The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-04
CAUCUS OF THE
 REPUBLICANS Question of Reducing
 Representation. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN
Sentiment Seems to Favor
 P0stp0nement.
southern Members Think Rigid Federal Election Law Preferable to the crumpacker Plan
 Adjourned to Monday.

Washington, Feb s.-After thrce-hour session. the Republican members of the IIQuse of Representative who had a caucus in the hall of the House tonight to consider a line of policy to be adopted concerning the alleged disfranchisement of voters fin the South adjourned for one week to consider more fully the different propositions brought forward. The main discussion turned on \ resolution offered by Representative Crumpacker of In- diana, providing for the appointment of a special committee of the House to in- vestigate questions of disfranchisement and to report remedies to the House. This brought out several other propo- sftions. mainly from Southern Republi- cans. who favored strong Federal elec- ton lay, including one from Representa- tive Barthoidt of Missouri, on these lines.
 About is5 Republican members were in attendance. out of full membership or POO. Speaker Henderson, Representative Payne of New York, the Republican floor leader, and most of the leaders of the House, including about all of the South ern Republicans. were present. Repre- sentative Cannon of Illinois occupied the chair. with Representative Laudenlsiager of New Jersey as secretary. Mir. Crum- packers resolution was as follows:
 Resolved. That it Is the sense of this caucus that the Committee on Rules re- port resolution as substitute for those now pending in said committee, providing fin substance that a select committee be appointed by the Speaker, to consist of .I. L,stxr faal and who shall have full and complete power and authority to investigate and Inquire whether the right to vote of any of the male inhabitants of any of the States. 2t years of age. and being citi- gems of the United States, is denied or abfia gf by the constitution and laws of any State except from crime: and if such is found to be the fact. said select committee shall have the right, and 1t shall be it's duty to report at any time, by bill or otherwise. such measure or measures as may be necessary to place the representation of such States in the House of Representatives on constitu- tionai basis
 Mir. Crumpacker supported his resolu- ton in a vigorous speech. He was fol lowed by Representative Tayler (ohio) Dayton CW. Vao Moody (Mass) Olmsted (Penn.). Morris( Minn.) and Shattuc (ohio). all in favor of the proposed in- vestigation.
 It soon developed here that the South ern Republicans were more favorable to a strong election law than to any resolu- ton which contemplated reduction of membership from the South. ,-f
 The Southern men who spoke against the resolution and In favor of federal election law included Representatives Blackburn and Moody (N. CD. and Gib- son cTenn.). Messrs Bartholdt (Mo,) and Rodey (N. M.) also favored an election law.
 Chairman Cannon. taking the floor, made a strong appeal for conservative ac- ton. He pointed out the difficulties which had been encountered when former force bills" had been urged before Congress and he cited the incidents in the Forty third Congress where five members of Congress had died from the indirect eff fects of the protracted struggle over an election law. He referred also to- the agitation this movement would occasion and the feeling 1t would engender. Mir. Cannon was for postponing action at least for the present. and the tenor of his remarks was not favorably to any of the plans proposed.
 Representative Parker Of New Jersey also opposed action and Representative Reeves of Illinois was for postponement. Mr. Payne, the floor leader added his views in favor of deferring action until the question could be examined with more care.
 motion prevailed to adjourn the caucus until next Monday.