The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-23
REPUBLICANS TOSS
. A SOP TO NEGROES
By Strict Party Vote, Bill to
Reduce Southern Repre-
sentation Passes House.
MEASURE CANNOT
BECOME A LAW
Democrats Dcnounce Act as
Cheap Campaign Move, and
Declare That South Will
Not Submit to the Out
RACES of Carpet
bagger Days.
~v WASHINGTON. May GA cam
w naicn trihutian -

NNI Dlil, d1nend-
ment by Mr.. Crumpacker, of
Indiana providing for re-
duction In the representation In the
House Of Representatives in those
States having disfranchlsement laws.
was passed by the House to-day by a
vote of 16o to 125, following a lively
debate. The measure was brought UP
under suspension OF the rules, and but
forty minutes were allowed in which
to discuss H. The Southern members
in particular were bitter In their de-
nunciation OF the apportionment pro-
vision of the bill. Mr.. Williams. the
minority leader. was especially vigor-
ons In his attack. charactcrizing 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
its entirety.
In brief. the provision regarding the
publicity of campaign contributions is
made applicable TO the national com
nittees OF all political parties and the
natlonai congressional campaign COM
mitte.s OF all political parties, and
Gil committees, associations or organi-
cations which shall, in two or more
States, influence the result, or at
tempt TO influence the result, of an
election at which representatives In
Congress are TO be elected. The Crum-
packer amendment provides for the
re-enactnent of certain sections of the
old Federal election law. except that
the idea of the force bill, authorizing
the use of troops al the polls, is elimi-
mated II also provides that the d.
rector Of the census shall submit to
Congress a report on population show
Ing the number of male citizens. white
and black. in each state. and the num-
her disfranchised. for the purpose Of
enabling Congress 10 ascertain the ap-
rortionment in representation to which
tuch States may be entitled
Mr.. Crumpacker explained his
amendments by saying they Were de-
signed against fraud and intimidation
In elections. He undertook to say. he
declared. that no member OF the House
would object to law whose only pur-
pose was to secure honest elections.
AEninxt White Civilization.
In the opinion of Mr.. Rucker, of
Missouri, II anything were wanting to
demonstrate that the leaders and man
ayers OF the Republican party in the
House were guilty of deceit and false
pretense. the bill supplied that want.
.It is horse play remarked Mr.. Hard
wick, of Georgia Reduction in repre-
sentation. he said. had no terrors for
the South. The Republicans. he as
serted, need not deceive themselves on
that proposition. Heavy as is the
price, he exclaimed. unfair and un-
Just as we believe 1t would be to exact
this pound Of flesh, yet II the people
of America ever do require 1t they
will find that the South will pay It
for the protection OF its homes and
for the preservation of its white civilf-
zation.'
Expressing the belief that Mr..
Crumpacker in including his amend
ments to- the publicity bill did not rep
resent the sentiment of the leaders on
the part of the majority in attempting
to revive the principles of the force
bill, Mr.. Lassiter, OF Virginia, protest
ed against the measure.
Mr.. Gillespie, of Texas, warned the
House that by passing the bill the
condition of the negro would be made
worse than at present.
Following brief remarks by Messrs
Bennett, OF New York, and Bonynge,
OF Colorado, in support of the bill. Mr.
Williams made vigorous speech
against it. The great old party" he
began. "has resolved itself into a
vaudeville stock company" He chargc,!
the Republicans with not daring to
face any great public question in a
fair and straightforward manner, anu
taxed them with combining several
propositions in one bill.
Revive the Cnrpetbagscr.
What are you trying to do?' he
inquired. Docs the gentleman from
Indiana think he can turn the hands
OF tho clock Of time back half a CEN
tury? Does he think he can produce
the days OF the carpetbagger and re-
construction In the South once more?
Does he think the business Interests
in the North will stand for recur-
renee of the saturnalia? The reduc-
tion in representation amendment" he
declared, "had been added to defeat
the publicity bill.
"You have no idea OF reducing the
representation of California. Massa-
ohusetts or Connecticut because they.
5disfranchise illiterates.'
The people Of the South, he asserted,
were willing to take the issue. If, he
said. 1t was desired to ignore the tif-
teenth amendment and the Republicans
were willing to restore to mississippi
the power to fix her suffrage along
racial lines, the people of that State
were ready for the gauntlet. Throw
8it down whenever you please.' he ex-
claimed. "As to the reduction Of our
representation In Congress- he said,
lin Gods name take it and welcome
to III but be honest when you do it,,
s Too Strong to Submit. S
Mr.. Williams declared that If the
publicity feature Of the bill should be-
come law ut will damn your Repub-
licanE party and be worse for you than
the force bill, which defeated Harri-
SON. 1t was all false pretenses, he de-,
clared, and he said TO the Republicans;
Like children, you are playing with
1 fire in a powder magazine" He closed
FOOLS enough to believe that the South