Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-02-25

panying this change In the method of the
election of senators. If the change be
made. the government of the United States
mas surrendered the power for its own
preservation and protection.
Again did Senator Root put the Geor-
gia senator to fight when he laconical.
ly answered another question pro.
pounded by Mr.. Bacon. The question
of Mr.. Bacon and Mr.. Roots reply fol.
low:
Mr.. Bacon-Mr. President. do | under
stand the senator from New York to
mean that If the states have now upon
thelr statute books laws which regulate
the suffrage in those states such as the
senator speaks Of as 1.-The grandfather
clause" though that is simply a term
generic in its character which relates to
general class of legislation-does the SEN
itor mean that. with the laws now upon
The statute books Of the several southern
rates. if the proposed amendment of the
ienator from Utah [Mr. Sutherland should
he adopted and we should pass the Joint
resolution to amend the constitution and
I should be ratified by three-fourths OF
he states. it would then be within the
rover of congress. If it conceived that
these grandfather clauses, as they are
called, all the body of laws with refer.
ehce 10 the regulations and limitations of
Inc suffrage in the southern states-if con-
Eress should conceive that they were un-
fonstitutional-does the senator mean thai
II MS opinion congress would have the
power under the amendment of the sen.
a'or from Utah to annul those provisions
and to make federal laws to control the
election of senators in such way as I,
insure the sght to vote to all persons
thought by congress to be entitled to vote?
Mr Root-Without the slightest doubt.
One of the afternoon papers stated
that Mr.. Roots reply was so direct
so unequivocal, that Mr.. Bacon was
silent fer Il minute" When Mr.. Bacon
recovered he said:
We'll. Mr.. President, it is well that
we are given this notice of what the
senator does mem and of what the
Sutherland amendment means"
10 which Mr.. Root replied:
E meant to put you on notice. and |
mean TO put the whcle country on no.
tlce If my words are able to do So"
MIR. Roots speech has had the effect
OF lining up the colored men either
against the Borah resolution or putting
them on record rs being pronouncedly
IN favor Of the Sutherland amend
ment. This amendment proposes "to
carry over to the new body of cleo
tors" as Senator Root expressed it. the
same control which the present consti-
tuition attaches to the existing power
Of electors.
prominent cOored business man
and politician who comes from one of
the middle western states. where the
Negroes hold the balance of power
was heard to express his high approval
of Senator Roots position 1.-The col
Ored voters of the middle west" be
said. SHOULD at once take up the ques-
ton in earnest and petition their SEN
ators and representatives to stand by
the Sutherland amendment"
A remarkable feature of the debate
was the attitude taken by Senators
Borah and Beveridge as to the Suther.
land amendment Both Of these gen.
t!emen expressed regret that the uues-
tion of Negro suffrage should be
brought into the debate. Both Of them
carefully avoided expressing them
selves on the Sutherland amendment.
Mr. Beveridge said: II regret that
1t was ever brought into the case
am not without sympathy with the