Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-02-16
Senator Root Lifts Controversy
to Plane of Almost Sensa.
tional Interest.
TO THINGS HAPPENING
Borah Charges That Race Cues
ton Is Brought into Case to
Alternate Minority from
Election Change.

lection of tho race question into the hith-
crto comparatively commonplace discuss
sion In tho Senate Of tho resolution nro-
vidng for the election of senator's by di-
rect vote, Senator Root OF New York and
Senator Bacon Of Georgia to-day lifted
that controversy to q plane of almost
sensational interest.
The incident arose in connection with
extended remarks made by Senator Root
ia opposition to the Borah resolution. The
New York senator said that the national
government could not afford to barter
! away the privilege OF supervising soma
tniiai elections In the South, If need should
arise for such supervision. Also. in
speaking OF the Observance Of the 18th
and l5th amendments to the constitution.
re sad that from time to time "things
/ happen" Ia the southern States which
/ should not he permitted by the States and
| which should he corrected. II not by the
States themselves, then by the national
| government. Later he took occasion to
! emphasize this statement.
When first made. the declaration
caused a visible stir on the democratic
side of the chamber. and the feeling
was intensified by the repetition 1t
at once became manifest that if any
thing was lacking to insure opposi-
| ton by the southern senators to the
resolution it had been supplied by
Mr. Root.
BORAH SEES a REASON.
| Senator Borah. who has charge Of
the measure, charged that the race
question had been dragged into the
case to ALLEVIATE the minority.
When Mr.. Root concluded his speech
about three o'clock he left the cham
Der. Mr. Bacon Immediately exprcss-
ed desire for specifications regard
ing the things which the New York
senator had said happen in the
South" which ought to call for federal
| Intervention. but the demand did not
reach Mr.. Root until after Senator
Beverage had made a formal reply
to the New York senator's speech and
the Senate was prepared to adjourn.
Just before six o'clock Mr. Bacon
revived the southern question: Re
peatinE the remarks OF the New York
err, Mr.. Bacon addressed himself di-
recuy to Mr. Root and asked:
What are the things to which the sena-
tor refers?'
Mr.. Roots response was direct lie
said that he had referred 10 the voluu-
tary surrender by the government of the
power to protect the suffrage privileges
of the southern negroes. q acin.- Senator
Bacon and speaking with great dclibcra-
ton Mr.. Root enumerated tic peouage
system, the lynching of negroes and the
DISTINGUISHING provisions such as the
gTandfathers' clauses in the constitutions
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.
POWER OUGHT TO BE USED.
The people Of the United States are
willing to fold their hands and wish the
southern people Godspeed in working out
their delicate problem so long as they DC
so In Kindness" he said, "but if there
should he such oppression as to call for
the exercise of the power of the | nitet
States to enforce the amendments. thai
power will be exercised, and it ought tc
be"
Mr.. Bacon replied that such question.
as lynching and pconage were in no wise
cognate to the subject. under consdera
ton, lie declared that there was Nc
practice in the South worthy OF the nam,
of peonage.
Indicating doubt as to Mr.. Root hav
Ing had such offenses in mind, Mr.. Bacor
said he was sure the New York senate
was really inveighng against supposed
offenses against the franchise Am
correct" questioned Mr. Bacon.
"Perfectly," responded MIR. Root. Thel
, he added: "If the constitution should b
so amended as to provide for the election
| Of nv No
government must retain the power t,
! make those elections free and unhamper
+ ed Without this privilege the govern
, ment of the United States surrenders III
, oower Of its own preservation"
t PUT SOUTH ON NOTICE.
docs the senator contend for the pow
er OF Congress to annul laws now or
tho statute books OF the States, such al
the grandfather's clause" asked Mr.
Bacon
Without the slightest doubt" said th'
New Yorker.
= well" returned ;he Georgian, tn
senator has certainly put Us on notice.
Il meant to put you and also tn
country on notice" replied Mr. Root
Replying at some length, AR Baco.
l said that to change the manner OF elect
2 ing senator's without giving the state
u control was a grave risk
0 After few remarks by Senate
Fletcher OF Florida regarding the so
I called peonase system Of tho south, tn
D incident closed for the day, with Senate
= Eorah's declaration that everybody kneY
o perfectly why the question n lynching
and peonagc had been brought into tn
n controversy.