The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-12-10
WASHINGTON POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Afraid to Attack Southern EIec-
tion Laws---Fight for Admis-
sion by Territories
Trust Legislation.

Washington, D. c., Dec. 8.-There
is much satisfaction among the demo
Gratis in Washington over the failure
of Representative Tayler of Michigan
to promote a contest of the election of
Representative Carter Glass of the
Sixth Virginia district. In connec-
tion with this failure, there is con-
siderable unwritten history. The
contest was intended to involve the
constitutions of all those states which
have adopted laws which virtually
exclude the negro vote. Mr.. Tayler,
who has to rely largely on the negro
vote for his support at home, saw an
opportunity to further his own ends
and the cause of the Crumpacker reso-
luton and seized it. His resolution
was referred to Committee on Elec-
tions No. and there met its Water
loo. There is a growing sentiment
among those northern republicans who
are not dependent on negro votes for
election to Congress, that the South
ern states had better be left to work
their own salvation and the other
members of the Committee refused to
champion the cause of Mr.. Tayler.
The action is of national significance,
for the reason that it is a forerunner
of the defeat that awaits Iany attempt
of Judge Crumpacker to call up his
resolution. It is also known that Re-.
preventative Cannon is hostile to in
ference with the southern states. He
has said that "the republican party
never attempted to interfere with the
southern voting laws without going
down to defeat and it is believed
that there is little likelihood of inter-
ference while he is Speaker.
With a singular unanimity the dem
ocrats and republicans of the House
are working on an anti trust bill.
Representative Richardson states that
the democrats will cheerfully support
any sensible antitrust measure On the
floor OF the House, sinking party ad-
vantage in the cause Of the whole peo-
pie. Representative Littefelld's bill
is being made the foundation for the
measure which the Judiciary commit
tee will report to the House and there
is some prospect of a favorable report
before the holiday recess. The bill
provides for that publicity which the
President has pronounced so essential
and imposes tax of per cent, on
all stock of corporations having a
capital stock in excess Of $500, 600
which is not actually paid up.
Whether the republicans are actual
ly awakened to the necessity of anti
trust legislation, or whether they re-
gard it as one of two evils, the other
of which is tariff revision which the
leaders so strenuously oppose, or
whether there is merely an understand
ing by which the House will pass anti
trust legislation and the Senate bury
the bill, the democratic leaders have
not yet determined but, whatever may
be the intention of the republicans,
the democrats will do all in their
power to promote legislation so es-
sential to the welfare Of the people.
AS might have been expected, Senator
Beveridge, after his territorial junket,
reported substitute for the Omnibus
territorial bill which provides for the
admission of Oklahoma alone, it be-
| ing tacitly admitted tnat the reason
for refusing admission to the other
two applicants is not their unpreared-
ness but the fear. that they may add
democratic strength in the Senate.
Senator Quay, who is the champion of
the territories on the republican side
of the Chamber, is being attacked
from all quarters and it is doubtless
true that brother of Senator Penrose
who owns the major portion of the
stock in the Commonwealth mine in
Arizona, would be most materially
benefited by the admission of that
| territory to statehood. Senator Quay
admits having written letter stating
that it would be better for the ter
ritories to return republican maiorities
at the last election in order that the
support of the democratic senators
might be insured in the present fight.
A further provision of the substitute
bill adds Indian Territory to Oklahoma
which will certainly make a demo
cratic state if that feature of the
measure is retained. The fight prom
ises to be sharp. all this week but
the friends Of the territories are much
| discouraged.
| The plans Of Secretary Root, looking
to the furtherance Of the military es-
tablishment of the country, are pro-
crossing and it is now expected that
two bills in which the Secretary is
directly interested, will become laws
during this season. One, the Militia
Organization bill, passed the House
last session and has now been favor
ably reported by the Senate Commit
tee. It provides for the reorganization
of the militia on lines similar to
those of the regular army, the organ-
ization of a reserve force Of enlisted
men and reserve force of officers who
have qualified to take command. The
other bill is the Army reorganization
bill which provides for the reorganiza-
tion Of the army and the establishment
Of a general staff to take the place of
the general commanding the army. 1t
has been introduced in both Chambers.
If the bill passes, General Miles, by its
provisions, will be the first chief OF
staff.
There are two large lobbies in
Washington which are doubtless here
for no good purpose. One is that
maintained by Mr. Oxnard of the Beet
Sugar Trust and the other is main
| taipod by Mr. T Pierpont MORGAN and