The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-29
RACE QUESTION BEFORE
THE HOUSE ALL MONDAY
Mr.. Gillett Replies to Mr.. Spight
and ArouseS Several
Southerners.
PRESIDENT IS DEFENDED

WASHINGTON March 2S.-The sundry
civil bill was before the House to-day and
the debate took a wide range Mr.. Gillett,
of Massachusetts, devoted considerable
time to answering some of the statements
recently made on the floor by Mr. Spight.
of Mississippi regarding the race question.
Mr.. Gillett said he had supposed there
were no social grades in the United States.
but that every man had the right to choose
his friends and associates among those
most in sympathy with him. He defended
the President for inviting Booker Washing
ton to dine with him and said the President
was a man of a big heart. as we'll as
birth, breeding and cultivation.
Answering a question by Mr.. Kitchen.
of North Carolina. Mr.. Gilett declared that
he condemned lynchings on any terms.
Mr.. Richardson, of Alabama, interrupted
to say that whenever the negroes cease
committing the crime of rape the lynchings
and burnings will cease with *.
Mr.. Gillett declared that the feeling in the
North toward the negro is stronger than it
is in the South. In the North. he said,
there is a stronger natural repugnance
toward the negro. AT the same time, he
said, the people of the North don't recog
nlze this preposterous talk of social eual-
there were no social grades in this coun-
try. Every man, he said. can choose his
own friends and can associate with whom
SoeVer he pleaSeS. All classes socially are
equal, he said, but that doesn't mean we are
all going TO associate together. Every
man. he continued selects for his asso-
clates those most in sympathy with him.
He spoke of the Booker Washington Incl
dent at the White House and said no one
mad the right to say it was disgrace to
invite Booker Washington to the White
Mr.. Gillett asked by Mr. Kitchen if
ne mad ever invited negro to his table.
Upon Mr.. Gillett's answering that he had
not Mr.. Kitchen remarked II want you
to practice what you preach"
A statement by Mr.. Gillett that it is not
blood that makes caste brought Mr.. Stay
den, of Texas, to his feet, VINO insisted
that Ii does make caste in this country.
1T does in some parts Of the country"
retorted Mr.. Gillett.
You are apologizng for the President"
remarked Mr.. Slayden
This Mr. Gillett denied but he said he
admired the President for what he had
a big heart and done by a man who had
birth, breeding and cultivation"
The Booker Washington affair, he said,
no doubt was accident, but yet from
the accident apparently had sprung great
consequences.
Mr. Gillett drew the fire of many of the
Southern representatives, who piled him
with questions regarding social equality.
Mr.. Gillett declared that this kind of So
cial equality is artificial and that in the
United States race doesn't make superiority.
In the South, he said, they appeal to race
prejudice to make their section solid
against the Republicans. There is race
prejudice in the North. he admitted in re-
ply to Mr.. Slayden. but it is natural.
Thoughtful. rejecting men, however, he
argued, should not feel it.
Mr.. Reeder. of Kansas, in defense of
Booker Washington, said there is not
person in his section of the country who
would not feel 1t an honor to invite Mr.
Washington to his table.
A strong plea for the tobacco growers
was made by Mr. Trimble, of Kentucky
who urged the removal of the tax of 6
cents a pound on raw tobacco in order that
the producer might sell direct TO the con-
sumer
MIR. Perkins criticised the expense of
government printing and said il cost %
per cent. more than the same work done in
private offices. The government printing
Office, he maintained, should be operated
on a business basis, and he called attention
to the fact that the office was without
typesetting machines. He favored a con-
siderable curtailment in the appropriation
for printing.