Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-13
RAPS HIS COLLEAGUE
Senator Curtis Hurk Attacks
at Senator BriSt0W.
DISCUSSES DIRECT VOTE
Says Revised Resolution Would Per-
NIT States to Disfranchise
the Negroes.

AS zone OF the senators from Kansas,
Senator Curtis today addressed the Sem
ate in opposition to the revised resolution
proposing to submit to the states a con-
stitutional amendment for the election of
senator's by direct vote. All through his
speech Senator Curtis hurled attacks at
his colleague. Senator Bristow. for ap-
proving of the amended resolution.
Senator Curtis said that he was in favor
of a constitutional amendment looking to
the election of senators by direct vote,
but he was not willing that it should be
amended so Congress should give up all
its rights to make alter the regulations
of a state for the election of United
States senators. This, he said. was what
the amended resolution would provide
The amended resolution, il it's substance
was approved by the states, would result
in the states disfranchising colored vot-
ers. if they so desired. without Congress
being able to raise hand, he said.
Thinks Provisions Unfair.
!, Il strongly favor the joint resolution to
provide for the election of senator's by a
direct vote of the people, said Senator
Curtis, but / do not think it should be
burdened with the objectionable and un-
fair provisions placed in it by majority
of the committee, and as one of the SEN
ators from the state Of Kansas, the child
of freedom. the home of old John Brown,
the advanced agent Of liberty, who gave
his life to hasten the conflict which re-
suited in freeing the slaves, / cannot sup
port the rider or Joker placed In the
resolution by a majority of the commit
tee."
That Senator Bristow should consider
the amendment to the resolution as i'm
material, was q matter of regret with
Senator Curtis. Il regret very much,
said Senator Curtis of his republican col
league, Ito see the senator treat con-
stitutional amendment so lightly"
THE colored people are entitled to pro-
lection in their rights, and Congress
should, not directly or indirectly say 1t
was willing to let the states take away
the right which came to them as result
of the civil war;" continued the senator.
After tlo war was over. in order to meet
new conditions the Constitution was
amended, and the fifteenth amendment
declares that the right of citizens of the
United States to vote shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States or by
any state on account of race color or
previous condition or servitude."
Purpose of Amendment.
This amendment was made to protect
the former slaves who had been freed.
and. yet we find state after state by
grandfather and other clauses depriv-
ing them of their rights. OF course. there
is no word in the acts referring to race
color or previous condition OF servitude,
yet every one knows that when state
undertakes to keep a citizen thereof from
voting unless his grandfather was
voter, the object is to deprive the colored
man from, his right of franchise.
IF the resolution as amended is passed
and the Constitution Is amended as pro-
vided therein. then the Congress gives up
all its rights to make or alter the regula-
tions Of a state for the election OF United
States senators, and II eletcors are dis
franchised, if outrages are perpetrated
If fraud is committed or IL corrupt prac-
tices are resorted to the Congress re-
mains helpless.