The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-23
crumpacker's Amendment to Gut Down SOuth's Representa-
 ton Goes Through
DEMOCRATS FIGHT BUT
 ARE COMPLETELY ROUTED
"Force Bill" Is Hacked on to Campaign Publicity Bill, But Republicans Know Senate Will Finally
 Kill 1t.

Washington, May 22.-(Special.)- The House today passed the Crumpack- CT bill. Brought in under an iron n-c1ad rule with the democrats allowed but few minutes debate. the measure was put through the House by strict party vote. Eyer since he has been in Con- gross Representative Crumpacker has taken the leadership in the movement to reduce the electoral vote of the south and place 1t upon a basis of dis franchised negroes. He met with no success and in the last Congress he in- troduced aSbill asking for an investi- gation of southern conditions with tT1e object in view of ascertaining whether any male citizens had been denied the right to vote, under the 14th amend ment. This bill the republican leaders of the House, as we'll as the democrats realized simply meant an investigation into conditions in the south upheld by the supreme court. and could serve no good purpose.
 Reasons for Support.
 Today, however, what is substantial ly MT. Crumpacker's bill was tackled upon the campaign publicity bill and passed by the republican side. Mr. Crumpacker received the support Of the House organization heretofore de- nied him for two reasons. First. the fact that ths~ Republican party stands opposed to publicity in campaign funds , and knows that the democratic party in their championing of the measure buld not support it when coupled ,jr force bill.
 In the second place the bill was passed in spirit of revenge for the harrassing the majority has been re- ceiving from the democratic side dur ing the present session of Congress.
 Speaker Cannon and his lieutenants well know from experience of IS yeatlt ago when the late Senator Cor nal-I of Maryland killed the force bill. that such a measure would not be passed by the Senate. Hence in order to attempt to escape the odum at- taching to failure to pass the publi- city bill. they place 1t upon meas ure which they know the Senate will not seriously consider for moment It was a cowardly parliamentary trick hich deceives no one, insults the in telligence of the American voter and will benefit the democrats, who oa d election of 1892.
 ChandIers Letter.
 In connection with the action of the House today former Senator William E. Chandler of New Hampshire gave out letter which he addressed to Senator Burrows the subject of publicity. It is from republican, a leader of his party, protesting against the legisla- tive trick then contemplated by the republicans.
 ''The bringing in of this subject.p says Mir. Chandler, lis an unwise action for the friends of publicity to take The Mccall bill, reported favorably by Mr. Norris in the House, only provides for the publicity of contributions made to national and congressional committees and does not interfere with state com mittees, but leaves that subject to the state legislatures, expecting northern and southern congressman to unite in vot- ing for the needed reform as to national committees without now raising in any form the vexed question as to federal election laws. To take occasion at this time to insist upon uniting the two sub- jects will be unfair--I trust not insincere. Tt will be specially unfortunate now to make declaration in favor of enforc- ing the fourteenth amendment as an abandonment of the fifteenth This was done in the last national convention, and lately as the platform of candidate for presidential nomination. To try to in- dorse these mistakes by a formalS con- gressional declaration in their favor will be plunder of large proportions.
 Negroes Aroused.
 "The colored people of the country. 1O,- 100000 strong, and having 100000 voters. are now earnestly aroused by pending questions as to the treatment which is to ha accorded a them hx ha <.,.1 by political parties. The dominant party cannot afford to aggravate them by thrusting to the front the fourteenth amendment, in which they have no inter- est, and thrusting to the rear and de- stroying the fifteenth amendment in which they have vital interest
 '"There are also some old-fashioned anti-slavery republicans who take an in- terest in the fifteenth amendment which guaranteed suffrage as the birthright of every American without regard to color, who will not take kindly to the abandon ment of that amendment even in connec- ton with publicity bill.
 f"Mr. Bryan, who has long been in 4 favor of such legislation, as the public has known, said yesterday MT. Taft Is reported as having said, You can tell Senator Chandler that am for public ity bill
 "As everybody now concurs in desir- ing the publicity of election contributions I cannot doubt that your committee. es- pecially when stimulated by MT. Bryans constant urgings and MT. Tafts requests, private and public, will report bill like that favorably reported by Representa- tive Norris"
 But the House republicans dare not face the question. By their votes today they announced that the fiat frying should continue and the presidency again V put up at auction. W. s.