The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-04-22
House Aroused by Oratory
on Negro Question.
MANY PASSAGES AT ARMS
Military Academy Appropriation Bill
Creates a Lively Discussion OF the Race
Issue-Fieiy Comment From Both
Sides.

The negro politically and soclalty "o"iN
be an apt title to the theme CT discussion
which ran through the consideration Oh
the Military Academy appropriation Dill
in the House yesterday. Very little was
said about the pending measure ltseh'
but much was said in regard to the COL
ored man, his status and his relation u
the white man.
The measure appropriating $S.e0oceO loF
Various purposes for the Military Acao-
envy was explained by Chairman Hui ann
Representative Hay, promising little oil
interest until Representative Gilbert. OF
Kentucky, secured the floor and opened
up discussion OF the negro question
House Woke Up.
Then the House began to wake UP. espe-
cially as the Kentuckian's speech broush'
forth reply from Mr. Cillett, of Massachu-
sets, who championed the cause oil the
negro and fred Southern blood by making
statements in which he practically rccog-
nized the negro as the social equal OF the
white man, and said that he saw no OBJ
lection to receiving an educated negro So
cially.
This was more than Southern nature
could endure. and his remarks brought
forth fiery comment frcIl Mr. Patterson
OF Tennessee, MIR. ". ". kitchin OF
North Carolina, and Mr.. Gaines CT Ten
nessee. MIR Blackburn Of North Caro-
lima, a Republican, also became involved
in the political side of the controversy,
but he steered clear OF the social feature
He depicref a revival CT the race CUES
tion, and in doing so fired at the backers
OF the Crumpacker resolution as well as
at his Democratic opponents.
Negro Treatment.
Mr. Gilbert began the discussion of the
negro question by calling attention 10
statements previously made by Nj Gil
lett of Massachusetts and Mr.. Bromweli
of Ohio in regard 10 the treatment of the
negro in Kentucky.
He declared with much force that there
was not white girl in the Blue Grass
State OF the meanest, lowest, and most
ignorant station in life who would, not
marry the meanest white man in the
world rather than the most cultivated and
hest educated. negro in the country.
He called on the Republicans to quit
their hypoeritical cant and rot about a
faint of blood. When there was colored
man in this House from South Carolina.
he asked. did any Republican of this
House invite him to lunch or to his home?
NO; you did not. You tell Us how to
treat the negre, but you Will rot practice
what you preach"
He turned his attention to a statement
he accredited 10 Mr.. Bromvell of Ohio
that the people in Kentucky were saw
ages. He said there was more crime in
Cincinnati alone or in Boston than there
IS In the whole State of Kentucky.
Turns On Mr. BrollwelI.
He referred to the treatment accorded
10 the men who, charged with the muir
dor OF Kentucky official, made their way
10 fae S--'' and were everywhere met
vtH 5ren afme and smiles and the way
lis ~ hl2l .lrChtafs.
u- ,...ie.. sad -hst hg -ould net I'M
a.f.-rH Irlr. .s -slaa 1e, with thai
ts,r es sc4- t'cr ue &c the unpar-
yo-rtle r-.r.. chat o. or The people
of the NoIt4, re- 55t4. a-- not criticise tho
South for having p-es lice against tho
negro: what they did blame them for was
for insisting. Under threat OF social ostr&-
cism. that others should share that pre-
judice. Mr.. Gilbert asked Mr.. Gillett il
he had ever received a negro in his parlor.
Mr.. Gillett-Never democratic APP
plausel: and l was never so mean as TO
criticise man who did.
Rehearsal of Crimes.
Continuing. he said he could not I'M
derstand how anyone could receive as an
honored guest man whose hand might
be red with the blood OF lynching, his
soul under perjury committed at cleo
tons, ard refuse TO receive cultured,
honest, faithful man whose only offenso
WAS his color.
1t made his blood boil to know that
when young ladies' from the North the
equal in every respect OF any in the land,
went into the South, from motives of phil
anthropy or for self-support to teach
were sighted as if their touch or pres
ence was pollutica.
The code asserted by the gentlemen
from Kentucky, Mr.. Gillett said. was OBJ
solete, Anticipated. gone by, it was "a su-
viyal of the divine right of kings, she su-
periority OF the order of nobility. ard like
those il must pass away.
Georgia interrupts.
In the course OF his remarks, Nj Bart
lett tDem., Ca Interrupted Mr. Gillett to
ask how il was that in the aristocratic city
of Boston. that refned. cultured gentleman
from Alabama, Booker T. Washington,
was unable 10 find entertainment at
hotel.
Mr.. Gi!Iett-The gentleman was mis-
taken in all the facts. That occurred in
my own town OF Springfield, aud | know
all about it. The incident upon which tie
report was founded was this: Mr.. Wash
ington reached Springfield enc night When
IL was impossible 10 find accommodations
at either OF the INC leading hotels uf the
city. He usually stopped q one OF Them.
at which he was always welcomed. and
the managers q which occurred him ;odg-
ing at another hotel inviting him to re-
turn for breakfast
Mr. Gillett them addressed the commit
Zee on the subject 81 the sale Of horses
and mules IN The United States 10 British
agents for use with the British army in
South Africa. He conceded tha; these ami
mails we're c0ntfaband Of waF but accord
ing TO all authorities, from jefferson
down, the sale Of them by citizens Of the
United states was legitimate.
Again Bobs Up.
while later the negro question was
brought up again by Mr.. Patterson Of
Tennessee, who replied TO the statements
OF Mr.. Gillett. He said that Northern
men when they came to the South be-
came imbued with the same sentiment
regarding the negro. He told OF an in
stance where as prosecuting attorney in
Memphis he had prosecuted six men for
lynching many negroes. and that three
OF the six lygehers were Northern men.
He argued that IL was not so much
prejudice against the negro as matter
ri q