The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-02-17
CRUM MAY BE REJECTED.
Committee Reports UntavOrably OH His
Nomination. Six Democrats and TWO
Republicans Vote Against
Confirmation.
News and Courier.


Democrats on Thursday in authoriz.
ing an adverse report on tho nomi.
nation OF DIR. w. d. Crum, colored,
who was appointed collector Of the
port of Charleston.
The Senate committee on com
merce, to whom the nomination of
Crum WAS referred, took a formal
vote on the nomination without de.
bate and the result shows that Blk
Democrats and two Republicans
combined to spare the white citizens
Of Charleston from the inhiction Of a
colored collector Of customs; while
seven Republicans, true to their party
predictions, felt constrained, sever
al Of them against their better judg-
ment, to vote to sustain the colored
man whom the President had nomi-
mated for tho Office.
After the routine work of the com
mittee had been cleared away Chair
man Frye called up the Crum case.
No one seemed dispose to discuss
the subject further and Chairman
Frye ordered the roll to be called as
to whether or not the nomination of
Crum should be reported favorahly
to the Senate.
Those in favor of confirmation
were: Senators Frye, Elkins, CALM
ger, Depew, Penrose, Hanna and
Mason. Those against: Jones, of
Nevada, Republican; Perkins, of
California, Republican: and the fol
loving Democrats, Vest, Berry, Tur
ner, Martin, Clay, Mallory---8. Mel
son was absent. Thus the famous
vote Of the ELECTORAL commission of
1876, which decided the Presidential
contest of Hayes against Tilden in
favor of the former WAS repeated in
the Crum case to- day.
BY this action the Crum case goes
to the Senate with an adverse report
1t is very unusual thing for the
Senate to reverse the action of it's
committees on matters of this charac
ter. Senator Mason was tho onlv
member Of the minority who indicat
ed an intention of carrying the
fight into the Senate. Ho was q re-
cent visitor in Charlest on, where he
was invited to address Republican
meeting. His reception there was
anything but friendly, for he states
that he WAS obliged to address an
audience Of about three or four hun.
dred negroes in the open street be
cause no hall could be rented for his
convenience. Later in the day he
said that in view of the strong sen.
tlment in the committee and also
in the Senate against the confirma-
ton of Crum he would probably
waive his right to bring IN MINOR
ity report.
Prior to the meeting of the com
mittoe this morning your correspon-
dent called at the White House and
had talk with the the President re-.
garding the Crum case. Ii il no
violation Of confidence to say that the
President freely expressed himself
to this effect. In the first place, he
said he had not attempted to in.
fluenco the vote or the opinion of any
Senator regarding the Crum nomi
nation since it WAS presented to tho
Senate. He added that he simply
desired that Il direct vote should be
had upon the nomination of Dr.
Crum. If he is rejected he said he
would endeavor to suggost the name
Of somebody who would be moro ac.
coptablo to the people Of Charleston.
Ho was emphatic, however, in 10.
cl"rlng that any attempt to postpone
indefinitely or "dodge" II direct vote
on the nomination 30 as to defer ac-
ton until after Congress adjourned,
would be mot with a prompt renom
inntion Of DR.. Crum as recess
appointment.
The views Of tho President were
brought to the attention Of Senators
prior to the meeting and wero large
ly responsible for bringing action
upon the nomination today. 1t was
the programme of the opposition &c
Crum to defer final vote until
some future day but there seemed tc
| he n general liapoaiiinr ,,,o,,. a.