Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-20
WILL OPEN UP
HOT PARTY
FIGHT
HILL, ooRMAN, BRYAN AND 9TH
Err LEADERS TALK OF THE
" cRUMPAcKER MEAS
URE.

WASHINGTON, March 19.-Since the
Republican leaders have determined to
force through the Crumpacker resolution
for an Investigation of the suffrage ques-
ton as its affects the southern represen-
tation irr the house, II has become clearly
evident that this move of the majority
means a repetition of the old Force Dill
fight and a revival of the sectional Dit
terness of reconstruction days.
The supporters of the measure nave
made no concealment of their desire TO
utilize IL for purely partisan ends. ms
Is particularly true of certain. western
representatives, who seek TO sohdi1y the
negro voters in their districts. ConserVa-
tive Republicans, such as cannon, at nlsl
arrayed themselves stoutly against any
such legislation and the speaker himseH
took but a perfunctory interest IN the
nronosition and only ceased when policy
Of cancellation became necessary on &C
count of the row over the Cuban tarln.
The Democrats will fight the resolution
vigorously, beginning with the present.
ton of the rule of the house. Tney oeneNe
that II so radical a step is at once taken
the majority will. not hesitate TO go even
n greater extremes to insure control OF
the house in the next congress- Inc Lem
ocrats will probably consider their pian
Of action in caucus tomorrow Night anu
Il is said they may agree TO stop tne res
uiar procedure VI TIC hOASN -
tering.
The sudden change in the attitude of the
Republicans toward this resolution is re-
garded as full of significance, coming ds
II does at a time when the prospects 81
the Democrats electing the next house are
admittedly bright.
The Post Yesterday published views on
action of the Republican leaders, as fol-
lows: 4,
David B. Hill says: THE proposed IN
/ vestfgation will be fruitless, and Will not
| iniure the Democratic party. OF course
should be opposed because II Is parusa'-
and unnecessary. 1t indicates desperd-
ton which is ominous. If the investigation
| should be followed by an attempt to enact
a federal election law, the effect viii De
| TO unite the Democratic party nortn,
| south. east and west as nothing else could
do Ii will work the beginning or the emu
/ of Republican national rule.
w J. Bryan says. IF the investigation
of election methods includes northern cleo
tions as well as southern there ought to
/ be no objection, but an investigation that
ignored the fraud practiced in the Hanna
senatorial election and in the Pehnsylva-
MIA elections would be unfair. The COM
mittee should also investigate the coercion
| practiced by employers and bankers, as
we'll as fraud practiced on black men. An
investigation to be valuable must not De
| partisan"
Senator German says:
THE entire country will be amazed at
the extreme radical partisanship embraced
| in the action taken today. 1t is proposed
to stir UP sectional animosities at a time
when ali thoughtful men of every party
in the country recognize that the problem
I OF the SUFFRAGE OF the south must be ad-
iusted by, the people OF the states where
the great negro population exists.
THE business interests of this country
will resent this effort to create political
/ strife as they did when 1t was attempted
during the speakership of Mr.. Blaine and
again in 1890. when. the whole country
/ protested against the force bill.
This latest attempt can only be ac-
counted for In one way. The republicans
| fear the defeat of their party in the next
congressional elections Of the issues they
have made growing out of the Philippine
/ question and the enormous expenditure
/ of the government. Therefore, they have
seen fit to array the north against the
south. Business interests will resent this
wanton and unnecessary agitation.
THE democrats must fight this PROPOSE
\ ton from now until the end of this con-
/ gress. They must fight, and fight, and
| fight"
Henry Watterson says: 81 have thought
| and hoped the Republicans were done with
| the bloody shirt, at least as far as the
1 south is concerned. 1t has always done
them more harm than 1t has done us.
I. The only effect of fits revival now will be
1 to unite the Democrats and brighten the
conservative element Of the north and
east Millions Of dollars have gone south
the last five or six years. This movement
/ will be regarded as a direct attack upon
| those millions. Both sections yearned for
! peace. At last they have got it. This
proposal to rip open the old wound is an
assault upon the peace of the country,
and for what? Under what pretext?
Why, the negro vote-a fungus vote-car-
rying no moral weight, but on the other
hand, the occasion of incalculable corrup-
| tion."