The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-15
ON SUFFRAGE LIMITATION AT
The SOUTH.
HIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT
To the Resolution for Popular EIec-
ton of Senators-Most OF the ses-
sion TO the Chinese Exclu-
sion RiII-Sote to be Taken .ext
Tuesday-Spar Between Senators
TflIman and B~acon-Thc House
Continues the Debate on the Cuban
Reciprocity Bill.

Washington, April 10.-An effort was
made late toda, in the senate to OBJ
tain an agreement upon a time for a
vote upon the Chinese exclusion bill,
but 1t was unsuccessful. The indi-
cations now are hat the vote will be
taken nex Tuesday. The measure was
under discussion during the entire ses-
sion today, except for about an hour,
in which time the postoffice appro-
priation bill was considered and
passed.
nat Stewart sal he would vote
for the measure, if it was the best that
could he obtained. as he favored the
exclusion of Chinese iaborers. but he
was opposed to many of the provisions
Of the measure.
Senator Hoa-. with considerable
feeling, announced his vigorous oppo-
sition to the hill. declaring that he
never would vote for it.
Early in the session Senator Depew,
of New York, spoke briefly against
the adoption of the resolution provid-
ing for the election of senators by
! popular vote. IN effect. he served no.
tice upon those states which had
limited their suffrage that if the reso-
luton was enacted a demand would
be made upon them to accord all their
citizens the right to vote, or suffer a
loss of representatives in congress-.
Mr.. Depew offered an endm to
the resolution 20 provide for the cleo
ton of senators by popular vote. The
amendment was AS follows:
The Qualific6t lion of citizens entitled
to vote for United States senators and
" -L1l -
uniform in all tie states. and congress
shall have power to enforce this article
by appropriate legislation and to pro-
vide for the registration of citizens en-
titled to vote, tn. d of such cleo
tons and the certificate: of the result"
In part senator Depew said: THE
amendment under consideration pro-
poses to make the senate a popular
body n reverse the principle upon
which the government has existed
down to the present time. With the
adoption of such an amendment to the
constitution if it is adopted, this addi
ton which 7 offer to it is the clear and
logical sequence.
"a number OF states have bv various
devices prevented a third, or a half or
more. of citizens. recognized as such
by the constitution or the United
States, from exercising the right of suf-
frage. The local reasons which have
led TO the adop-ion of these measures
are not pertinent to this discussion.
The adoption of these new constitu-
ions in several states. however. con-
tanning grandfather and other clauses.
has led to a movement in the house OF
representatives and in the legislatures
OF some of the states to hange the
representation in the house of repre-
sentatives from population to votes.
But if. in the election of United StateS
senator's. a small oligarchy in any
state can send here a representation
equal to that OF great states like New
York. which have manhood suffrage; il
states in which half of the voters are
DISTINGUISHED are to have an equal
voice in this BODY with states like
Pennsylvania. uf five or ten times their
population and with manhood suf-
rage: if New York. which casts be-
cause of it's manhood suffrage 1877. 912
votes. is to be reutralized in legislation
affecting her East interests bv Missis-
sippi, casting $1,000 votes. because the
majority Of her citizens are disfran-
chised-then the situation becomes in
tolerahla.
st am not. under ordinary circrm-
tances. and normal conditions in ia
vor of the proposed reduction of rep
resentatives in the southern states: I
am not in favor of any legislation by
the general government which inter-
feres with the local affairs of those
commonwealth: hut If the door Is
opened by the adoption OF this amend
ment to the constitution for the chang
ing of character and constitution OF