The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-23
CRUMPACKER'S HOBBY PASSES Would Reduce Southern Representation. HACKED ON PUBLICITY BILL Williams Says It is to Defeat the
 Measure. Warm sDebate in Which the Democrat Is Representatives Dare Republi- cans to Make the Amend
 ment Law.

an Amendment by MT. Crumpacker of Indiana. providing for a reduction in the representation in the House of Representatives in those States having disfranchisement laws, was passed by the House today by vote of i6O to l25, following a lively debate.
 The measure was brought up under suspension of the rules! and but forty minutes were allowed in which to dis cuss it. The Southern members in par ttcular were bitter in their denuncia- tion of the apportionment provision of the bill. Mir. Williams. the minority leader, was especially vigorous in his attack. characterizing the bill as being an attempt to revive the conditions of reconstruction days.
 On account of the Crumpacker amendment, the Democrats voted against the bill in it's entirety.
 Tn brief. the provision regarding pub licity of campaign contributions is made applicable to the National Com mittee of all political parties. and the National, Congressional Committees of all political parties and all commit tees, associations or organizations which shall. in two or more States. in- huence the result or attempt to infiu- ence the result of an election at which Representatives in Congress are to be elected.
 Crumpaeker's Amendmemts.
 The Crumpacker amendments pro- vides for the re-enactment of certain sections of the old Federal election law, except that the Idea of the Force bill, authorizing the use of troops at the polls. is eliminated. It also provides that the Director of the Census shall submit to Congress a report on popu- lation. showing the number of male rAk Al and the number diafranchised. for the purpose of enabling Congress to ascer- taln the apnorti ipnmsnt ip reprssenta- tion t. which such State may De en- titled.
 Mir. crumparker explained ilis amend. ments by saying they were designed against fraud and intimidation in elections
 '1They surround the ballots in the se- lection of members of the House." he said. with sufficient safeguards to warrant their purity
 He undertook to say. he declared, that no member of the House would object to a law whose only purpose was to secure honest elections.
 In the opinion of MT. Fucker of Mis- souri, ii anything were wanting to demonstrate to every man In the Uni ted States that the leaders and mem- bers of the Republican party in the House were guilty of deceit and false pretense, the bill under discussion sup piled that want.
 Tt is horse play" remarked Mir. Hardwick of Georgia.
 No TerrOrs for South.
 Reduction in representation. he said had no terrors for the South. The Re- publicans, he asserted. need not de- ceive themselves on that proposition.
 Heavy as Is the price," he exciaim- cd. unfair and unjust as we believe it would be to exact this pound of flesh. yet if the people of America ever do require 1t. they will find that the south will pay 1t for the protection of it's homes and for the preservation of it's white civilizations"
 Expressing the belief that Mir. Crum- packer in concluding his address to the publicity bill did not represent the sen tinent of the leaders on the part of the majority In attempting to revive the principles of the force bill, Mir. Lassi- ter of Virginia. protested against the measure.
 Mir. Gillespie of Texas warned the House that by passing the bill the con- dition of the negro would be made worse than at present.
 Following brief remarks by Messns. Bennett of New York and Bonynge of Colorado, in support of the bill. Mir. williams of Mississippi. made vigor- ous speech against It.
 .aThe great old party" he began, 'has resolved itself into vaudeville stock company"
 He charged the Republicans with not daring to voice any great public ques- tion In fair and straight-forward way by combining several propositions in one bill.
 what are you trying to do?' he in- ouIred. Docs the gentleman from In diana think he can turn the hands of tbs clock of time back half a century? noes he think he can produce the days of the carpet-bagger and reconstruction in the South on no more? Does he think the business men In the North will stand for recurrence or the Sa- turnaliaT' .., amendnent. he declared. had been add ed to defeat the publicity bill.
 "Yon have no idea of reducing the renresentation of California, Massachu- setts or Connecticut because they ols- franchise llllterates."
 The people of the South. he asserted were willing to take the Issue. IT, he eaid. it was desired to ignore the nt- teenth amendment and the Republicans WarA willing 10 restore Lo @NASSiSSApRA inc power to fix her suffrage along ra- cial lines, the people of that State were ready for the gauntlet.
 'eThrow 1t down whenever you rlAsse" " he exclaimed, "As to the re- Auction of our representation In Con rress," :" he said "in Gods name take 1t and welcome to it; but be honest when you do it.
 WIn Damn Republicans.
 Discussing the publicity feature of the bill, Mir Williams declared that If that proposition should become law. Tt will damn your Republican party and bs worse for you than the force bill which defeated Harrison"
 It was all false pretenses. he de- elared, and he said to the Republicans, like children you are playing with fire in a powder magazine"
 He closed by asking the Republicans If they were fools enough to believe that the South would ever again sub mt to the policies to which she sub mitted when she was weak and help ieRa