The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-12-17
SEN. DIAL WARNS
SOUTHERN ELECTORS
Says They Should Watch Current
Proposals for Reduction of South.
crn Representation.


crn Representation.
Washington, Dec. 12.--Scnator Dial
Of South Carolina, in a statement to-
day, said that Southern people would
do well to give more than their usual
notice to current proposals for the
reduction Of Southern representation
in congress, especially as the threat OF
such action is now complicated with
over the seating Of Senator Ncwbcrry,
of Michigan Senator Dial said:
Our pcoDlc should strengthen their
electorate and look generally TO their
election machinery, MOI take il for
granted, as they have heretofore, that
'hc rccurrCn. demands for invcsti"a-
ton will amount TO nothing. The res
olution Of the senator from New
Hampshire, Mr.. Moses, which is now
pending, provides for Investigation,
not only Of the laws governing the
elections, with view to ascertaining
whether in any state the right of citi-
zcnS Of tho United States to vote is
denied or abridged and that III it
shall be found that representation in
the electoral college and the national
house Of representatives is enlarged
through such denial or abridgement,'
the committee shall recommend to
congress such legislation as will re-
ducc the representation in such state
or states But the Moses resolution
provides also that the joint committee
of five senators and five representa-
tivcs shall take into consideration all
conditions under which the suffrage is
exercised, denied or abridged, no less
han the law themselves under which
t IS done and shall report it's con-
'lusions to the congress not later than
July |, 1920
Partisan purpose and prejudice
would seem TO be infcrrablc in the
>utSct from the fact that the author
OF the resolution specifically request
I'D; in presenting The measure, that it
be referred to the committee on priv
eyes and elections. Now il SO han
'cnS and probably not by chance, that
not one Southern senator has seat
in that committee. Vice President
Marshall promptly and properly re-
erred it to the committee on the ju-
lc!ary. That committee includes SEN
nors from North Carolina, Georgia.
tennessee and Texas, although of
curse, it has 4 majority membership
Of Republicans. We also have ample
'ssurancc that if ordered the invcsti-
cation, coming rs ii viii! in prcsi.
Dental campaign, will be of a partisan
haracter FOR the resolution provides
mai the live members from the upper
ranch shall be appointed by the
president IF the senate and the five
representatives. by the speaker Of the
ouse, and in accordance with con
rrcssional practice the majority party
II have majority representation in
10Th groups.
We may expect that if investga-
ION or tho Ncwberry election Is
rcsscd by the Democrats, the Moses
c"olution will be pressed by the Re-
'ublicans and the more vigorously bc.
ause the measure would be account
strong bid for negro support Of
he Republican party in the prcsidcn
ial campaign.
southern senators and congress
rcn have from time to time through
ra1y years cndcavorcd to awaken our
'"ople to the Importance OF qualify
Ng as electors and generally prcpar-
ng TO carry at the polls in general
'c"tions the nominations made in
rcir primaries. All that they have
Aid heretofore has special point and
urgency now"