The sun., 1915-06-23
G. O.P. TO REGAIN
LOST NEGRO VOTE
Leaders Say Defeat of ''Grand-
father Clause" Will BE
Big Benefit.
FIVE STATES AFFECTED

W.sHlNaroS. June 22.--RepubEcan
leaders In Washington to-day claimed
distinct advantage from the decision
handed down by the Supreme Court
Yesterday In theN grandfather clause
eases from Oklahoma and Maryland.
The effect. 1t was said. would be 10
reinvest with suffrage a large number
OF negro voters in many Of the Southern
and border states where restrictive laws
now held TO he invalid have been in
operation to exclude the negroes from
the polls. In oklahoma. West Virginia.
Maryland. Virginia and Kentucky the
gain to the Republicans probably Will
be material.
The effect will be felt in the next Con-
grcssional contest unless the Southern
States pass other laws before the elec-
tlons in 1916 that will exclude the
negroes. The decision Of the court read
bv chief Justice White. upheld the
literacy test as perfectly proper one
when made applicable to whites ana
blacks alike. Republicans claim that
with negroes voting in Oklahoma. Mary
land. Kentucky and West Virginia the
l
States is certain to he increased.
The possibility of a revival of the
Federal elections supervision bill, by
which Federal authority may be invoked
In State elections involving the choice
of Senators under the popular election
and OF Representatives. was talked in
political circles here to-day. 1t was re-
called that the last bill Of this kind. the
Lodge force bill, failed for want OF a
cloture rule.
Republican leaders said to-day that
II the next Congress should be Repub-
lican the chances for passing the Fed
eral supervision law would be made
certain by the cloture rule. which the
Democratic managers seem certain TO
impose upon the Senate at the next
| session Of Congress.
Senator owen. chairman OF sub
| committee which has the matter in hand,
| In ready to report plan for cloture
| at the beginning OF the next session. and
Leader Kern OF the Democratic side.
while In Washington recently. predicted
| that It would become a rule OF the Sen
ate. Republicans are not to oppose the
| cloture rule when passed. holding that
| IL will be serviceable to them later. II
| they come into power. TO pass a Federal
| election law TO protect the negro voters
I In the South from Acknowledgement
Republican leaders will hold a meet
| ing AZ soon as Congress meets to take
up the whole subject and formulate ac-
ton.
A phase OF the AFFAIR Is the appeal OF
Mayor Dom NJ. Roberts and his politi-
| cal co-conspirators In the Terre Haute
| election fraud cases from the verdict
| and sentence to imprisonment at Leav-
| enworth. where they are now serving
| for election frauds practised at an elec-
ton where votes for Senator and Rep
| resentatives were cast. The convictions
were obtained under the Federal Law
| by a Democratic United States attorney
acting under instructions from an Ad'
ministration that Ia Democratic ir
| Washington
II was explained by Republican lead.
ers to-day that II Federal laws may be
invoked TO punish conspirators against
| the elective franchise at elections called
| to choose Senators and Representatives
as well as State and local officers, q
| way has been found at last by the
| Democrats themselves by which n Re
publican Administration may punish
those white leaders in the South who
prevent tho negro from enjoying thu
franchise.
All this. however. is contingent on tn,
| affirmation by the Supreme Court o.
the conviction OF the men at Terri
Haute who practised fraud against th'
ballot.
Two means Of restricting the coloret
vote in the South and at the sam,
time remaining within the bounds o
the Fifteenth Amendment were pointed
out to-day. These two means are fur
nished by the Georgia Constitution
which requires first the payment OF
poll tax and secondly that voter shal
he subject to non-regstration unless h
understands the principles of republi
can form OF government.
The negro is naturally averse to TIL
payment of poll taxes. especially wher
they are cumulative.