The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-19
Dozen Representatives to B.
Called Upon TO Prove Eli
gibility to Seats
NEGROES FIGURE
IN THE CONTESTS
Oklahoma S Grandfather Law
Is to Be Tested and South
Carolina Negro Bobs
Up Again

dozen Representatives elect, mem bers
OF the siAty-third congress. VIII have
10 stand trial by tAeir fellow mem
beers Of the house as TO whether they
may DC allowed to sit in that body.
The actual effect Of the contests that
have been filed against them VIII not
bar them from sitting in the house
during the extraordinary session To be
called by President Elect Wilson FOR
the coming spring. as the merits of
tho contest Will not be thresned ont
una the beginning Of the regular
sess.on mex; December and@ final
verdict will not be had until next win
ter.
All sorts OF reasons are advanced
why representatives who have been
declared fairly elected. should he de-
prived of their seats and oae OF their
opponents seated in their stead
Concerns Grandfather Law.
One OF the most interesting con-
tests In the house will he that aled
against representative Bird =. Nc
CURE Of the First district OF Okla
homa, by John j. Davis. OF Chandler.
Okla. This will involve the validity.
81 far AZ congress can determine IL,
Of the so-called grandfather law.
which in effect prevents negroes whe
cannot read. write or interpret any
section of the State constitution from
exercising the right of suffrage. This
Law was framed under the super
vision of Senator Thomas r Gore, OK
Oklahoma, a stauneh friend and sup
porter of Elect Wilson.
II the house applies the doctrine
of State rights as applied TO this
, law, there seems to be little doubt
that Dayis, the Democrat contestant,
will be seated in place of Mcclure. a
Republican. Senator Gore is a Dem
ocrat and tbs Law WIS put on the
statute books of Oklahoma under
Democratic auspices,
Tho contestant charges that Nc
CURE and other Republican officials
OF the State entered into a conspiracy
20 let negroes vote In defianice OF the
grandfather clause.
We charge" said Davis, that
these men entered into conspiracy
In which they intimidated election Of
ncials and prevented the enforcement
of the provisions Of the grandfather
Law, advising officials that enforce
menf OF the law would subject them
so prosecution under the federal con-
stitution.
Madden's seat Contested.
The seat of Representative ,Eartin
n Madden. or Chicago. a Republican.
will be contested by Andrew Dono-
wan, his Democratic opponent. who
claims that he obtained n indorse-
ment from the Progressive party and
that he was fraudulently deprived by
the election officials OF the votes that
were cast for the head Of the Pro-
gressiye ticket These votes. Donova II
charges. tataied ahaAt- 900 And II
counted for Donovan would surely
have resulted In his election in place
OF Madden.
lie also charges that Madden spent
more than the IS. Doe permitted by
federal law, and that Madden and his
supp orters directly expended moneys
70 voters 10 induce them 10 vote for
Madden
Donovan demands that he be seated
and that Madden be uusented. Dono-
van makes a number Of charges in
regard 10 alleged Irregularities
Would Unscat Butler.
Representative T 6 Butler. a Penn
syiSanla Republican, ~ another mem
her-elect of IN" Sixty-third congress
who will have To fight to retain his
seat Buffers Democratic opponent
CHARGES that Butler obtained his cleo
ton by Irregularities. The contestant
does not say that he should be seated,
but merely claims that Batter should
be nnsested
'.>s. Sc TIE charges against But-
ier's suppGrners IN the election was
thas they circulated false docu-
nent Ia the district which purported
TO ue a copy Of The oath taken by
members Of he order of the Knights
: or columbus tY-s UDCuruert, it is
charged was a vicious libel published
for the purpose OF discrediting the
contestant who was himself a mem
her Of he ORDER. The contestant also
charges that Butler secured the in
dorsement. OF the progressive voters
in a fraudulent manner. having his
name placed under ths Progressive
ticket, whereas the real progressive
ticket in Pennsylvania was known
under some other designation,
Negro Is Regular Contestant.
One other contest which is a pcren
NAL affair is that against Represen-
ta;iye Leeare, of South Carolina. by
a yeegro. THIS contest has been made
Hefinst aefrsrF every tint. he has been
nominated The contestant claims
thar T.egare was elected ny d.squaliry-
ing necfo, voters in defiance of the
!, constitution. The contest Is always
thrown out by the house. The CON
teslant gets s2.ooo for expenses in
making the contest and many mem
hors charge that this is the real
reason Why 1t Is brought
The sixty second congress has al
ready unscated two members as the
result OF contests. Representative
Theron Cati!n, Of Missouri. son Of n
millionaire Of ST. Louis. was unseated
and HIS Democrats opponent, Patrick
GIL seated Cntfjn Was charged with