The news & observer., 1902-02-05
SOUTHERN Men SAY NAY
Blackburn. Moody and Gibson Speak
For the Force Bill.
CANNON POINTS our THE DIFFICULTIES
Payne Asks That Action be Defsrt d and as The
Sentiment Of The Caucus is With Him
The Matter GOES Over For
a Wetk.
(By the Associated Press.)


(By the Associated Press.)
Washington. Feb. s.--The Republican
members Of the House of Representa-
tives held a caucus in the hall of tbs
House tonight to consider line of policy
to be adopted concerning the alleged dis
franchisement of voters in the South.
The caucus lasted from o'clock until
shortly after H. when it was determined
TO adjourn for one week to consider more
fully the different positions brought for
ward.
The main discussion of the meeting
turned on a resolution offered by Repre-
sentative Crumpacker, of Indiana, pro-
Vlding tor the appointment Of special
committee of the House to investigate
questions for the appointment and to
report remedies to the House. This
brought out several other propositions,
mainly from Southern Republicans who
favored strong Federal election law,
including one from Representative Borth-
Oldt, of Missouri. About one hundred
and twenty-five Republican members
were In attendance out of full member
ship of two hundred
Speaker Henderson, Representative
Payne, of New York, the Republican
floor leader, and most of the leaders of
the House, including about all of the
Southern Republicans were present
Representative Cannon, Illinois occu
|Npied the chair with Representative
D0udenslager. of New Jersey. as secre-
tarN
AT the. outset Mr. Crumpacker present
ed his resolution. As follows;
ts'Resolved That it is the sense of this
caucus that the Committee on Rules
report resolution, as a substitute for
chose now pending in said committee.
providing in substance, that select
committee be appointed by the Speaker
to consist of eleven members, whose
duty it shall be, and W.ha~Sha1f have full
and complete power and authority to in
vestigate and inquire whether the right
10 vote of any of the male inhabitants of
any of the States, q years Of age and
being citizens of the United States. is
denied or abriged by the constitution and
laws of any State, except for crime; and
if such Is found to be the fact, said Sc
lect committee shall have the right. and
it shall be its duty to report at any time.
by bin or otherwise, such measure or
the representation of such States in the
House of Representatives upon a consti-
tutional basis
Mr.. Crumpacker supported his resolu-
tion in a. vigorous speech. urging the
need of an investigation fully authenti-
eating the facts as preliminary TO de-
cisive action by Congress. He was fol-
lowed by Representatives Taylor, of
Ohio, Dayton. of West Virginia. Moody.
of Massachusetts, Olmstead, of Penn
Sylvania, Morris, of Minnesota, and
Shattuc, of Ohio. all in favor of the pro-
posed Investigation. 1t soon developed,
however, that the Southern Republicans
were more favorable to a strong election
law than any resolution which contenn-
plated reduction of membership from
the South. The Southern men who spoke
against ~ resolution and IN favor of a.
e~Mn law included Represen-
W q URN and Moody, of North
10 AGibson, of Tennessee.
IA zsss. BayE of Missouri, and Rod
: eyE Of New b. also favored the plan
a an electiNeN@.
y After the discussion had proceeded for
some time, with little prospects of agree
gment, ChairlnanCannon took the floor
ard made q strong appeal for conserva-
tive action He pointed out the difficult
ties which had been encountered when
former force bills had been urged be-
fore Congress, and referred TO the agita-
tion this movement would occasion and
the feelings II would engender. Mr..
Cannon was for postponing action, at
least for the present, but his remarks
were not favorable to any OF the plans
proposed. Late in the evening, Mr..
Payne, the floor leader, made brief
speech, adding his view in favor of de-
fering action until the question could be
examined with more care BY this time
the sentiment of the caucus was clearly
favorable for postponing the subject for
another week. and accordingly a motion
prevailed to adjourn the caucus until
next Monday night.