The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-31
CLIMAX REACHED WITH WHOLESALE
 PAINLESS" CHARGE
Neqro Witness Unable to State Facts Except From HearSay. Association Founded for
 Political Propaganda
Ky Associaten Press

Washington, December 30.--Whole' sale charges of wilful discrimination against negroes at tho polls in the southern states were made by repre- sentatives of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peo- pie today before the HouseSenata committee and brought forth vigorous objections from the committe mem- bers from the south. The committee was considering Legislation to reap portion congressional representation.
 The first charge made by the asso- cations Representatives brought on a storm of denials and additional charges that gathered in volume as the sessios progressed and reached its climax at th3 close with the appearance of d photog- rapher to take group picture of the committee, including it's southern members, witnesses and spectators, of whom number We're negroes.
 CHARGE DENOUNCED
 When Walter F. White, assistant secretary of the organization declared that the majority of the white popula ton of many southern communities were "lawless," southern members O. the committee jumped to their feet.
 "I decline to sit silent and let wit nesses make wholesale charges Of stan. der against one section of tho United states" exclaimed Represent ntative Lar sen democrat, Georgia. Let them con fine themselves to facts within thei5 personal knowledge and not rest their case upon hearsay reports.'
 Representatives Bee, democrat, Tex as and Aswell, democrat Louisiana. seconded their Georgia colleague in en- ( 4.t.t. point interJected to say that the com mittee had decided to let witnesses make their statements and members question them afterwards. The chair man, however, was often forced to call members to order when they protested against letting statements of witnesses pass unchallenged
 POLITICAL PROPAGANDA Charges of disenfranclhsement Of lnegroes in the south also were ii4ads , by | Weldon Johnson, secretary o ltne 9ssonF tltfns pvho Eald his organMat lot had bben formed II years ago to viorlS for equal political rights for negfoe3 throughout the nation. Representative Larsen rejoined with the assertion that i the association was formed by certail: whites and negroes in the north to get back to conditions before primaries became general in the south when. he said, the negro vote was mark etahle commodity. The association, he added maintains secret agents throughout the south and thrives on propaganda 1t was able to get out.
 The appearance of the photographer to snap" the committee caused south ern members to declare they would not | sit in group, the background tf which was formed of negroes a lars Q number of whom were crowded int, the room. Representative Aswell let the room and Representative I.arss a informed Chairman Siegel he did m t Intend leaving the room and would raise h." If the picture were made with the spectators on hand as a back. ground. The committee finally wen. into executive session, thus clearing the room and the group picture was made
 HEARING EVIDENCE
 During the discussr4n of object ons ito hearsay evidence" Representatiy. Towner, republican, Iowa, made poin of order that there was nothing con cerning this question before the com. mlttee. Chairman Segel in oVerrut. ing the point of order declared tha hearings had gone far aGeld and had ! brought In matters not originally con. templated. Responsibility for the. r in- jection, he said, was not upon tts chairman, but upon members cf ths committee. who had insisted upon questioning witnesses along those lines.
 The southerners declared they were perfectly willing to hear the witnesses but that they would not sit silent and { have their sections slandered." In the course of the discussion Chair man Siegel said he had received q letter from Jacksonville Fla, containing more startling" allegations than those made yesterday before the committee Repre- sentative Frank A. Clark. a member of the Florida delegation. entered the room at this jupcture aud asked that his delegation be furnished with copy cf all the testimony and be given an op- portunlty 10 appear and refute ths charges made against his state. Chair man Siegel assured him ;hat the Fiorid | congressman would De heard next week.
 INSIST ON FACTS
 J, Weldon Johnson. negro. sedre taryf of the national association alleged that ne- groes were prevented from voting tn ths south through the manner in which tas election laws were administered. The
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