemies-enemies Of
record
Representative LitttefeId of Maine, who
has made the subject Of spportionment
special study, and who led the forces
which carried the Burieigh bill. said:
Should the Maryland Legislature do any
thing which would disfranchise the negro
voters il would undoubtedly make the Sit
uation IN Congress more acute and go far
toward forcing Congressional action in the
matter. We must take cognizaDce OF suca
cases If they are thrust under our roses
Representative Lands OF Indiana is in
terested in the Maryland situation large
" because he comes from a State where
the negro vote Is the balance OF power.
and should q Democratic LegizIaJure in
Indiana take action similar 10 that pro-
posed for Maryland IL might turn the State
over TO that party Mr. Lands said: 1T
looks very much as though having failed
to secure control Of Congress by legiti-
mate means, the Democrats had deHber-
ately set about to accomplish the desired
result lay a scheme OF dIsfranchisenent.
This proposed step is certainly sufficient
10 justify radical action on the part of
the majority in Congress.
From now on the members Of the Sen
ate and House. especially the Republicans.
are likely 10 keep a close watch on Mary
land.