New-York tribune., 1902-02-18
SOUTHERN ELECTIONS
uor-sE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS VOTES TO
INVESTIGATE DISFRANCHISEMENT

v-,sbiugton Feb. 1.-THE Republican mem
,.-s of the House Of Representatives held a
- caucus tonight 10 consider the question
= Southern elections The attendance was not
os large as al former gatherings. Speaker Hen
ss-sou not attending, and only eighty-six Re
r,,blicans out Of total OF 1919 being present
This was short Of A quorum. but the meeting
rroceeied with speedy and definite results.
-esoiurion being adopted asking the House Com
,i.+eee on Rules to report resolution for a
sneciaI investigating committee Of eleven mem
fsrs 70 consider questions relating TO the dis
.-snchiseulent Of voters.
Penresentative Cannon. Of Illinois occupied
the chair and. IN the absence Of Mr.. Louden-
elager. representative Tawney, OF Minnesota
acted as secretary. It was agreed at the outset
that the vote should be taken at 9 o'clock
Representative Dick, Of Ohio, then presented
he following resolution as a substitute for that
Of Nj Crumpacker. heretofore introduced:
Resolved. That IT is the sense of this caucus
,bar The Committee Rules report a resolu-
ion as a substitute for those now pending in
said committee. providing in substance that d
select committee he appointed by the Speaker
consisting OF eleven members. whose duty it
shall 5e. and who shall have complete power
and authority. 10 investigate and inquire into
ne validity Of election laws and the manner Of
their enforcement in the several States, and
whether the right TO vote Of male inha abitants Of
auv of the States, twenty-One years old, and
being citizens Of the United States is denied or
in am manner abridged. except for crime and
such committee shall report the result Of its IN
vestigatiou al as early a date as practicable.
The debate was brief and was favora bic TO the
resolution. Mr. Dick supported it on the ground
that r vas simply a preliminary step, with a
view 20 7scerraining facts. leaving the question
NJ remedy 10 be determined when the House
vas II possession Of all the facts. Mr. Crum-
rackzr conCurred in this view and readily ac-
rertei rhe resolution in place Of the one he had
first introduced. which proposed not only In
vestigariOn. but also fixed the remedy. namely,
reduction Of representation in Congress pro-
Wr Crosvenor. Of Ohio. closed the debate by a
speech IN support Of the resolution. He pointed
cut that as this was a step merely TO ascertain
facts ere was no donger Of creating the pub
liz impression that the Republican party pro-
posed TO enact any drastic legislation the
subject
The vote vas then taken, and without a dis
serting voice the resolution was adopted. The
Caucus rhereupon adjourned
L was said by members Of the caucus that
the unanimous action Of eighry-six members
would undoubtedly be accepted by the Com
ritree on Rules. Notwithstanding the absence
members that the eighty-six affirmative votes
would have been a majority If quorum had
been present. Il also was said by those who
had been most instrumental in framing the
resolution that the investigation could be con-
Quoted in Washington. probably without any
necessity Of making personal Investigations in
the South or elsewhere