The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-05-11
.TINKHAM FORCE
BILL DEFEATED
Massachusetts, Rep resentatiye
Makes Demand Fey Immedi-
ate Consideration of Reso-
luton Affecting the
Rights of Negro Voters
in South

Washington. May 6.--Rising to
question OF the highest constitution
a; privilege, Representative Tink-
ham. Republican, Massachusetts,
threw the house into an uproar to-
day over Il demand for Immediate
consideration Of a resolution affect
ing the rights Of negro voters in the
south.
The battle, mainly along parlia-
mentmy lines, ragged for two hours,
but in the end, the proposal was re-
jccted OH a point of order by Repre-
sentative Mondell Republican leader.
Still determined to press the fight
lir. Tinkham appealed from Speaker
Gillette's decision sustaining t he
point of order but the house stood
hy 2S3 to 46. The Tinkham resolu-
/ ton. substantially the same as that
presented during consideration of the
reapportionnent bill at lile last ses-
sion, had been expected and Dem
oclats were ready to jump into the
fray. The Republican leader went
| To the front however, and won the
day alone.
member. the resoiutior would have
] directed the census committee TO
proceed forthwith to make dilisent
inquiry respecting the extent to
which the right to vote is denied or
abridged to citizens o; the United
States, prior TO preparation Of bill
! FOR reapportionment of the house.
| In the course of long argument
Nh. Tinkhan declared the resolu-
ZION was in order ahead of all busi-
ness. that the measure offered be-
fore was never reported out by COM
,nittee. and that if referred again it
would meet the same tate. He de-
manded immediate action, a proceed
/ ing which Ny Mondell opposed on
the ground that if the |inkham plan
should prevail members could come
in any day with other complaints
against enforcement OF prohibition
under the 18th amendment and thus
upset the regular business Of the
body.
The only Democrat to break in
during the debate was Representa-
tive Gallivan, Massachusetts, who
wanted TO know how long NJ. Tink-
han, expected to speak.
Il want to vote with him but if he
! talks too long he may lose q vote"
| Mr.. Ga.livan shouted, and the house
roared.
Representative Garrett Tennessee,
acting Democratic leader, sought rec
osnition as Nh Mondell concluded
his answering argument, but Speak
er Gi,lett said he was ready to rule.
This was accepted as conclusive even
before the speaker began a long
statement that the Tirkham plan
had failed.
1t was largely on demand Of Mr..
Garrett th1t the house voted on
straight out question o. sustaining
the chair. rather than on a substi-
tutc by Mr. Mondell Is table the
Tinkham appeal. This settled the
issue definitely SO far IS action at
this session goes. Members said later
the Gillett decision probably would
stand longer than the lifetime Of the
average representative.
Mr. Mondell. in quoting authorities,
recalled that a Republican house 20
years ago refused to rush through 4;
similar proposal. He declared the
Tinkham resolution was precisely
the same in form as that offered by
Representative Olmstead Of Pennsyl-
vania in 1901 and thrown out on a
point Of order with Speaker Hender-
son in the chair.