The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-27
Was Recommitted for h. sertion of Fatal Loyalty Ck by Majority of
 Votes
sSsjURTEEN SOUTHERN MEMBERS WERE AWAY
 AND DID NOT VOTE
Had They Not Been, Just Restitution Would Prob ably Have Been Made and $64,000,0OO Paid to South
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

By HUGH w. ROBERTS
 Washington. March 26.-(SpeciaI.) That there Is a real danger fn "Hob- sonizing,, Is proved in the fast that the southern war claim bill of $84.OOO,- 900 at a time when IA southern mem bers were campaigning in their dis tricts was recommitted for the inser- ton of the fatal "loyalty clause, by the irritating margin of 13 votes.
 The bill provided payment for those
 people whose property was ruthlessly
 and inexcusably destroyed during the
 four years of the civil war In the
 heat of debate, Representative Sloan,
 an opponent of the bill, made the mo-
 ton that it be recomnitted for the
 insertion of an amendment providing
 that no payment be made unless the original owners could substantiate
 proof of loyalty to the union As few
 southerners during the eos were, loyal
 to the union, necessary proof on the
 part of the great majority of claim
 ants, cannot be made. Southerners,
 to a man. opposed the motion to re-
 commit. It prevailed. however, by
 margin of B votes
 Fourteen southern members-conveni- ently paired with others who desired to be absent for campaign purposes--did not vote
 THE FOURTEEN ABSENTEES
 1t is regarded probable that had tbOse IA sCutherners been con the iob- and forced those nOrtherners to absent themselves without southern pairs, the ricd. and the osigi,tai yiii- p.Ssi1y,.e for the payment of $e4.ocO.OOo to south- ern people. would have prevailed.
 The IA southerners who were absent, and who, as a rule, were lat home in sisting that their, people do them further and still more signal honor, follow:
 Abercrombie (Alabama).
 Aswell Uouisiana).
 Britt Republican, North Carolinaa
 Carlin (Virginia).
 Dies (Texas).
 Gregg (Texas).
 Henry (Texas).
 Johnson Qxentucky)
 Jones (Virginia).
 Linthicum (Maryland).
 Sherley (Kentucky).
 Sission (MississppD.
 Steagall (Alabama).
 Talbott (MarylanO.
 As the bill was amended by a majority of 13 votes, there is a possibility that another tale would have been told had the IA southerners been more solicitous regarding the welfare of their constitu- ents and less assiduous respecting their own political destiny.
 THE LESSON APPLIED
 The above facts are pointed out today by democratic leaders in an effort to prove the necessity of democrats ''re- maining on the job" While the military bill was passed by an over vote. several sections-includ- ing that which provided for the develop ment of Muscle Shoals in the Tennessee narrow margins. As heretofore published, following the defeat of Muscle Shoals, Leader Kitchins repeated his former in- sistence that democrats remain on guard during the moments of pending admin legislation.
 A reference to the debate on the war claim bill, pointed out today as an illus tration of the danger of cnronrc apsen- teeism. reveals the fact that two Ala. bamians Representatives Heflin and Blackmon, played signal parts that day in defense of the people of the south. As may be recalled, Republican Leader Mann insinuted that it was necessary to pur- chase the loyalty of the south, and MT. Heflin replied, charging that no one save a yulgarian and a coward would have so spoken.
 MIR. BLACKMON'S REMARKS
 One of the shortest but most effective statements made on the floor during the course of the debate was that of Rep resentative Blackmon of Alabama. He said:
 MT. Chairman, the question, it seems to me. is this: The property was taken from the southern people. and the pro- ceeds, to a large extent, were turned into the treasury of the United States. Are not the people who lost this prop erty entitled to at least the actual price for which the property sold?
 s'The question of loyalty can not enter into a consideration of this matter, un- less you are willing to deliberately take the property justly belonging to citizens of the United States without one penny of compensation therefor. No honest Confederate soldier is going to admit that he was loyal to what was at that time called 'the Union.' Few southern men were disloya! to the cause for which they fought Our people believed that, having made a bona hde purchase of what was then termed slaves" they were entitled to compensation for them when called upon to give them up. The northern people sold the slaves to our people. and we did not consider it fair that they should be given up without some measure of reimbursement MT.