The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-22
RACE QUESTION
ST|RS HOUSE
Gilbert Of RsntucEyand GiIIett Of
Massachusetts Clash
SOME SHARP INTERRUPTIONS
eiIIett Says He Don't Believe In Max
ing Color an objectionable Crime.
He Never Invited Negro
to Dine With Him.

Washington. April 2i-Jrhe HOUSE today
entered on consideration of the military
academy appropriation bill. In addition
to the regular items 1t contains provisions
for the extensive improvements Of the
grounds and buildings at West Point
These improvements are to cost $500 600
of which a little over 100000 Is appro-
priated In the bill.
During the general debate on the militia
ry academy bill Mr.. Gilbert. North Caro-
lima, precipitated a discussion on the
race question which was participated In
by Mr.. Gillett, Massachusetts,; Blackburn.
North Carolina; w. w. Kitchen, North
Carolina and Mr. Gaines, Tennessee. Mr..
Cochran, Missouri. and Mr.. Gillett dis
cussed the question of the alleged viola
ton of the neutrality laws in connection
with the shipment of mules to South
Africa
Upon the conclusion of the district busi-
ness, the House went into committee of
the whole and entered upon the consid-
Grafton of the military academy appro-
priation BILL General debate was limited
to an hour on a side.
Mr.. Hull, In charge OF the bill, in
brief parliamentary statement explained
it's features, the increase In the pay of
cadets and the adoption of a plan fo1
extensive improvements at West Point.
These improvements Mr.. Hill said when
completed would cost $e,6o00o0. of which
$s,oso326 was appropriated by the bill.
Mr.. Cannon characterized the proposed
expenditure at West Point at the "rankest
kind of rank extravaganza"
Mr.. Hay, Virginia. agreed with Mr..
Hull that ,ne Improvement was necessary
to accommodate the large Increase number
IN cadets, 1870. which already had been pro-
vided for by law.
Mr.. Gilbert Argues Race Question.
Mr.. Gilbert Iowa, took occasion to re-
ply to some remarks recently made by
Mr.. 0llett. Massachusetts, Mr.. Bromweii,
Ohio, and General Funston, which he
thought reflected upon his state In the
course of his remarks Mr.. Gilbert said
that in Kentucky, and In fact all the
south, they looked with supreme contempt
upon the social equality OF the races The
most ignorant white girl In his state, he
said. would Infinitely prefer to marry the
lowest. meanest. most ignorant white
man in the whole world to the most cul-
tivated negro In America. He said gentle
men on the other side could not cry down
the "taint In the blood" He recalled the
fact that when colored man sat on the
other side not one of his colleagues nvit-
ed him to his house. The prejudice against
social equality was as strong In the north
as In the south. he declared, AMI talk to
the contrary was "hypocritical rot and
rant"
Mr.. Gilbert then turned to Mr Prom
wells fiin1 at Kentucky politiCg, and
gave his version Of Taylors flight from
the state after the murder of Goebel.
He described Tayior's appearance at the
Philadelphia convention, characterizing
him as an assassin, who was made an
Idol In the north.
mr. S'iiett nspies.
Mr.. Gilberts remarks drew a reply
from Mr.. Gillett Of Massachusetts. Mr..
Gillett said he was willing to admit the
prejudice against the negro In New Eng
land He thought perhaps that there was
a greater physical repugnance toward
tbs neyro there than in the south Rut
because one man personally felt a preiu-
dice avain.t the negro he did not think
he had a right to attempt to force them
mon others
MI Rartlett of Georgia INTERRUPTED to
.sk wheih har acme time AFRO Booker wash
,naton NOS not Refused iodp,nps at the
n,Y l., Do,.o,
ho.eis IN postoh'
.a az ae,,rrsd ~ Snr,naee,d NOT
pa.tou 90 he axnIairad that Mr. Wash
i, nosao'' anu s,,.nS nc ,nda,na ~ Two hotels
,nssom was re.useu use ,,.", anS oo,',% no, a.'
oooause my d.. .ts 49, 10
nrietor Of one Of them made every effort
to secure lodging for him elsewhere and
invited him to come to the hotel for his
meals
Mr.. Gaines of Tennessee asked IL the
covernor of Massachusetts, when he
want to the Nashville exposition, declined
to take With him a member of his stafr,
~ mo. a negro
.Ie Ha a,a ;, rsni,ed Mr. e,illett. .it was
,n,ne nc hs ala not want to wound the
uea,h,,,,,a. NJ tho neonle of Nashville.
psnoaaa,n. NJ Gi,lett explained that
l.. ~, Er,,ond thev could understand
~, IN Nsm .s,oa' ~, tho south against the
.ne ~ 1a aao,,st neoro domination but
.Se yaonIa Of his section insisted that
snc,ai ostracism should not be visited on
.Sosa v,bo AID not share these prejudices.
When a negro man raised himself above
bis fellows and led a pure, clean, manly
life he thought his worth should be
recognized. He did not sympathize with
a state of society which accepted man
whose hands were stained with the blood