New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-09
TO LET THE SOUTH ALONE.
Its Representation IN Congress Not
Likely To Be Reduced.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

| Iy question the ACCESSIBILITY of agttating the
! question of Southern representation in Congress
! just now. and are inclined to ask of what use
! are such measures as that introduced yesterday
! by senator Platt and the House resolution which
! Representative Crumpacker regards as so i'm
/ portant Among themselves the leaders frankly
admit that it would be Impossible to enact any
/ legislation of this character without the adop-
! ton of a closure rule in the Senate, a course
! which would be vigorously opposed by major
! lty IN the upper chamber Under existing Sen
ate rules far smaller majority than the Demo-
! Gratis now have could talk to death any measure
TO which they were unanimously opposed and
with thirty-three Democrats in the upper cham
/ Der they would have little difficulty - defeat
ing measure which aimed at all they hold most
dear
When Senate and House leaders come together
on this question the argument always turns on
the propriety of maintaining rules which Will
permit the minority TO defeat measure sup
ported by the majority but the Senators believe
that the unlimited discussion which is possible
IN the upper chamber goes far to maintain the
prestige of that body. and. moreover acts as a
safeguard with which they could i'll afford to
| dispense against radicalism and the tyranny of
the majority. Probably majority of Senator's
nave seen the time when they believed, perhaps
even advocated. the adoption Of some method of
limiting debate but they became more ex-
perienced ana more familiar with House meth
ods they were gradually won over to the policy
OF unlimited debate. and few of the older mem
bers can entertain with patience the suggestion
that what they are pleased 20 call gag rule be
adopted in the Senate.
These being the facts. the more thoughtful
members of both houses are prone to meet every
inquiry regarding legislation which has for its
object ba Of
with the question, "Cui bono?"
On the other hand. there are many members
Of Congress who believe that If the subject is
dropped and the Southern States are left to work
out their own solution of the race problem. the
solid South which this year showed the first
signs of disintegraton. will eventually disap-
pear. In support of this theory they declare
that the overwhelming defeat which the So
called conservative faction in the Democratic
party has just suffered will probably result in
the supremacy of the radical or Populistic-So-
cialistic element four years hence. In the
mean time the South is building up nanufact-
uring industry, and is in many respects enjoy
ing the fruits OF the prosperity due to Repub-
lican policies. The radicalism of the Democ-
racy. it is asserted, is bitter pill TO the con-
sentative element in the South. and as it be-
comes more radical it win prove still more dis
tasteful. Those who hold these opinions believe
they can see the day when II not irrltated by
purposeless proposals to restrict its representa-
ton, the South will send to Congress many Re-
publicans, and when a Republican Presidential
candidate will be able to split the solid South"
wide open.
MORE REDUCTION BILLS
Representative Morrell. Of Pennsylvania. TO-
day introduced n bin 70 reduce representation
In States where citizens DISTINGUISHED The
bill Is more general than that introduced by
Senator Plat yesterday. II enacted into law
1t would reduce the representation in Congress
of any State which after March T. 1907 denies
the right Of suffrage TO any Of its male inhab-
itants. or in any way abridges such right Eek
cept for participation In rebellion or other
crime the reduction to be proportionate TO
the denial of the right OF suffrage The bin
makes 1t the duty OF the Secretary OF Commerce
and Labor to ascertain. through the Census
Bureau. by OF a biennial census the
number OF such citizens in each State to whom
the right to vote is so denied or abridged and
to report the same to the speaker OF the House
Of Representatives. on the fourth day Of
March. 1907. and biennaIly thereafter Provi-
sion is made for the reading of the report I'll
open session at the beginning Of each Congress-
eff it should appear" the bill further provides
that the number of Representatives that have
Der TO which 1t shall be entitled according to the
rule of apporttonment herein provided. none of
the persons accredited as Representatives
shall be entitled to seats in the House Of Repre-.
sentatves but vacancy in the entire repre-
sentation of such State shall be declared by
resolution OF the House. and the executive au-
thority of such State shall issue writs for the
election of a number of Representatives at large
for the same equal to the number to which It
may be justly entitled declared by the House
OF Representatives"
Representative Sherman, of New-York to-day
introduced bill identical with that introduced
by Mr.. Plat in the Senate reducing the repre-
sentatiOn Of Southern States in Congress-
An effort is being made to enlist the influence
of President Roosevelt in promoting the propo-
sition to reduce the representation of certain
Southern States. Representative Crumpacker,
of Indiana one Of the advocates OF a reduction
in Southern representation, had talk with the
President to-day regarding the question. He
declined to make any statement about the result
Of his interview He will probably have a more
extended conference with the President on the
subject at a later date The President has not
indicated what his attitude may be toward the
proposed legislation.
BEEF TRUST CASE PASSED OVER.