The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-03-26
THE BLOODY SHIRT.
The Republicans Raise it Aloft in Con-
gress Once More.
WILL HELP THE DEMOCRATS.
Crumpacker's Resolution for an In
vestigation OF the Suffrage
Question in the South
Will Be Pushed.

A special dispatch from Washington
to the Atlanta Journal says since the
Republican leaders have determined to
force through the Crumpacker resolu-
tion for an investigation of the suf-
frage?question as it affects the south
ern representation in the house, it has
become clearly evident that this. move
of the majority means repetition of
the old Force bill fight and revival
Of the sectional bitterness Of recon-
struction days.
The supporters Of the measure have
made no concealment OF their desire to
utilize it for purely partisan ends.
This is particularly true Of certain
western representatives, who seek to
solidify the negro voters in their dis
tricts. Conservative Republicans, such
as Cannon, at first arrayed themselves
stoutly against any such legislation,
and the speaker himself took but
perfunctory interest in the proposition
and only ceased when policy of con-
ciliation became necessary on account
Of the row over the Cuban tariff.
The Democrats will fight the reso-
luton vigorously, beginning with the
presentation Of the rule Of the house.
They believe that if so radical step
is at once taken the majority will not
hesitate to 60 even to greater ex-
tremes to insure control Of the house
in the next congress. The Democrats
will probably consider their plan Of ac-
tion in caucus, and it is said they may
agree to stop the regular procedure Of
the house by fillibuStering. The sud-
den change in the attitude Of the Re
publicans toward this resolution is re-
garded as full of significance, coming
as it does at time when the prospects
Of the Democrats erecting the next
house are admittedly bright.
The Post today publishes views on
the action Of the Republican leaders,
as follows:
David B. Hill says: 1.-THE proposed
Investigation will be fruitless, and will
not injure the Democratic party. OF
course it should be opposed because it
is partisan and unnecessary. 1t in
dicates a desperation which is ominous.
II the Investigation should be followed
by an attempt to enact federal cleo
tion law, the effect will be to unite
the Democratic party north, south,
east and west as nothing else could do.
It will work the beginning Of the end
of Republican national rule"
W. J. Bryan says: If the inyesti-
CATION Of election methods includes
northern elections as well as southern
there ought to be no objection, but an
investigation that ignored the fraud
practiced in the Hanna senatorial
election and in the Pennsylvania elec-
tions would be unfair. The commit
tee should also investigate the coercion
practiced by employers and bankers, as
well as fraud practiced on black men.
An investigation to be valuable must
not be partisan"
Senator German says: The entire
country will be amazed at the ex-
treme radical partisanship embraced
in the action taken today. 1t is pro-
posed to stir up sectional animosities
at time when all thoughtful men OF
every party in the country recognize
that the problem of the suffrage OF the
south must be adjusted by the people
of the states where the great negro
population exists. The business
interests of this country will resent
this effort to create political strife
as they did when it wad attempt
ed during the speakership Of Mr..
Blaine and again in 1890, when
the whole country protested against
the force bill: This latest attempt
can only be accounted for in one way.
The Republicans fear the defeat Of
their party in the next congressional
elections of the issues they have made,
growing out of the Philippine ques-
tion and the enormous expenditure Of
the government. Therefore, they have
seen fit to array the north against the
south. Business interests will resent
this wanton and unnecessary agitation
The Democrats must fight this propo-
sition from now until the end Of this
congress. They must fight, and fight,
and fight"
Henry Watterson says: L have
thought and hoped the Republicans
were done with the bloody shirt, at
least as far as far south is con-
cerned. 1t has always done them,
more harm than it has done US. The
only effect of it's revival now will be to
unite the Democrats and frighten the
conservative element Of the north and
east. Millions Of dollars have gone
south the last five or six years. This
movement will be regarded as direct
attack upon those millions. Both
sections yearned for peace. At last
they have got it. This proposal to
rip open the old wound is an assault
upon the peace Of the country. and
for what? Under what prete1t? Why:
the negro yote-a fungus vote-car-
rying no moral weight, but on the
other hand, the occasion of incalcul-
able corruption"
The President in Charleston.