The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-04
THEY CAUCUSED
IN VAIN
REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBERS FAIL
TO AGREE ON CRUM-
PACKER BILL
soUTHERNERs A BIT BAIKY
Congressman Morris, of Minnesota,
supports Hoosier Statesman's =
Proposition, but Action
Is Deferred.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.@The Repub-
Hcan members of the house Of represent
atives held a caucus in the house tonight
TO consider line Of policy to be adopted
concerning the alleged Acknowledgement
OF voters in the South. The caucus last
ed from 8 o'clock to shortly after IL
O'Clock, When 1t was determined to adj
Journ for enc week to consider more fully
the different propositions brought for
ward.
The main discussion Of the meeting
turned on a resolution offered by Repre-
sentative Crumpacker, of Indiana, pro-
Vld1ng 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
out several other propositions, mainly
from Southern Republicans, who favored
strong federal election law, including
one from Representative Bartholdt (Mo)
on these lines. About 125 Republican
members were in attendance, out Of a
full membership of 200 Speaker Hender-
SON, Representative Payne IN. ". the
Republican floor leader, and most of the
leaders OF the house, including about ali
of the Southern Republicans, were ures-
ent The gathering was not as. numerous
as had been desired, however and this
was one of the main reasons for defer
ring action until next week Representa-
O~>-@N~NAN
Representative Loudenslager IN. J) 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 re.
port a 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 inhabitants of any of the
states tWenty-one years of age, and being
citizens of the United States, is denied
or abridged by the constitution and laws
of any state, except for crime; and if
such is found to be the fact, said select
committee shall have the right, and it
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 constttu-
tionaI basis.
Mr.. Crumpacker supported his resolu-
ton in vigorous speech, urging the
need of an investigation fully anthem
ticating the facts as preliminary to de-
Morris Backs the HOOsier.
He was followed by Representatives
Taylor, of Ohio; Dayton, of West Vir-
ginia; Moody, of Massachusetts,; Ohm
stead, of Pennsylvania; Morris of Mime
sofa, 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 to any resolution
which contemplated reduction of men,
bership from the South. The Southern
men who spoke against the resolution
and in favor Of a federal election law in
cluded Representatives Blackburn and
Moody, of North Carolina, and Gibson, of
Tennessee. Messrs. Bartholdt, of Mis-
souri,, 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
to Mr.. Long, OF Kansas, and, taking the
floor, made a strong appeal for conserva-
tive action. He pointed out the difficulties
which had been encountered when for
mer force bills had been urged before
congress, and he cited the incidents in
the Forty-third congress when five MEM
bers of congress had died from the in
direct effects Of the protracted struggle
over an election law. He referred also
occasion, and the feelings it would en-
gender.
Cannon and Payne for Delay.
Mr.. Cannon was for postponing action,
at least for the present, and the tenor
of his remarks was not favorable to any
of the plans proposed. Representative
Parker, Of New Jersey, also opposed &C.
ton, and Representative Reeves, Of Il
hnots, was for postponement
Late in the evening Mr. Payne, the
floor leader made brief speech, adding
his views in favor of deferring action
until the question could be examined
with more care. BY this time the senti-
ment of the caucus was clearly favor
able for postponing the subject for an
other week, and accordingly a motion
prevailed to adjourn the caucus until
next Monday night.