The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1911-02-11
ROOT MAKES WARM
ATTACK ON SOUTH
Injection of Race Question Into Discus.
sion Causes Almost Sensational
Debate in Senate.

Washington, D. c., Feb. II. :
Through the injection of the race
question into the hitherto comparative
ly commonplace discussion in the sen.
ate of the resolution providing for the
election of senators by direct vote
Senator Root of New York and Sena
tor Bacon of Georgia Friday lifted that
controversy to a plane of almost sensa-
tional interest.
The incident arose in connection with
extended remarks made by Senator
Root in opposition to the Borah reso-
luton. The New York senator said
the national government could not af.
ford to barter away the privilege of
supervising senatorial elections in the
south, if need should arise for such
supervision. Also in speaking of the
observance of the fourteenth and fif-
teenth amendments to the constitution
he said that from time to time things
happen" in the southern states which
should not be permitted by the states,
and which should be corrected, if not
by the states themselves, then by the
national government Later he took
occasion to emphasize this statement.
When first made the declaration
caused visible stir on the democratic
side of the chamber and the feeling
was intensified by the repetition. 1t at
once became manifest that if anything
was lacking to insure opposition by
the southern senators to the resolu-
tion, it had been supplied by Mr.. Root
Senator Borah, who has charge of
the measure, declared that the race
question had been dragged into the
case 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
haid said, s'happened in the south, =
which ought to call for federal inter-
vention, but the demand did not reach
Mr.. Root until after Senator Bever-
idge had made formal reply to the
New York senator's speech and the
senate was prepared to adjourn.
Just before o'clock Mr.. Bacon re.
vived the southern question. Repeat
ing 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.. Roots response was in no wise
evasive or indirect. Recalling the sub
stance of his previous remarks he said
that he had had reference to the volun-
tary surrender by the government of
the power to enforce the protection of
the suffrage privileges of the southern
negroes.
Facing Senator Bacon and speaking
with great deliberation, Mr.. Root emu
merated the peonage system, the lynch
ing of negroes and the disfranchise-
ment provisions, such as the grand
fathers 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.
"The people of the United States are
willing to fold their hands and wish
the southern people Godspeed in work
ing out their delicate problem so long
as they do so in kindness; but if there
should be such oppression as to- call
for the exercise of the power of the
United States to enforce the amend
ments that power will be exercised.
and 1t ought to be" he said.
Mr.. Bacon replied that such ques-
tions as lynching and peonage were in
no wise cognate to the subject under
consideration. He accounted for |
on the ground of severe pro-
vocation, which he said deprived men
Of their reason and made demons of !
CONTINUED on Last Pape)