Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-13
SOUTH'S SUFFRAGE
LAWS IN DANGER OF
BEING NULL|F|ED
United States Senate viii Vote
Tomorrow on Constitutional
Amendment for Popular
Elections of Senators

lar election OF United States senators Is
scheduled for settlement in the senate on
Monday II is generally conceded that
the resolution win secure the two-thirds
rote necessary TO insure its passage, ait.
interest in the matter revolNes alo--
the language OF the resolution useii-
q word. senators and the public. too,
concerned more about the fate OF the 81
called Sutherland amendment 10 the res
oIution than TO the resolution Itself
The Sutherland amendment proposes 10
vest In the congress the exclusive rishs
70 control the time place and manner OF
the elections OF senators. Southern mem
hers Of the senate-in fact all the DEM
ocrats--stand practically as a unit IN OPP
position 10 this feature It's adoption al
the last session OF congress resulted IN
the death OF the popular elections
scheme. II II Is accepted on Monday, X
viii AFFORD many senator's who realiy
favor popular elections a gooo reason
for voting against the Joint resolution on
hs final passage
A majority vote only Is required 70 pass
The Sutherland amendment II is be-
neved that it viii be accepted. but the
vote yin be very close Senator Sutner-
land himself seems 10 doubt the success
or hts amendment He said today that
the senate seemed about equally divided
on the question, and there viii not be
three votes difference either way II goes
SUTHERLAND'S VIEWS
Il readily understand why senator's
from the south. and southern people gen
orally. oppose my amendment TO the
popular elections resolution" said Sena-
tor Sutherland. I do not think their
fears well founded. however sympa-
thize with the people Of the south. and
realize that the negro problem is serious
I do not think the elective FRANCHISE
should have ever been given the negro.
II was a mistake But that Is beside the
question. My amendment proposes simp-
IL to perpetuate a power already en-
loved BY congress, namely. the control
u the time, place and manner of cleo
lions. Congress has always had authori-
~ to exercise this power, under the con-
stifution with reference 10 the election
q Representatives. and IL has never been
abused. / do not believe the south would
ever suffer as a consequences OF the &C
ceptance OF my amendment
Southern senator's who have studied the
question. diner from Senator Sutherland
They believe that his amendment viii
. 3eoparaize the Suffrage laws Of the south
ern states. The integrity OF the ballot in
Georgia. Alabama, Mississippi. Louisiana,
south and North Carolina and Virginia
win be placed In jeopardy. they believe,
and their disfrnnchIsement acts may De
nullined.
uittee on judiciary, which was fled by
Mr. sutherland himself. tends TO con-
firm the suspicious Of the southern
statesmen and does not bear out the re-
assuring words OF Senator Sutherland 70
The Journal representative quoted above
The report says: Possession OF the
power Il IS proposed TO strike out Of sec
ton (the right OF congress 70 control
the time, place and manner OF elections)
= essential 10 enable the national gov
eminent to act effectively in case 1t
should ever have occasion TO enforce the
provision OF the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments 10 the constitution The
basis Of any enforcement OF those pro-
visions must necessarily be the ascertain
meut and establishment OF. the facts in
respect TO the elections to which they
nav relate. The proposed amendment OF
section 4 article I. II adopted. would be
the latest expression Of the sovereign
vii OF the people OF the United States
ara would take away from the national
government authority TO make those reg
uIations regarding elections which are
essential TO the preservation OF evidence
regarding what actually occurs
There may be a difference OF opinion
a 10 whether the fourteenth and If
teenth amendments should remain in the
constitution. but II surely cannot be
thought consistent with the dignity and
the honor OF the United States 10 leave
them in the constitution and at the same
time surrender the power which would
be necessary for their enforcement"
AS THE RESOLUTION STANDS
Az the Joint resolution was reported
from the senate committee on judiciary
and formally passed by the house. con-
9ress is denied the power OF regulating
the time place and manner OF elections
In this shape Il Is satisfactory TO the
southern members. the legislatures Of the
several states win control the elections,
and the suffrage laws OF the several
states may be enforced without ques-
ton
But give congress the right to regu-
late the time. place and manner OF the
elections OF senator's. ones imagination
isn't necessary to see the danger TO the
south in times OF heated political strike
D. close partisan divisions in the sen
ate A partisan senate mignt-anc
doubtless would-be called upon 10 set
tie contests from the south. and because
me negroes are DISTINGUISHED the parti-
understanding that Republicans con
trol-would not hesitate TO unseat dem
orratfc senator because the negroes had
not been allowed 10 vote In the cleo
ton
Worse stin, a Republican congress
might order out the United States army
% see that the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments are not disregarded In cleo
lions in the south. IN such case, the
negroes would vote under the protection
AZ bayonets and their votes would b
r0unted.
NEGROES TAKING A HAND
There is no denying that the negroes
Of the United States are taking an &C
i've hand in advocacy OF the Suther
land amendment They realize the ire
r,endous volume OF the amendment Z
their race. and they are organized IN
10 support They know full well thai
Il viii restore the ballot to the disfran
ehised negroes OF the south. even II tn
governing class in that section have beer
siow to realize the danger.
In middle western states. where th'
,erroes are a strong political factor
shev have accomplished wonders in in
FIDenciuR "thin-skinned' insurgent sen
afors 10 come over 20 their side Of tn
nuestlon and support the Sutherland
amendment. Al the last session OF con
zress. senator's Bristow, Of Kansas
Cummfns. OF Iowa, Brown. Of Nebraska
ana Dixon. of Montana. all insurgents
voted against the Sutherland amend
rnent. because they believed its adoption
would XIII the popular elections resolu
aFCr