The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-04
Strong Pleas for Delay Made by
nents of the Indianian's Plan.
SPEECH BY MR.. CRUMPACKER
IN FAVOR OF APPOINTING COM
MITTEE OF INVESTIGATION.
VnipnraisO's Statesman Confident His
Scheme VIII BE Adopted at the
Meeting Next Monday.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-Notwithstand-
ing the fact that the caucus of the Repub-
lican members of the House tonight on
Representative Crumpackers Southern re-
duction scheme failed to arrive at any
definite conclusions, the supporters of the
legislation proposed by the Indiana repre-
sentatives are very much pleased over the
sentiment manifested at the meeting.
Representative Crumpacker says he is pos
tive that should the question have been
brought to a vote his proposition would
have been carried two to one, but he was
perfectly willing to give the members all
the time they want TO think the question
over There was but little support for the
general federal election BILL it was impos-
sible for the supporters of this measure
to convince the members of the caucus
that it was anything but the old force bill.
Representatives Payne and Cannon. who
represented the element which is antago-
nistic to any action whatever, made strong
pleas for delay until they could think the
matter over. Mr.. Crumpacker told them
that it was the intention to have a COM
mittee to investigate the necessity of any
legislation along this line, but rather than
create any feeling he thought it best to
Monday night.
The caucus lasted from o'clock until
shortly after II o'clock The main discus
sion of the meeting turned on a resolution
offered by Representative Crumpacker,
providing for the appointment Of a special
committee of the House to investigate
questions of disfranchisement. and to re-
port remedies to the House. This brought
from Southern Republicans who favored
a strong federal election law. including
one from Representative Bartholdt, of Mis-
souri,, on these lines. About 125 Republic
an members were in attendance out of
full membership of 200. Speaker Hender-
son, 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 pres
ent The gathering was not as numerous
as had been desired however, owing to
the bad weather and private engagements.
and this was one of the reasons for defer
ring action until next week. Representa-
tive Cannon, of Illinois, occupied the chair,
with Representative Loudenslager, cf New
Jersey, as secretary.
CRUMPACKER'S RESOLUTION.
At the outset Mr.. Crumpacker presented
his resolution as follows:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
caucus that the committee of rules report
a resolution, as a substitute for those now
pending in said committee, providing in
substance that a selecte committee be ap-
pointed by the speaker, TO consist of eleven
members, whose duty ii shall be, and who
shall have full and complete power and au-
thority. TO investigate and inquire whether
the right TO vote of any of the male in
hob f,fa ~ .
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 il shall be its duty to report
at any time, by bill or otherwise, such
measure or measures as may be necessary
to place the representation of such States
in the House of Representatives upon
constitutional basis"
Mr.. Crumpacker supported his resolution
in a vigorous speech. urging the need of an
investigation fully authentcating the facts
as preliminary TO decisive action by Con-
gress. He was followed by Representatives
Tayler, of Ohio. Dayton, of West Virginia,
Moody of Massachusetts, Olmstead of
Pennsylvania. Morris, Of Minnesota. and
Shattuc of Ohio. all in favor of the pro-
posed investigation. Ii soon developed here
that the Southern Republicans were more
favorable to a strong election law than to
any resolution which contemplated re-
duction of membership from those States.
Southern men who spoke against the reso-
luton and in favor federal election law
includes Representatives Blackburn and
Moody of North Carolina, and Gibson of
Tennessee Messrs. Bartholdt, of Missouri
and ROdey. of New Mexico, also favored
the plan of an election law.
After the discussion had proceeded for
some time. with little prospect. of agree
ment. Chairman Cannon yielded the chair
10 Mr.. Long. of Kansas. and taking the
floor. made strong appeal for conserva-
tive action. He pointed out the difficulties
which had been encountered when former
force bills had been urged before Con-
gress. and he cited the incidents in the
Forty-third Congress when five members of
Congress had died from the indirect effects
of the protracted struggle over an election
law. He referred also to the agitation this
movement would occasion and the feelings
it would engender. Mr.. Cannon was for
postponing action. at least for the present
and the tenor of his remarks was not IA
vorable 10 any Of the plans proposed
Representative Parker. of New Jersey
also opposed action, and Representative
Reeves, Of Illinois. was for postponement
Late in the evening Mr.. Payne the floor
leader made a brief speech. adding Ills
view in favor of deferring action until the
question could be eXmained with more care.
BY this time the sentiment of the caucus
was clearly favorable for pOstponing the
subject for another week. and. accordingly.
a motion prevailed TO adjourn the caucus
unit nov