The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-07
BITTER FIGHT OVER. MEASURE AFFECTING
 RIGHTS OF NEGROES
Republican Leader Goes to the Front Alone and Wins Fight Without Assistance. From
 the Democrats
By Associated Press

Washington, May 6.-Arising to a question of the highest constitu- tional privilege, Representative link ham, republican, Massachusetts, threw the House into an uproar today over a demand for immediate consideration of resolution affecting the rights of negro voters in the south.
 The battle, mainly along parliament tary lines, ragged for two hours, put in the end the proposal was rejected on point of order by Representative Mondell, republican leader. Still de- termined to press the fight, Mir. Tink- ham appealed from Speaker Gilletts decision sustaining the point of order, but the House stood by it's speaker, 2Ss to 46.
 The Tinkham resolution, substan< tially the same as that presented dur ing consideration of the reapportion- ment bill at the last session, had been expected, and democrats were ready to jump into the fray. The republican leader went to the front, however, and won the day alone.
 As framed by the Massachusetts member, the resolution would have di- rected the census committee to proceet forthwith to make diligent inquiry res specting the extent to which the right to vote is denied or abridged to citi- zens of the United states.
 DEMANDS ACTION
 In the course of long argument MT. Tinkham declared the resolution was in order of all business; that the same measure offered before never was reported out by committee and that 1T referred again it would meet the same fate He demanded immediate action g proceeding which Mir Mondell op- posed on the ground that If the IlnK- ham plan should prevail members could come in any day with other con- plaints against enforcement of prohi- bition and the eighteenth amendment, and thus upset the regular business of the body.
 The only democrat to break in dur ing the debate was Representativ9 Gallivan, Massachusetts, who wanted to know how long Mr. Tinkham ex- pected to speak.
 q want to vote with him, but if he talks too long he may lose a vote," MT. Gallivan shouted, and the House roared.
 Represetative Garrett of Tennessee, acting democratic leader, sought re- cognition as MT. Mondell concluded his answering argument, but Speaker Gill lett said he was ready to rule. This was accepted as conclusive, even bes fore the speaker began long state- ment that the Tnkham plan had failed.
 DEFINITELY SETTLED
 It was largely on demand of Mir. Garrett that the House voted on straight-out question of sustaining the chair, rather than on substitute by MT. Mondell to table the Tinkham ap- peal. This settled the issue definitely so far as action at this session goess Members said later that the Gillett de- cision probably would stand longer than the lifetime of the average repre- sentative.
 MT. Mondell, in quoting authorities. recalled that republican House 20 years ago refused to rush through a similar proposal. He declared the Tinkham resolution was precisely the same in form as that offered by Repre- sentative Olmstead of Pennsylvania in 1901 and thrown out on a point of or der, with Speaker Henderson in the chair.