The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-04-22
THE EVER PRESENT
MENACE TO LIBERTY
Is Found in the Corrupt Use
of Money in Elections.
MR.. POU'S ARGU MENT
In Favor of His Resolution to Investi.
cate Whether Elections are Bought
HIS RESOLUTION WILL NOT BE ADOPTED
Because if They Adopted it They Would *
pose Such Practices as Would Rend.r
Republican Defeat Certain at
the Next Election.
IRON Congressional Record.)

FROM Congressional Record.)
The House being in Committee OF the
Whole en- the State Of the Union, and
having under consideration the bill Oh.
T.. 1929 making appropriations for sun
dry civil expenses Of the Government
for the fiscal year ending June 80. 1903,
ana for other purposes
Mr.. Pou said:
EIr. Chairman: l make the usual
apology in submitting these remarks. l
apologize because I shall not discuss
IN, bill! under consideration: but it
would seem that al apology is hardly
necessary, inasmuch as it appears to
be The custom of this House to discuss
the merits Of one measure while some
o.Ler measure is being considered. 1t is
not deemed improper to discuss. for IN
stance. the tariff when the Indian APP
fuoprjation bill is under consideration.
Bills about which there is an honest
difference Of opinion are rushed through
almost without debate, While ample time
for discussion is permitted when bills
about which there is no contest are con-
sjGercd. Fortunately there. is, l am
told, no rule of the House requiring
gentlemen TO confine their remarks to
the subject under consideration. This
strikes the new member as being Il lit
Tie peculiar. but we are told that this
is one of the great liberties permitted
by The Reed rules.
Now in the exercise Of my right as
an American Representative, l saw fit
tho ether day to introduce certain reso-
Iutions requiring the Speaker to appoint
d select committee of thirteen, whose
duty it shall be TO iavestigate the cor
ruIt use of money in elections Dv all
tho great political parties. These reso-
Iut!ons have been misrepresented to
such an extent by the Republican press
of the country that feel constrained to
submit some remarks.
The reply of the Republican press is
thceffcld. They say, first, that / am
proposing to investigate the use of
money by the Republican party emily,
and that the resolutions are therefore
unf@ir. Those who charge this certain
ly did not read the resolutions.
The word "Republicar' is not used.
They O inaugurate an Investigation
of the use of money by the national
committees of all the great political
parties offering candidates for freSi-
dent in the years 1896 and 1900. Why
the Republican press should distort the
resolutions | cannot imagine, unless it
is prompted to do so by a conscious
ness of the guiIt of IT'S own panty. Sec
ondIy. this partisan press has attempted
a little ridicule which is indeed crush
ms. 1t suggests that / am g new mem
Der. My reply is that [ came here just
as soon rs [ could get here. laugh
ter) Thirdly. it suggests that ] am a
member Of unimportant committees. L
deny this; but it it be true, a Tepubli-
can Speaker is responsible, and not my
elf. tLau2kter) All this, Mr.. Presi-
dtnt, viii not prevent honest men,
thinking men, from giving the resolu-
tons some consideration.
How is it that this House is about to
enter into an investigation of the af-
iarS Of the States" What has pro
NcSod the resolutions Of the gentleman
from Indiana? l can only speak for
my own State. 1t is not necessary to
10 tulther back than the year 1894. Dur
'a2 that year w parties, professedly
opposite in principles, united to carry
eur state. ono favored the free coin
vi 044Nfi, Willc INC OticI WdS SOlI
"-l1d TO the gold standard. One ia
E3."I tho subtreasury project, while the
p-.'r favored the national banks
'ae favored the Government owner
CT railroads, while the other ia
.oltd the railroad ownership Of gov
"+."@nt. And there were other radical
+"i"bCes between these two parties
'0' all that made 70 difference. Offices
.".F wanted and offices they intended
TOD nave. So they divided out all the
except tn" electors for Presi-
heir leaders even went so far as
calculate the emoluments of the nu,
'@e offices parceled out in order that
"tN4slpn might be just and fair. This
NOV jest. Mr.. Chairman, but a mel
N truth. On election day, in
.thee with their program, sc. O9C
men walked to the ballet box by
vie ol more than 100. DOC negroes,
nj government was overthrow
State.
.E.r ne pleasure to admit that
% ia both these parties repu-
'-s unnatural alliance, ana that
nose who did repudiate it
49,, % "- &" redeem the State in 1898.
.s The result? What offspring
.It 20 this union? AS | love my
hesitate to make his admis-
/ am proud of her history, /