The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-12-03
WAVING THE BLOODY SHIRT.
Work of Representative Crum.
packer aud His '.squad of
Republican Agitators in
Congress-" Egged on
by John S. Wise.

Washington, Dec. Representative
Crumpacker and his squad of Rpubli-
can agitators in the House are prepar-
ing for general attack on the State
Constitutions in the South in behalf of
their colored brethren, whom they
claim are disfranchised. Today's
session opened with move intended
to force Congressional investigation
into the recent elections in Virginia
as a eresult of the new Constitution
adopted in that State. The first mem
Der of Congress elected in the cleo
tions provided for by the new Consti
tuition is Carter Glass, who succeeds
Major Otey from the Lynchburg dis
trict. It is singular coincidence
thas-as member of the Constitutional
Convention Mr.. Glass played the most
important part in framing the suffrage
provisions of that Constitution. The
suffrage planks are practically his own.
Subsequent to the adoption of the new
Consti tuition Major Otey died, and
largely because of his prominence in
the Constitutional Convention Glass
was chosen to fill the vacancy.
It is something like the irony of fate
that his title to a seat in Congress
should be the first to be contested.
This movement on the part of the Re
publicans is engineered by John S.
Wise, the New York attorney, who
was formally a member of Congress
from Virginia. Falling in his efforts
to get the Virginia Constitution into
the Federal Courts Wise came on from
Richmond to Washington. This morn
ing he had conference with Presi-
dent Roosevelt, going to the White
House with Representative Crumpack-
er, of Indiana, who is recognized as
the leader in Congress of the campaign
against the South. Later the plan
of those who are opposing MI. Glass
as the Representative Of the Virginia
Constitution developed. 1t had been
announced that Wise would have some
Republican member object to the
swearing in Of Glass, but no such OBJ
lection was made. Immediately after
he had been sworn in, however, Re
preventative Tayler, of Ohio, who is
chairman of one of the election COM
mittees, introduced a resolution calling
for Congressional Investigation into
the election of Mr.. Glass. This cited
the circumstances Of the adoption Of
the Virginia Constitution, and the al
legations that its provisions clashed
with certain provisions Of the Federal
Constitution, and called for an in
.vestigation by elections committee
No. /.
Immediately there was furry of
excitement on the Democratic side.
Representative Richardson, Of Ten
nessee, the minority leader, Jumped
to his feet, and entered protest
against the consideration of the re-
solution. He raised point OF order
against it, but later withdrew this,
as Mr.. Tayler expained be was not
asking its Immediate consideration,
but wanted it referred to.the elections
committee in the usual course. There
was some discussion on the Demo
cratic side as to whether it should go
to the elections committee No. 5,
which has considerd the other Virginia
contests, rather than to committee No.
l, but finally all objections to it's 60
ing to that committee we're withdrawn,
and the resolution takes that course.
It has not developed that the Republi-
can leaders intend to force action upon
the resolution, but the probability is
that they will do SO, and ask Con-
gressional investigation of the election
in that district.