The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-04
NEGRO DISFRANCHISEMENY
REPUBLTCAN REPR SENTAIIVFS
 DISCUSS TT IN CAUCUS.
MT. Crumpacher Asks for U Special Com- mittee to Investigate and Report Remedies-Other Propositions Made Soathern Republicans Favor u Strong Election Law-Cannon Sees Danger fin Action

Election Law-Cannon Sees Danger in
 Action.
 Washington Feb 3.-The republican members of the house of representa-
 tiyes held caucus in the hall of the
 house tonight to consider a line of pol icy to be adopted concerning the alleged
 disfranchisement of voters in the south. The caucus lasted from o'clock until
 shortly after II, when it was deter
 mined to adjourn for one week to con- slider more fully the different proposi-
 tions brought forward. The main dis cussion of the meeting turned on reso-
 lution offered by Representa- i've Crum- packer of Indiana, providing for the ap- pointment of a special committee of the 1 house to investigate questions of dis l Reinstatement and to report remedies | to the house This brought out several other propositions, mainly from south ! ern republicans, who favored a strong general election law, including one from Representative Bartholdt of Missouri, on these lines. About 125 republican
 
 full membership of 200. Speaker Hen derson, Representative Payne of New York, the republican floor leader, and most of the leaders of the house, in- cluding about all of the southern re- publicans, were present. The gathering was not as numerous as had been de- sired, however owing to the bad wealth. CT and private engagements and this was one of the main reasons for de- ferring action until next week Rep resentative Cannon of Illinois occupied the chair, with Representative Lauden- slager of New Jersey as secretary
 At the outset MT. Crumpacker pre- sented his resolution, as follows:
 Resolved, that it is the sense of this caucus that the committee on 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 inhabt- ants 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 sail have the right and it shall be it's duty to report at any time, by bill or otherwise such measure or measures as may be necessary to place the repre- sentation of such states in the house of representatives upon constitutional basis"
 MT. Crumpacker supported his reso- luton in a vigorous speech urging the | need of an investigation fully authen- ticating the facts as a preliminary to | decisive action by congress. He was by Representatives Taylor of | Ohio, Dayton of West Virginia, Moody | of Massachusetts, Olmstead of Pennsyl- | vania, Morris of Minnesota and Shattuc 1 of Ohio, all in favor of the proposed | invest igation. It soon developed how ever, that the southern republicans l were more favorable to a strong cleo tion law than any resolution which | q reduction of member ship from the south.
 fNIltI Lub SCufSSlbII llttl 1TOCePuoQ TOT some time with little prospect of agree 1 nent, Chairman Cannon yielded the chair to MT Long of Kansas and talk Ing the floor made strong appeal for action. He pointed out he difficulties which had been encoun- cred when former Force bills' had been urged before congress and he cited l he incidents in the Forty-third con- Sress when five members of congress lad died from the indirect effects of the lrotracted struggle over an election aW. He referred also to the agitation his movement would occasion and the ceilings it would engender, MT. Can lon was for postponing action, at least or the present and the tenor of his emarks was not favorable to any of he plans proposed.
 By this time the sentiment of the aucus was clearly favorable for post ,onement of the subject for another week. and, accordingly a motion pre- ailed to adjourn the caucus until next 1onday night.