New-York tribune., 1902-03-19
DEMOCRATS IN A FLUTTER
NEEDLESSLY EXCITED OVER PROPOSED
DISFRANCHISEMENT INQUIRY.
TIE CONTEMPLATED ACTION NOTHING
LIKE A FORCE BILL"-REAPPORTIoN-
MENT OF REPRESENTATION.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]


In Washington as well as others in all parts Of the
country. trying to raise mighty hue and cry
over the discovery that il has been virtually deter
mined TO start investigation on the part of the
House into the Acknowledgement Of voters in va
rious States by a variety Of methods Inquiry to-
day by representatives Of The Tribune shows that
there is very little cause for the excitement,
bordering hysteria which is stirring up the
emotions Of the Democratic politicians. The plain
fact Is that the proposed action of the House is not
all along the lines force BILL, is loudly
asserted by these Democratic leaders but is based
on a simple proposition submitted by Representa-
tive Crumpacker. of Indiana. to the House in the
form OF a resolution few days The subject
Of the resolution. however. has been under free dis
cussion in Washington for more than year. so
that excitement it this time in any quarter
only excites amusement here. Following is the
Crumpacker resolution:
That the Speaker shall appoint a select commit
tee, consisting Of thirteen members of the House.
whose duty it shall be and who shall have full and
and the manner of their enforcement, and whether
The right TO vote at any election for the choice of
United states Representatives in Congress, the
e1eGuhye ana jutical officers Of any OF the states
being twenty-one years Of age and citizens of the
United States or in any waV abridged excent for
crime. Said committee shall have power to sub
send for records and other evidence that may be
necessary for full and complete investigation of
the several subjects herein mentioned, and it shall
be authoTlzed TO sit during the sessions of the
maxi siij nm CEN I efeSfs f ts I Saa eephitLee mn sha.
its investigation 1T as early date is practicable
SCOPE OF THE PROPOSED INQUIRY.
II viii be observed that the foregoing resolution
which probably VIII be adopted by a strict party
vote within week days. merely provides
for the appointment by the Speaker Of a special
committee to inquire into and report two sub
Jects. namely:
First-The validity of the election laws of the
several States and the manner of their enforce
ment
Second-Whether the right to vote at any election
Is aeIlea or restricted IN any State to any voters
States. and If so. how many are thus disfranchised
In the several States
1t is not doubted denied. Of course, that the
effect Of this Investigation would bear heavily on
most Of the Democratic States Of the South. or all
those States in that section in which suffrage is
denied TO the blacks on pretext another. be-
cause the exposure which unquestionably would be
made naturally would be followed by attempts in
Congress to enforce vigorously the provisions Of
tire second section OF the Fourteenth Amendment to
the Federal Constitution, which as follows:
Section ? RepreseR1tattyes On Congressl shall be
Der of persons in each State, excluding Indians not
for the choice Of electors for President and Vice
FIeslaent oI me United states Representatives in
State or the members of the legislature thereof is
State being twenty-one years Of age citizens OF
the United States or in any way abridged, except
for participation in rebellion o other crime the
basis Of representation therein shall be reduced in
Citizens shall beSr fo be e wnIe nubeT suG N a
citizens twenty-one years Of age in such State.
Enforcement Of this section would involve the
enactment Of a reapportionment law by Congress
that would cut down the representation of nearly
every State Of the South, except Texas, Georgia,
Kentucky and Tennessee. These four States have
not disfranchised the black by educational
tests. grandfather clauses and other well known
Vote-abridging devices which have found their way
into the election laws of of the Southern
States 1t is estimated that should Congress pass
a reapportionment law based on the findings and
recommendations Of the committed proposed by
Judge Crumpacker. the South would lose between
fifteen and eighteen members of the House. and.
of course that sections representation in the Elec-
toral College would suffer like 1t is the
hope and purpose OF Judge Crumpacker and the
other supporters Of his resolution put the meas
ure through at the earliest date practicable. with
the view Of starting the investigation Immediately
thereafter and submit report to the House be-
fore the present session adiourns so that the de-
sired legislation can be proposed at the next
sion Of this Congress. Judge Crumpacker who has
given a great deal Of careful thought to the sub
5ect, believes that the committee could complete
ITS work in two months, as the plans Of operation
already are well matured. The committee. either
as q whole or In groups would visit every State
where complaint Of the abridgment of the franchise
is made, and, with the population returns Of the
last census a basis compare the vote actually
cast or registered with the whole number of per-
United States, shown by the census statistics
OF voting age This process would quickly develop
the facts desired and give Congress all the in
loImatlon needed for framing a reapportionment
bill. II is not intended Investigation shall
ena with the Southern States, but that II shall in
clude every State in which there is cause to be-
neHe Il&t any considerable number voters for
any reason are being deprived Of their consttu-
uonel rights. While IL Is thought that both
Massachusetts and Rhode Island would be brought
under this inquest II Is not believed the disclosures
made in them would show that a sufficient number
OF voters in either IF them disfranchised for
iiteracy other prescribed qualification to affect
the general results Of their elections In other
words, IL is not believed that either these States
would lose representation Ia Congress
UNFOUNDED DEMOCRATIC ASSERTIONS
II is pointed out that the Democratic leaders
cannot make the political capital Of this move
ment even If 1t should be successful which they
reason mainly that the proposition does not con-
template the permanent reduction of Southern
representation, nut reduction the basis OF the
actual vote cast until the Southern Democratic
politicians see the wisdom OF restoring the fran
chse rights 20 the negroes in which case Of course
the former representation OF all the States affected
would be restored. And in such circumstances IN
IS not doubted that the Democratic bosses at the
South soon would find a way to make the blacks
vote with them.
Judge Crdmpacker, author of the resolution |
which has so excited the Democrats is one of the
fairest and abest members of the House He has |
never been narrow partisan, and frequently CO. |
operates with the Democrats IN House on i'm |
not accuse him Of the wicked political designs |
charged against him by the Democratic leaders.