New-York tribune., 1902-04-12
DEPEW In A HOT FIGHT.
BONBSHELL THRO IVN AMONG
SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS.
THEY ACCUSE HIM OF WAVING THE
BLOODY SHIRT-L1NEL1 DEBATE
ON ELECTION METHODS

cerning the proposed amendment to the consutu-
ton providing for the election of Senator'S by pop
ular vote in the course of which he criticised
Southern election methods. precipitated sensa-
tional debate in the Senate to-day Mr. Money,
of Mississippi to whose State the New-York
Senator had referred. replied tartly to some
of the statements of Mr. Depew. and defended
the suffrage clauses in the Mississippi consti-
tuition
Mr. Depew made a warm reply. and attacked
the election methods not only of Mississippi
but of several other Southern States He inti-
mated that if fair methods were employed IN
those States Republican Senators would be here
their representatives
His remarks drew sharp fire from several
Senators. Mr. Money and his colleague. Mr.
McLaurin, explained Mississippi election meth
ods and Mr. Simmons. of North Carolina. as
serted that Mr. Depew had been entirely mis-
taken about the operation of the constitution
of that State. and that his statements were
erroneous MIR. Blackburn of Kentucky, sharp
Iy arraigned the New-YOrk Senator for his COM
ments on Kentucky elections. defended the
Goebel election law. and asserted that Mr.
Depew did not know the facts in regard to Ken
lucky politics.
MR. MONEY DEFENDS MISSISSIPPI.
Mr.. Money said he did not quite understand
why Mr. Depew should discuss the question at
this time as il was generally understood that
the resolution would be reported adversely to
the Senate. He said Mr.. Depew had selected
Mississippi to crticise for ranchislg it's cii
zens and to contrast with the State OF New
York He did not know whether the amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Depew or his remarks
thereon were intended to deter any one from
supporting the resolution. but if it were so in
tended IL would fail of it's object The rattle of
small arms he said would frighten nobody. He
would content himself with replying 10 the fire
of the skrmishers. with a promise that when
the heavy guns were brought into action IL
would be the effort of mis- side of the chamber to
afford them entertainment
Ref srr.ng to a statement of Mr.. Depew ne sail
that if the vote of the people of State was to
be denominatsd "a small oligarchy. what eoult
be said of the influence of great corporations
who had their representatives in this body? He
denied that the right to vote denied to any
citizen of Mississippi by the constitution of the
State When State like Massachusetts or
Mississippi" said he, says that a man must be
,bIe to write and understand paragraph OF
the constitution, that is not disability within
the purview of the Fourteenth Amendment
Replying to one of Mr. Depew's arguments.
Mr.. Money said he could not understand how the
sovereignty of State would be invaded by the
adoption of an amendment to the constitution
providing for the election of Senators by the
people but he could see that the efforts Of cor
porations and trusts to crowd the Senate cham
ber with their agents would be invaded MT
Money said Mississippi had a registered vote
of 125OO0 but many did not vote because or
the poll tax of 50, and he believed the body
polite was the purer because of the self-ex-
cIusion of such people In conclusion, MI.
Money declared that it was not the Southern
States which were dissatisfied with the present
h,rr
Republican States. which evidently were dis
satisfied with their representation in this cham
Der.
MR. DEPEW HITS BACK.
Mr. Depew Immediately replied to Mr. Moneys
remarks He said he had proposed his amend
ment because he desired 10 get the important
question before the Senate and the country
Some legislatures mad adopted resolutions in
favor of electing United States Senators by the
people but evidently there had been no proper
consideration of the question. The proposed
amendment had passed the House of Represen-
tatives without a moments consideration or dis
cusson, the effort seemingly being to unload
the whole question the Senate
Mr. Depew insisted that if Senators were TO be
elected by popular vote the whole question of
their election would be called UP whenever their
credentials were presented When the Senator
from Mississippi shall come here" said Mr.
Depew. and / hope he may continue 10 come.
the Senate will want to know whether citizens
of Mississippi have had the right. under the
constitution of the United States. to vote for or
against him. If any of them have been de-
prived of that right. the Senator will have
hard 10 travel when he takes hs seat.
Mr.. Depew said he had disposition to inter
fere with the local affairs of any Southern State.
and he would not favor so-caled force BILL
but when the men of New-York had east votes
in accordance with manhood suffrage they had
right to demand know what similar votes
had been cast in Mississippi. He declared that
the registration boards in Mississippi were
Iected practically from one party. and for one
particular purpose-to prevent the negro from
voting The negroes, he asserted. never could
satisfy the registration boards that they were
qualified TO vote That the kind of popu-
lar vote by which United States Senators would
be sent here from Mississippi. and those methods
would serve only to precpitate agitation in the
Senate Chamber. If change were to be made
in the method of electing Senators. then the
electorate must be kept entirely pure and free
from any suggestion of unfairness.
DENOUNCEs THE GOEsEL LAW.
He declared that if there manhood suf-
frase in Virginia Kentucky and North Carolina
there would be Republican Senator's in this
chamber from those States. There had been
fear or negro GOlniNatlOn III NOrtn CdrOiltd.
yet for the purpose of keeping Senator Pritch-
ard Republican. out of the Senate. and to Sc
cure a Democratic Senator in the place of Mr.
Butler, Populist, and for no other reasons, the
grandfather clause was inserted in the new con-
stitution of that State He sharply criticised
the Goebel Election law in Kentucky. by which
he said Mr. Taylor deprived of the Cover
nnrship. As TO Mississippi he asserted that the
boards Of registration in Mississippi determined
Of ole before hA