The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-13
1T Is NOT YET IN EFFECT
So Declares Mr. Depsw and so Replies
Mr.. Simmons.
SURVEYS FOR THE INLAND WATERWAY
The Senate Committee on Commerce Has Added
an Amendment to the River and Har-
Dor Bill Providing For This
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer
Washington, d. c., April Ex-senator
Depew, of New York, in his bloody
shirt speech today said:
"The North Carolina Democracy put
clause in the constitution excluding
the negro from voting in order to keep
Senator Pritchard out of the Senate
when his term expires and for no other
purpose whatever and in order to elect
a Democrat in the place of the Populist
Senator Butler and for no other purpose
whatever
Senator Simmons was in the Marble
Room talking with Prof. Holmes about
the Appalachian Park bill when Sena-
tor Depew referred to North Carolina.
AS soon as he went into the chamber
Senator Clay, of Georgia, told him of
what Depew had said and in about ten
mir utes he secured the floor and said:
"Mr. President. l was not in the Sen
ate at the time the Senator from New
ork, Mr.. DepeW made his speech and
/ do not know Of my own knowledge
what he said with reference to the con-
stitutional amendment which has recent
ly been adopted in my State, and with
regard to the existing law of my State.
| am informed, however, by Senators
who were present, that in general terms
he made the charge that this amend
ment and these election laws were pass
ed for the express purpose of securing
the removal of my predecessor, Senator
Butler, from this chamber as well as
the prospective purpose of removing
from this chamber my colleague, and
that but for that amendment and these
election laws, my State would now be
Republican.
Il merely rise for the purpose of say
ing that if the Senator from New York
made these observations with respect to
the purpose and object of the people of
my State in adopting this amendment
and with reference to the use by the
Democratic party in that State of the
existing election laws, he is entirely
mistaken about the facts. and ] do not
think, had he been in possession of the
facts he would have made the state
ments which are credited to him by
those who heard him"
Mr.. Hoar: Permit me to call atten-
ton to the fact that the Senator from
New York is not now in the chamber"
Mr.. Simmons: Il am not saying any
thing about the Senator from New York
that / think it particularly necessary
for him to hear / merely propose
showing he is mistaken as to the facts.
am sorry he is not in the chamber,
however.
Mr.. Teller: IF the Senator will allow
me / should like to suggest that the
Senator from New York left while this
question and this very phase of it was
under discussion. If he is not here he
knew it was being discussed. Go on"
Mr.. Simmons: Il do not desire nor
intend to enter upon general reply. I
will reserve that until l have seen the
remarks of the Senator. / merely wish
to say now, Mr.. President, that il the
Senator from New York made the state
ment l understand he did make. to the
passed by my State was for the pur-
pose of legislating Senators of the OPP
posite party out of this chamber and
Senators of my party into
this chamber, that statement has no
sort of support in the facts with refer
ence to the adoption of that amendment,
because, while the amendment was
ddbpted in August 1900, it has not yet
gone into effect and will not go into eff
feet until July of the present year. The
next election, to be held in November
of this year, will be the first election
held in my State under that amendment
Now il the Senator from New York
said or meant by what he did say that
we have used the present election law
and election machinery for the purpose
of voting Republicans out of this cham
Der and voting in Democrats in this
chamber, that statement is equally I'M
by the facts. In 1898 the OPP
posite party in my State was in control
of every department of the government.
Mr.. Teller: The Republican party?"
Mr.. Simmons: "The Republican par
ty and the Populist party in conjunc-
ton, for they were in fusion in my
State. They were i'll control in 1898 of
every department of the government of
my State, and the election law under
which the election of that year was held |
was an election law passed by the Re-
DuDllCdu ana OpulIoI u
1894 So the election in that State was
held under a law of their own making,
with the entire election machinery in
their hands, and in that election, held
under these circumstances, the Demo-
ocratic party carried the State by ma
iority OF nearly twenty thousand. That |
S the way the Democratic party got |
nto power in my State.
"Again, Mr.. President, If the Senator |
rom New York meant to say or meant |
oy what he did say, that we have used |
he election law which we passed when |
We came into power in 1898, to vote out |
Republicans by the suppression of the |
;olored vote of the State, or any part of |
t, the answer and the conclusive an
,wer to that statement is that there |
we're poIled in North Carolina in the !
election of 1900 larger vote in pro- |
portion to the population over twenty =