The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-04
CAUCUSED ON SOUTH
REPUBLICANS DISCUSSED DIsFRAN-
CuISEMENT.
CRUMPACKER TOOK THE LEAD.
WANTS SELECT COMMITTEE TO IN
VESTIGATE.

His Plan Is to Reduce the South's
the Alleged Disfranchisement.
Southern Republicans Oppose
This Plan and Favor strong Elec-
tion Law-Chnirman Cannon APP
peaIed for Conservative Action
and Floor Leader Payne Agreed
with Him in Urging Postpone
ment.
Washington. Feb. 3.-The Republican
members of the House of Representa-
tives held a caucus in the hall of the
House tonight to consider line of
policy to be adopted concerning the al
legged disfranchisement of voters in the
South. The caucus lasted from s
o'clock until shortly after II, when it
was determined to adjourn for one
week to consider more fully the differ
ent propositions brought forward The
main discussion of the meeting turned
on resolution offered by Representa-
tive Crumpacker, of Indiana, provid-
ing for the appointment of a special
committee of the House to Investigate
questions of disfranchisement, and to
report remedies to the House. This
brought out several other propositions,
mainly from Southern Republicans,
who favored a strong federal election
law, including one from Representative
Bartholdt of Missouri. About 125 Re-
publican members were in attendance,
out of a full membership of 200 Speak
er Henderson, Representative Payne
of New York, the Republican floor
leader, and most of the leaders of the
House. including about all of the
Southern Republicans, were present.
Representative Cannon of Illinois oc-
cupied the chair, with Representative
Loudenslager of New Jersey as secre-
tary.
The CrumpacISer Plan.
At the outset Mr.. Crumpacker pre-
sented his resolution, as follows:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
caucus that the Committee on Rules re-
port resolution, as a substitute for
those now pending in said committee,
providing in substance, that a select
committee. be appointed by the Speaker,
to consist of eleven members, whose
| duty it shall be, and who shall have
| full and complete power and authority,
| to investigate and inquire whether the
| right to vote of any of the male inhab-
itants of any of the states, 81 years of
age, and being. citizens of the United
States, is denied or abridged by the
constitution and laws of any state, ex-
cept for crime; and if such is found to
be the fact, said select committee shall
have the right, and it shall be it's duty,
to report at any time, by bill or other
wise, such measure or measures as may
be necessary to place the representa-
tion of such states in the House of
Representatives upon a constitutional
basis"
Mr.. Crumpacker supported his resolu-
tion in vigorous speech, urging the
need of an investigation fully authen-
ticating the facts as a preliminary to
decisive action by Congress.
He was followed by Representatives
Tayler of Ohio, Dayton Of West Vir-
ginia, Moody of Massachusetts, Ohm
stead of Pennsylvania, Morris oi Min
nesota and Shattuc of Ohio all in favor
of the proposed investigation. 1t soon
developed; however, that the Southern
Republicans were more favorable to a
strong election law than any resolu-
tion which contemplated q reduction of
membership from the South. The
Southern men who spoke against the
resolution and in favor of a federal
election law included Representatives.
Blackburn and Moody o. North Caro-
lima and Gibson of Tennessee. Messrs.
Bartholdt of Missouri and Rodey of New
Mexico also favored the plan Of an
election law.
Cannon Is Conservative.
After the discussion had proceeded
for some time with little prospect of
agreement, Chairman Cannon took the
floor and made a strong appeal for
conservative action. He pointed out the
difficulties which had been encountered
when former force bills had been
urged before Congress, and referred to
the agitation this movement would oc-
casion, and the feelings it would en-
gender Mr.. Cannon was for postpon~
ing action, at least for the present, and
the tenor of his remarks was not fa-
vorable to any of the plans proposed.
Late in the evening Mr. Payne, the
floor leader, made a brief speech, add
ing his view in favor of deferring ac-
ton until the question could be ex-
amined with more care. BY this time
the sentiment of the caucus was clear
ly favorable for postponing the sub
iect for another week, and accordingly
a motion prevailed to adjourn the eau
al ferht