New-York tribune., 1911-01-15
From The Tribune Bureau,I

washington, January IA.
SENATE TOO HASTY.-Grave fear Is
! expressed by Senators who have been
| studying the Borah amendment to the con-
stitution that It's adoption would in enect
repeal the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
amendments II Is even intimated that this
Is the purpose of those Democrats who are
supporting the amendment. and. indeed,
that its form is the result Of deal be-
tween the insurgents, headed by Senator
La Toilette, and the Southern Democrats.
Section 4. Paragraph l Of Article l OF the
Constitution provides that 1.-The Congress
may at any time by law make or alter
such regulations as concern the manner
Of holding elections for Senators. The
Borah amendment after providing for the
repeal Of that part OF Section which de-
clares that Senators shall be elected by the
legislatures of the several states, adds
that the first paragraph OF Section '1n
so far as the same relates to any author
ity in Congress TO make or alter regula-
tions as to the times or manner of holding
elections for Senator'S shall also be re-
pealed. The only apparent purpose of this
addition Is the notification of the power OF
Congress TO enforce the Fourteenth Amend
ment, which. II enforced, would Illustrate
the efforts Of the Southern States to dis
franchise the negro. The alacrity with
which a number of Southern Democrats
spraDg TO the assistance OF Senator Borah
when he sought yesterday to obtain inn
mediate action on his amendment aroused
suspicion. and study of the amendment and
of certain collateral circumstances led to
ha he - he
servatives that the insurgents have made
clear cut deal with the Southerners to
confirm, in effect, the disfranchisemerrt of
the negro. in order that Senators Borah.
La Toilette and others may strengthen their
positions in their own states by securing
favorable action on the proposed amend
ment, which they have exploited on the
stump and on the Chautauqua circuits.
Under these circumstances ii Is fairly GER
tain that those Northern Senators who
come from states which have any consid-
cradle negro population will bitterly oppose
the Borah amendment in its present form.
1t Is pointed out that there is no occasion
for amending Section In order to accom-
plish the election OF Senators by popular
vote That would be accomplished by that
portion Of the Borah amendment which
substitutes the election Of Senators by
popular vote for election by the legislatures
providing that ''the Senate of the United
States shall be composed Of two Senators
from each state. elected by the people
thereof etc.
TAFT TAKES A HAND.-As was pre-.
dicted In this column this morning. no
sooner Rad the President learned of the
disposition of the Republican members OF
the Ways and Means Committee to report
the Dalzell tariff board bill, instead of the
Longworth tariff commission bill, then he
stepped into the arena and sought by the
legitimate exercise of his influence to pre-
vent 30 unwise step. Mr.. Taft has re-
Quested the Republican members of the
Ways and Means Committee to meet him
at the White House tomorrow evening 10
discuss this question. II became obvious
to-day that the extreme tand-patters, led
by Representatives Dalzell and Fordney,
were counting on the opposition OF the
Democratic members of the committee to
assist in preventing favorable report on
the Lorgworth bill. The President is con-
vinced that this would be an act Of treach-
cry. but he will not discuss the situation
except with the members of the committee.
Mr.. Taft still feels that he can count on
the Republican members Of the Finance
Committee TO make favorable report to
the Senate on the Longworth bill or one
very similar thereto. although the measure
will be confronted in the upper house with
the danger of a Democratic flibuster, Sen
ator Bailey, OF Texas, having already indi.
Gated his disposition to adopt that course.
ANOTHER POSSIBILITY.-It is point