Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-17
RAYNER QUOTES LAW SHERMAN ACT HURTS
Speaks in Senate in Opposition Reduces industrial Efficiency
to Sutherland Amendment Senator Root Says.
ON DIRECT VOTE PROJECT lSTIRS THE PAN-AMER RlCANS
Entire Resolution Will Meet Declares They Are
Defeat Unless Care Is Taken Noble Among Men
PRESENTS COURT DECISIONS POINTS WAY TO COMMERCE
OF in Do
Through Resolution Not MeanIn Inferiority
ON DIRECT VOTE PROJECT
Fears Entire Resolution Will Meet
Defeat Unless Care Is Taken.
PRESENTS COURT DECISIONS
Declares Federal Control Over Elec-
Through Original Resolution.

The Senate lost no time today in get
ting to work on the joint resolution pro-
viding for constitutional amendment
aut thorizing the election of United States
by direct vote of the people. 1t
was taken up at the conclusion of the
routine business.
While there was no agreement to this
effect, the friends of the measure were
very hopeful at the beginning of the
session that during the day vote would
hc reached OH the Sutherland amendment
giving Congress control over senatorial |
elections.
Senator Rayner of Maryland took the
tention to the amendment. In the main
his address was legal in character. and he
quoted libcrally from tho decisions Of the
courts to sustain his views. He contend
cd that even without the Sutherland pro-
vision the federal government had the
right to protect voters against fraud or
He therefore appealed to supporters of
the original proposition not to burden it
with any amendment which like the
penang proposition. would impcril the
success of tho resolution itself
Mr. Rayncr had scarcely begun when
began to pour in.
Why would it impe-il the resolution ."
asked Mr.. Nelson
Amendment Imperils Resolution.
4; Because replied Mr. Rayner, 1T
would affect a large number of votes on
the democratic side of the chamber who
would vote against the proposition with
the Sutherland amendment incorporated
in it,
Why should they vote against it,"
asked the Minnesota senator.
Mr.. Rayner replied:
am not mind reader. and cannot
undertake to say. If the senator will
visit this side he will find out. But ! am
sure that the amendment will weaken the
resolution: it is fact. We need a two
thirds vote to adopt the resolution, and
cannot afford to take chances"
Mr.. Rayner contended that the amend
ment would have the effect Of injecting a
new provision into the Constitution. be-
cause, as he said. the election OF senators
by the people is a very different PROPOSE
ton from election by the state legisla-
lures.
1T is a new application of an existing
principle said MIR. Sutherland
Absolutely it is not declared the
Maryland senator. 1t is now impossible
to go behind the action Of the legisla-
ture.
Rayner Quotes Roosevelt.
Differences between Mr. Rayner and
Mr.. Carter arose over different construc-
tions Of a Supreme Court decision and
terminated in a discussion of former
President Roosevelt Quoting from Mr.
Roosevelts Grand Rapids speech in ad-
vocacy of the principle involved in the
SIfh har nd Gil
pressed the opinion that Mr.. Carters
views had been Influenced by those of the
eX-President.
The suggestion was meant to be Sar-
castle, and replying, Mr.. Carter said:
THE views of the eX-President are al
ways powerful and persuasive. but in
view of the fact that ] expressed my
opinion in d published speech long be-
fore he did, 1 think 1t probable that my
speech may have contributed to his en-
llghtenment on the subject
Mr. Rayncr hoped that the Montana
senator would continue to enliShtcn the
former President, because with all Of
the ex-Presidents familiarity with
every topic that ever had been ad
vanced from the creation of the uni
verse, if there is anything that he does
not know anything about, and on which
he needs enlightenment from the SEN
ator from Montana, it is the Constitu-
ton.
Further along Mr.. Rayner objected to
the frequent Interruptions Of Mr.. Car
You invited Interruptions urged Mr..
Carter.
Yes responded MIR. Rayner. but
do not want them every moment.
But" persisted the Montana senator.
Il want to puncture your balloons as
they pass.
Charges North With Hypocrisy.
That the north is playing the hypocrite
i'm it's contentious that prejudice against
the negro is not as intense In the north
as 1t is in the south, was the charge
made by Senator Borah Of Idaho. a
northern republican. yesterday afternoon
as he closed a three-hour speech in ad-
vocacy of the adoption of the resolution
proposing the direct election Of SEN
ators.
Senator BOrah was arguing against the
adoption Of the Sutherland amendment.
which retains to Congress its present
control over elections OF senatOrs-a pow
er which will be given up II the consti-
tutIonal amendment as reported by the
judiciary committee and supported by
Senator Borah is adopted. Senator Root
had argued for the adoption OF the Suth-'
erand amendment, on the srounu ina.
without it the constitutional amendment
framed in the resolution would deprive
the southern negroes of federal prOtec-
ton in the exercise of the franchise.
Mr. Borah expressed deep regret that
the race question had been brought into
the debate and he charged that the issue
had been raised with the intention OF de-
featlng the proposed amendment.
Race Prejudice in the North.
"The northern states have exhibited the
same race prejudice that has been shown
elsewhere he asserted. In the north we
burn the negro at the stake, and there, as
in other sections. we have our race wars.
We push our negroes to the outer edge of
the industrial world We exhibit the
same prejudices, the same weaknesses,
the same intolerance that is apparent in
the southland.
If Congress has the power under the
existing provision of the Constitution to
insist upon the franchise for the negro as
enjoyed by the white man, Mr.. Borah
.ontended 1t should be exercised. AS the
north asserts 1t has the power, the north
Is under obligation to exercise 1t.
I'VE assert the power. but we admit
that we haven't had the moral courage to
exercise it," the Idaho senator added. He
denied. however, that Congress had such
power at present.
JOAQUIN Miller Slightly Better.