Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-01-05
CURTAILED SUFFRAGE
Gives the House Another Day of
Debate That Is Salty
and Snappy.
FRANK TALK BY THE soUTHERNERs
Resolution That Does Not Stay on the
south Side of the Line
Capital Notes.

Washington, Jan. 5.-The house yes
terday had another spirited struggle
over the Olmsted resolution to investi-
gate the abridgement of the suffrage
in certain southern states, with a view
to reapportiOnment upon the actual
basis of suffrage. 1t as finally re-
ferred to the census committee. where
the opposition desired it to go orig
inally. Some of the Republican lead
ers Were not in sympathy with the
resolution. Olmsted tried to get Hop
kinS to agree that the committee would
consider the resolution within n week,
but the chairman of the census COM
mittee declined TO make any pledge
to that effect. The debate upon the
resolution was marked by exceeding
frankness. Some of the southern mem
bers avowed that the attempt to en-
franchise the negro had been lament
able failure, and the action of certain
states in legally eliminating the blacks
as factors at the polls they said was in
the interest of civilization and progress.
Challenge of n New Jersey Man.
McDormett of New Jersey asserted
that every state in the Union either
added to or subtracted from the con
stitutional requirements of voters and
challenged any member TO show, 10
the contrary, one that did not. Tn
derwood OF Alabama made warm
speech in opposition TO the resolution.
He had hoped, he said. that such u res
Olution would not appear in the house.
The real purpose of the fourteenth
amendment had been TO enfrauchise
the negro. 1t had failed. The fifteentl
amendment had been successful for a
time, but in the end it had proved Il
lamentable failure. Both amendments
had been mistakes, not only to the
Democratic but TO the Republican par
ties
He admonished his friends from the
north that they did not live among the
negroes. and did not understand the
problem to be solved. I'VE of the
SOUTH" said he. addressing the ma
jority. .'are trying to solve it fairly
TO both races, and l appeal to YOU
if you are in favor of upbuilding the
negro race if you are in favor of pro-
tecting the investments which tile
north has sent thereto send this reSo-
luton to committee and let it die
there Williams of Mississippi said
that of recent years some of the pee-
pie of the south had listened To the
siren voice of the north that sectional
ism was dead. This resolution would
pluck from the eyes of those who had
been partially deceived the veil that
had been placed over them.
Senate Continues to Talk Army.
For five hours yesterday the SEN
ate discussed the army reorganiZa
rion bill. The debate took a wide
range, at times, but was confined prin
cipally to the question of the necessity
for the increase in the regular army
provided for in the pending measure.
The Philippine question was threshed
over at great length, but few really
new points We're advanced 1t was
urged by the supporters OF the army
bill that the situation in the Philip
pines demanded the increase of the
army proposed. This was controverted
by the opposition senators who, while
they were willing in a general way
to provide for such temporary force as
might be needful, were vigorously op-
posed to the creation of a permanent
standing army of 100000 men. Hoar
advanced a proposition to create a
commission to be composed of all
shades of political opinion to lnvesti-
gate the entire Philippine question and
report its findings to congress in or
der that a basis might be formed for
intelligent action.