The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-23
LIVELY DEBATE
IN LOWER HOUSE
"Jim Crow" Cars for District
of Columbia Under
Consideration.
AMENDMENT is DEFEATED
REPUBLICAN LOVE FOR THE
BLACK BROTHER.

Washington, Feb. 22-The race ques-
ton came to the surface in tn house
today when Mr.. Heflin of Alabama Of
fered an amendment to the District o!
Columbia street railway trackage bill
providing for Jim Crow cars. Mr.
Heflin declared that separate coaches
for the whites and blacks had solved
the race problem in Alabama and he
expressed the opinion that such an ar
rangement would solve it in Washing
ton.
Mr.. Foster of Vermont voiced mis-
protest against the amendment and
said it was regrettable that on the
birthday of George Washington such
an un-American proposition should De
advanced.
Does my friend believe Washington
himself would vote for this amendment
if he was here?" inquired Mr. Griggs
of Georgia. amid laughter.
'Emphatically no. responded Mr..
Foster.
Illinois Shotgun Quarantine.
The amendment was bitterly fought
by Mr.. Madden, Illinois. who asserted
that congress should never legislate
in favor of one element against an
other. He was twitted by Mr.. Griggs.
who inquired of him if he remembered
the shotgun quarantine established by
Governor Tanner against negroes?"
Mr.. Madden responded that ne never
conceded the right of the governor to
act as he did.
By this time a number of southern
members were vainly seeking recugni-
tion-
(which race does the amendment
discriminate against?" inquired Mr.
Humphreys of Mississippi, who first
got the chairman's eye.
Derisive Democratic Laughter.
Il don't concede the right of the gen
tleman to ask such a question. MI
Madden replied, at which the Demo-
Gratis derisively laughed
Mr.. Humphreys insisted that the
amendment provided equal but sepa-
rate accommodations. He provoked
Democratic laughter and applause
when he said, pointing to the members
in the galleries, that, although the Re
publicans were the friends of the ne
grOes, he could not see any members
of the African race in those galleries.
Has the gentleman ever issued any
cards to the members gallery to a ne
gro?' asked Mr.. Griggs, insistently
Yes, sir" Mr.. Madden replied, land
l will be glad to do so again.
Campbell Butted in.
1t remained, however, for Mr. Camp
bell of Kansas TO arouse the interest,"
of the. house on the subject. He de-
Tended the negroes of Washington. and
said he never noticed anything often
sive on their part on street cars.
Nothing disturbs your equanimity
except small children remarked Mr..
Clayton of Alabama
There are a great many who do not
disturb me at ALL WAS Mr.. CampbelPs
retort.
Would you add the representative
from Alabama" inquired Mr.. Griggs,
amid laughter
Il will add the gentleman, said Mr..
Campbell. smilingly.
by request" said Mr.. Simms of
Tennessee. soto voice.
Yes" said Mr.. Campbell, "and by
request of the gentleman from Geor-
gia-r The repartee convulsed the house
and galleries, which had become pack
ed to the doors, with many struggling
for admittance
Mr.. Campbell said he would regard
it as an evil day when congress wourd
create a class distinction.
A voice was heard to say that the
Republicans were after negro votes.
This infiamed Mr.. Campbell, who de-
clared it to be "a shame to the gen.
tleman from Alabama, and his party
that there are thousands of coiored
men in his state and in the south who
have no vote"
Discrimination in Kansas.
Laughter was brought down upon him
when. after stating that Kansas guar
anteed the rights and privileges OF
every citizen, Mr.. Bartlett (GeOrgia)
read dispatch stating that Booker
Washington had been denied hotel ac-
commodations at Wichita, Kan
Mr.. Campbell took the matter very
seriously and declared that if the dis
patch was true and Washington had
the time to give, TO the action i'm the
courts. the hotel could be the defend
ant in an action for damages, and he
added. amid shouts of laughter, the
probabilities are that the hotel man was
a Democrat from Alabama or Georgia.
The Democrats from Alabama or
Georgia." interjected Mr.. Bartlett of
Georgia. don't go to Kansas very Of
ten"
And they don't stay Democrats when
they do 60" was Mr.. Campbell's quick
retort.
Does the gentleman believe in white
and black children going to the same
SCHOOL," Mr.. Heflin demanded.
Continued on page 2.