The Washington bee., 1902-04-12

States as provided by the Constitution.
The plan provided by the Constitu-
ton for the apportionment of repre-
sentatives Is contained in the second
sec ion OF the fourteenth amendment,
which is as follows:
Representative shall be apportion-
ed among the several states according
to their respective numbers, countiug
the whole number of persons in each
State excluding Indians not taxed.
But When the right to vote at anV eleC.
ton for the choice of electors for PreS-
ldent and ViCe-PreSident of the United
states, Representatives in Congte ess,
the executive and judicial officers of a
State, or members of the legislature
thereof, IS denied to any of the male
inhabitants Of such State, being tWen-
ty-one years OF age, and citizens ofthe
United States, or in any way abridged,
except for participation in rebellion or
other crime, the basis of representa-
ton therein shall be reduced in pro-
portion which the number ofsuch male
citizens shall bear to the whole num-
Der Of male citizens twenty one wears
OF agein such State.
The bill reported by the committee
is based upon population, and. aC-
cordlng to the theory upon which it
proceeds, II contai an equi able and
correct division of power between the
States, but it wholly fails to take into
account the disfTanChiSement OF Citi-
zens in any state, and it is not, there.
fore. IN harmony with the plan, "pro-
vlded for by the Constitution
The constitutional sche me is based
upon population exclusively.
But when the right to vote at anv
election = is denied to anv Of
the male inhabitants Of such State be.
ing III years OF age and citizens of the
United States, or In any way abridged,
except for participation in rebellion
or other crime, the basis of represen-
latiOn therein shall be reduced In the
proportion which the number of such
male Citiz4ns shall bear to the whole
number of male Citizens 2I years of
age in such State.
For instance, if State with a popu-
lation OF 800, 900 should disfranChise
40 per cent OF its male citizens over 2I
years OF age, for any reson except for
participation in REBELLION or other
crime, III appOrtioning Representa-
tlves the population of that State
would be reduced 40 per cent, and it
would be given representation on a
basis of GOJ 900. 1t is as mu h a part
OF the constitutional scheme to reduce
the basis OF apporlionment in States
that have DISTINGUISHED male citizens
II years of age as it is to base repre-
sentation upon population at all The
language of the Constitution is clear,
direct, and mandatory, and it leaves
no. discretion in Congress whatever.
The form of expression is imper tive
and not permi iSive-''the basis of req
sentatlon shall be reduced"
What claim has Mr.. Hopkins on
the eolored vote of his State. N |
lions Of Negroes in the South Will
be put to a disadvantage under the
Hopkins bi | and yet he claims to
De their friend. The wish of The
Bee is that the colOred voter of the
State of Illinois will not be decei7
ed IN the selection of a man to sue
eeed the Hon. w. E. Mason. Every
act Senator Mason has been in de
fense of the Negro. The defeat of
Senator Mason will operate 10 the
detriment of millions of Negroes
in this country
The defeat of Mr.. Hopkins for
She Senate means the elevation of
the oppressed Negroes in the Unit
I'd States.