Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1904-12-09
A HARD BLOW
AT THE SOUTH
Measure of Plat Would Cut Down
SOuth's Representation
IN THE LOWER HOUSE
Bailey Inquired IF 1t Would Affect
Senators From States Where 1t
Is Charged Governors Do
the Selecting.


suced in senate wednesday by Senator
Platt OF New York has for its object
the reduction in congress of southern
states that are alleged TO have disfran-
chised negro voters. The measure. IL
enacted IN its present form. would les
sen the membership i'm congress by
nineteen according to the estimate that
has been made by the Republican club
of New York City. which originated It.
The bill and a statement issued by
Senator Plat were referred to the COM
mittee on the census. The statement
is as follows:
This bill is framed on the lowest
Limitation possible and treaties as ex-
cluded from the suffrage only the male
negro citizen over twenty-one years Of
age. classed by the twelfth census as
illiterale. under the 1900 census tables
published since the aportionment act
OF Jan. 16. 1901.
THE aggregates actually excluded
from the suffrage In each OF the state.
mentioned are IN truth larger than those
used as the basis for this act. II all
negro votables, q. e.. male citizens over
twenty -one). regardless of illiteracy
could je deemed to be excluded. the
reduction In representation figured
from the same tables. would ben early
twice as great as stated In this bill.
ut requires no evidence beyond the
notorious historic fact of congress to
adjudge what cannot be denied. that
the class Of negro illiteratas to the ex-
tent stated. Is practically excluded
from tho suffrage I'm the states mem
toned IN the bill. no matter what may
be nominal provisions of their respect
i've constitutions or election laws. The
bill therefore presents the smallest re-
duction practicable. and is very con-
,ervati-e.
How much further. meritoriousIy
considered. the reduction should extend
can readily be arrived at by more spe-
officially regarding the actual facts OF
total exclusion in respect 10 each state.
III AAfhhaAAE ~ AlhfAlDilE vi representa-
lions the benefit has been given in ia
vor Of the representation. according to
the size Of the fractions. The appor-
tionment' remains as fixed in 1901. and
the reduction is to cease when the
facts shall warrant Il.
THE bill has been prepared under
the direction of the committee on ma
tional affairs Of the Republican club
OF the City of New York. the club hav-
ing at its first meeting after the pres
idential election unanimously voted to
request congress to take Immediate ac-
ton pursuant to the representation
plank in the national Republican plat
form"
The bin provides for the reduction
OF representation in the house of repre-
sentatives as follows: Alabama. from
TO :: Arkansas. : to s: Florida. 20
?; Georgia. II to 3: Louisiana. ! to 5.
Mississippi. 6 10 6: North Carolina. 10
10 8: South Carolina. : TO ;: Texa,
ls to Is: Virginia. 10 % &
At the request of Mr.. Carmack IN.
bin was read'in detail The lntroduc-
tion OF the bill created considerable in
terest On the Democratic side ~ the
chamber. ard NJ the request Of several
senators portions NJ the measure were
read. Mr.. Bailey was the only sena
tor who made any comment upon the
measure. With q tone 81 sarcasm he
asked If there was anything In the bill
affecting the representation in the SEN
ate from states wherein II IL charged
the governor. and not the legislature
selects senator's" Mr. Plat replied that
the bin contains no such provision.
With this the incident closed for the
time aud the routine was proceeded
with.
Mr.. Lodge called up the Pbilippine
government bill for the purpose OF ask
Ing to have the measure reprinted
and said that as It is on the calendar
as unfinished business Of the senat.
he would press lis consideration each
day after o'clock until disposed Of. |
An agreement was reached to vote |
upon the measure aud all amendments
at o'clock Friday. Tho 10th inst.
The discussion developed the fact
that II Is the expectation or senator's
that tn" holiday adjournment wifi take
place on the 10Th.