The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-02-15
SEN. BACON DEFENDS SOUTH
GEORGIAN TAKES NEW YORK
SENATOR ROOT TO TASK.
Would Have Lost Civilization


Not COntended HerOiCally Agains
Conditions Confronting Them Ma
ton Would Have Been Destroyed
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the in
lection of the race question into the
heretofore comparatively common
place discussion in the senate of the
resolution providing for the election
of senators by direct vote Senator
Root of New York and Senator Ba-
con of Georgia today lifted that con-
troversy to a plane of almost sensa-
tional interest The incident arose
in connection with extended remarks
by Senator Root in opposition to the
Borah resolution. The New York
senator said that the national gov
eminent could not afford to barter
away the privilege of supervising
senatorial elections in the south, if
need should arise for such superVis-
ion. Also speaking of the Observ-
ance of the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments to the constitution he
said that from time to time things
happen" in the southern states which
should be corrected if not by the
states themselves then by the ma
tional government. Later he took
occasion to emphasize this state
ment
When first made the statement
caused a visible stir on the demo-
cratic side of the chamber, and the
feeling was intensified by the repe-
tition. 1t became manifest at once
that if anything was lacking to in
sure opposition by southern senators
to the resolution it had been supplied
by Mr. Root
Senator BOTah, who has charge of
the measure, charged that the race
question had been dragged into the
ease for the purpose of alternating
the minority.
When Mr.. Root concluded his
speech about o'clock he left the
chamber. Mr. Bacon Immediately
expressed a desire for specifications
regarding the things which the New
York senator had said happened"
in the south, which ought to call
for federal intervention, but the de-
mand did not reach Mr.. Root until
after Senator Beverage had made
feeling reply to the New York SEN
ator's speech and the senate was pre-
pared to adjourn.
Bacon Calls Root.
Just before six o'clock Mr.. Bacon
revived the southern question. Re-
peating the remarks of the New
Yorker Mr.. Bacon addressed himself
directly to Mr.. Root and asked what
are the things to which the senator
refers?"
Mr. Root in response said he had
reference to the voluntary surrender
by the government of the power to
enforce the protection of the suf-
frage privileges of the southern ne
gro. Facing Mr.. Bacon and speak
ing with great Gerberation Mr. Root
enumerated the peonage system. the
lynChing of negroes and the disfran-
chising provisions, such as the
grandfather clause, in the constitu-
tons of many of the southern states
as some of the things calculated to
deprive the black man of that equal
protection which the constitution
guarantees.
The people of the United States
are willing to fold their hands and
wish the southern people Godspeed
in working out their delicate prob
lem so long as they do so in kind
ness; but if there should be such ex-
preston as to call for the exercise
Of the power of the United States to
enforce the amendments that power
will be exercised, and it ought to
be" he said.
Mr.. Bacon replied that such Ques-
tions as lynching and peonage were
no wise cognate to the subject under
discussion. He accounted for lynch
ings on the ground of severe provo
cation, which he said deprived men
Of their reason and made demons Of
them. He found one cause for them
in the sparsity of population, and to
show that the crime is confined to no
particular part of the country show
ed that there had been a lynChing
in New York in which the victim was
burned to death. AS for the charge
of peonage, he declared that there
was no practice in the south worthy
Of that name.
Doubted Mr.. Root.
Indicating that Mr.. Root having
had such offenses in mind Mr. Bacon
said he was sure the New York sena-
tor was really inveighing against
supposed offenses against the fran
chise
Perfectly" responded MIR. Root.
Then he added:
If the constitution should be so
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