The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-19
WILL SOUTHERN REP
RESERVATION BE
REDUCED?
Editorial correspondence

Washington, d. c., March 1S.-The full
publican majority directing the Commit
tee on Rules to meet during the recess has
not been appreciated. 1t was given out
that this committee would meet to con-
slider any proposed changes in the Sen
ate rules. That sounds very harmless,
and the people have not generally sup
posed it had any hidden meaning. And
there may be none. Again it may por-
tend such a radical change as will enable
the next Congress to settle the presiden-
tial election before the nominating con-
ventions are held.
Ten years ago Mr.. Lodge, Mr.. Hoar
and other Eastern Republican Senators
led the fight for the adoption of the Force
bill, fittingly characterized by Senator
Teller the most infamous measure that
ever crossed the threshold of the Senate.
1t was defeated by the votes of Western
Republican Senator'S Today the Eastern
Republican Senators, as rule. are OPP
posed to any legislation whatever that
touches the Southern question, while it
is Western Senators who are now in favor
of Furnishing the South for being true to
the Democratic party.
What has that to do with the recess
meeting of the Senate Committee on
Rules? Everything If the majority in
the Senate is considering a reduction OF
Southern representation in Congress, as
there is good reason TO believe the first
step would be to amend the Senate rules
so that the Democratic minority coos
be treated in the Senate with as little
courtesy and consideration as is given
them in the House Why should the
Committee on Rules desire permission to
sit during recess? To give time for two
things: /. To perfect a cloture that would
sound smooth, but which would have the
gag law under the velvet; 9 To give
time to sound the party leaders quietly
and work up the machine" in all the
Republican States to the sticking point
be forced into line
l do not say that the next Congress
will pass an act something like the Crum-
packer bill reducing Southern represen-
tation in Congress, but the real secret
of this recess meeting of the Committee
on Rules is that the Republican leaders
hero wish tn SEQ how deon tho yratar iS
If they think they need to reduce South
ern representation in Congress and that
they can get enough public sentiment to
back il up look out for the reduction of
Southern representation to be the lead
ing question before Congress next winter
As a preparatory step to that end the
rules must be changed. There is really
no reason for changing them unless some
such revolutionary measure is to be UNI
dertaken.
or course the Republican majority has
been exasperated because of Senator
Tillman's eompulsion of paying the debt
due to South Carolina and Senator Nor
CANS long drawn out opposition to the
Republican canal program. These, how
ever. arc being made the excuse for the
revolutionary and sectional programme
which the leaders have under advsement.
1t is believed that Allison and Alar.c
will daddy the reduction of representation
scheme if it shall be found safe to carry
it into execution. The championship of
the plan by those old stagers would be
ominous to the South.
There is an internal reason why the
Republican party would like to go into
the next national campaign upon an is
sue that appeals to prejudice rather than
to reason The President is not in accord
with men like AIdricb, Plat and Quay on