Democratic messenger., 1904-12-10
BILL TO CUT
SOUTH'S VOTE
Platt Introduces Measure to Rednce
Its Representation in Congress.
MEANS LOSS OF NINETEEN VOTES

mittee on national affairs of the Re-
publican Club of the city of New York,
having as its purpose the reduction OF
the representation in congress of
southern states that have disfranchsed
the colored voter.
The measure. if enacted in its pres
ant form, would lessen the member
ship in congress by 10. as follows:
Alabama. from 9 to Z; Arkansas. I to
g. Florida, 3 to 2; Georgia. IL TO =:
Louisiana. to 5; Mississippi. to 6;
North Carolina, 10 to 8: South Caro-
lima. to 3: Tennessee. 10 to 8; Texas,
16 to Is: Virginia. 10 to s.
The introduction of the bill created
considerable interest on the Demo-
cratic side of the chamber and at he
request of several senators portions Of
the measure were re-read.
The bill amends the act making
an apportionment of representatives in
congress among the several states un-
der the 18th census" by adding new
sections.
The first is a preamble, as follows
Section 6-Whereas, the Constitu-
tion of the United States prescribes. in
article 4, section 2, that when the right
to vote at any election specified in said
article is denied to any of the male
inhabitants of such states. being q
years of age, and citizens of the
United States, or in any way abridges,
except for participation in rebellion
or other crime, the basis of represeI-
tation therein shall be reduced. in
which the number of male citizens
shall bear to the whole number OF
male citizens q years of age in such
state and further prescribes in arti
Gle Is that the right of citizens of the
United States to vote shall not be de-
MED or abridged by the United States
or any state, on account of race, color
or previous condition of servitude;'
and, whereas. the congress is satisfied
that the right of male inhabitants of
certain states, being 81 years of age
and citizens of the United States. to
vote at some of said specified elections
since the passage of the act hereby
amended, had in fact been denied or
in some way abridged for causes not
permitted by the Constitution of the
United States, and that the represen-
tation of the states hereinafter speci-
fled should be reduced pursuant TO the
Constitution
It then provides that after the Sd
of March the representation of certain
states shall be as given above.
| 1t provides in section for election
at large of the representatives of any
state whose representation is reduced.
provided the state prior to election
| does not redistrict the state on the re-
duced basis
The steering committee of the SEN
| ate framed the order of business for
the senate until the holiday recess.
Four matters will be given attention in
this period They are the Philippine
bill, on which the senate has agreed
to vote December l6. statehood legis-
lation, the nomination of William ID.
Crum to be collector of the port of
Charleston. S. c.. and the question of
filling vacancies on senate committees.
The names of the following post
masters were presented:
Maryland-Jesse West, North East.
Virginia-Asbury Redfern, Stras-
burg; John w. Campbell. Warrenton.
New Jersey-Richard A. Applegate.
Alpha; Guide C. Hinchman, Dover:
Frederick P. Baker, Millington:
Thomas Graham. Point Pleasant.
Pennsylvania-Chr Z. Goyer.
Catawissa: Elmer d. Carl. Green Cas-
tie; William S. Gleason. Johnsonburg:
Levi J. Foust. Johnstown; Charles
Clawsen, Mercer; Andrew c. Allison,
Miffiintown; William p. McMasters
Munhall: Perry A. Sanborn, North
East; John Gowland. Phillipsburg;
William Krause, Richland Center:
William A. Foist. White Haven; Royal
A. Stratton. Conneaut Lake; Uriah H.
Wieand. Emaus; Lyman l.. Shattuck.
Pleasantville: Hugh w. Gilbert, Quar-
ryville; James r. Underwood. Roscoe;
John w. Miller, South Sharon; Thomas
d. Alexander Oxford: Joseph b. Col
cord, Port Allegheny.
Determined Men Prevent Lynching.
Columbus, Ga, Dec. Only the
most determined effort on the part of
the white men has prevented the
lynching of William Vaughn at the
hands of negro mob in Russell
county. Ala. Vaughn confessed that
he robbed his wife's grandmother, set
fire to her house, murdered her and
threw her bleeding body into the
flames few days ago. After the cap
ture of Vaughn a mob of negroes
quickly assembled. They were wrought
up to a high pitch of excitement and
threatened to deal out summary JUS
tice. Only the sternest measures and
a most determined front on the part
of Sheriff Bellamy and number of
white men who gathered, expecting