The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-18

There was not state of the north where
the negro race enjoyed the right to hold
Office. to compete with the white race for
remunerative labor in Mississippi. Ore
gon had Just then passed a law forbid
dins all but white laoorers to build a
state bridge.
There was complication of events. The
Farmers alliance in the northwest and in
Kansas had been greatly aroused in SYM
pathy with its southern support as a
result of the Ocala convention The
ocals convention unanimously pledged the
alliance against the force bill.
On December l6. Senator Morgan, from
Alabama, took the floor against the force
or Lodge bill. He contended that the
iriquity was founded on the Fifteenth
article of amendment, and this article
was grievous blunder on the part of
those who favored endowing the negro
WITH the suffrage. If the question of suf-
frage had been continued with the sepa-
rate states, where the fathers had placed
IT, those states where many negroes lived
would every one be busily engaged in
educating and preparing them to vote in
telligently. The senator from Alabama
pointed out the proviso in the bill which
Eade the office of chief supervisor of
elections life position. The courts could
not remove him nor Congress impeach
lin. You may as well write the name
Of John /. Davenport in this BILL" he
exclaimed. Supervisor Davenport, in re-
cent elections, had caused the arrest of
9SC9 American citizens in their attempt to
vote IF thus in the green tree, what will
it be in the dry?"
The debate was drawn out with pur-
rCse by the democratic minority.
Would the republican majority change
the rules by revolutionary process? Would
the vice president, Morton, of New York,
a very wealthy and not too daring man.,
consent to preside in the crisis? Could
any senator be used as temporary ma
chine for the occasion? ingalls, of Kansas
Wa thought of but Kansas was Farm
ers' alliance state, the alliance was COM
mitted against the bill. and ingalls, was
candidate for reelection.
1hc republicans threatened to ignore the
democrats, give orders to the secretary
and pass the bill.
he democrats threatened to make so
much noise that the call &C the roll by the
secretary could not be heard. They would
join in the cry, Shame on iti'' Down
with your tyranny" until bedlam must
prevail.
The republicans caucused. They consid-
cred the cloture. Debate must be shut
off. Meantime the flow of money from
the cotton of the south 70 the north, and
from the taxes by tariff and by internal
method ceased to return to the source.
How could the republicans change the
rules without debate? Would not debate
over a rule be liable to extension in
definitely as debate over the Lodge bill"
Two days before Christmas Day Sena-
tor Call, from Florida, spoke four hours
against the Lodge bill, and Senator Nc
Pherson from New Jersey resumed his
argument against the bill.
Senator Morgan took the floor the day
before Christmas Day. The movement
to enact the Lodge bill was by senators
on this floor who are ospirants for the
presidency" President Harrison had rec
commended such a bill and really believed
he was leading it now, Just as the gnat
on the horn of the buffalo believed he
moved the brute
BY concert of action the democrats de-
feated the Lodge bill, the senator from
Alabama, Mr.. Morgan, greatly distln-
gushing himself In the achievement.
JOHN WITHERSPO0N DUBOSE.