The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-20
lR. PAYNE IS EXPLAINING
DOES NOT, HOWEVER, TELL ANY
THING THAT rs NEW.
The President ls Depending on cruu-
packer and Others to % the Boost
ira for His Scheme.
Special TO The Post,


Washington, November l0.--Alarmed by
the amount Of sentiment aroused by the
announcement that President Roosevelt
would sanction the movement TO cut down
the South's representation In congress.
Postmaster General Payne is again ut.
tempting 10 ofter explanations OF the presl-
dents attitude. II win DO remembered
that the day after the announcement OF
Roosevelt's Intentions appeared in The
Post, Mr.. Payne said there was mo au-
thority for the use OF the president s
name" in connection with the reduction in
representation plan. He did not, however.
deny that the president was really In favor
Of the plan, The publication OF the facts
10 the case created stir In the South es-
peclnlly IN view OF the subsequent an
nouncement that Representative Crumpack-
er ana other advocates Of the plan would
hold conference as soon as possible after
the converting OF congress- for the purpose
OF outlining a campaign for the winter
Mr.. Payne has evidently had his ear to
the ground, as It were aud Is therefore In
a position to know something Of the man
ner In which the announcement Of the ad
ministratlon's intention has been received.
Today he said that the president had no
intention Of calling upon congress for egs-
lRtion reducing the souths representation
In the house
The tone used left the impression that
Roosevelt expected the republicans in con-
gress TO take the action in question with
out any prompting from him, and In well
informed quarters there is little or no
doubt that the matter win be brought up as
soon as possible after the beginning Of the
short session. The postmaster general
made no secret Of the intention OF the adj
ministraton to attempt to reduce the rep
resentation OF Southern republicans In the
National congress; II have no doubt that
the next congress viii seriously consider
this matter" sald he. THE whole ques.
tion will hinge on this: There are 100 votes
Ia the republican National convention from
States IN the South which do not poll as
many republican votes as are cast IN the
single State of Minnesota Minnesota has
only twenty delegates IN the convention.
do not think this is fair, and believe there
ought to be a change 30 as TO regulate tho
matter as 1t is regulated In the local con.
ventions OF all OF the States where the
number of the votes cast is made the basis
Of representation. There could be no valid
bbltAAlbh " lAAN RlAbNe NhNAANNifN" N"NtAS
fishing the precedent 1 hope 70 see some
action In 1904"
The action OF the president IN removing
Alabama office holders because OF their
participation IA the anti.negro movement
was thus commented on by Mr.. Payne:
1.-THE presidents idea was not to build up
n white mans party. black mans party
a yellow mans party or any other kind OF
a party In the South. 1t had no bearing on
such a question. He aimed merely to mete
out Justice to those who have been unfair
In certain political matters. The removals
mean that the republicans not only Of the
South, but everywhere are not 10 be en-
couraged In assuming an attitude calcu'
lated 70 prevent qualified electors from the
exercise Of their political rights and par.
tlcipatlon In affairs growing out Of these
rights. The president means to protect the
building up a white republican party In the
South
AS a shining example Of an explanation
that does not explain this statement by Mr..
Payne is generally conceded to be entitled
TO a prize II will. In any event hardly
satisfy the republicans who have benA re-
moved TO make way for so-called gold
democrats" Endorsed by Booker T. Wash
citizens In their political rights regardless
Of what may be said on the subject OF
lngton.