Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-14
CURTIS UNPOPULAR ELECTIONS
Kansas Senator Objects to Form of
Proposed Amendment,
CONGRESS SHOULD KEEP CONTROL
He Says stntca should Not ne Given
nm OpPortunity to Nuilify the
90 Votes ~ Any class Of
citizens.

ASHINGTON. Feb 1s-As zone Of the
senators from Kansas Senator curtis to-
day addressed the senate In opposition to
the revised resolution proposing to submit
to the state a constitutions amendment
Tor the election Of the senators by direct
vote. All through his speech he hurled
attacks az his colleague. Senator Bristow.
for approving OF the amended resolution.
Senator Curtfs said ne was in favor Of a
constitutional Amendment looking to the
election Of senators by direct vote but he
was not wiling It should be amended so
congress should give up all it's rights 70
make or alter the regulations OF state
for the election Of United States senator's.
This, he said, was what the amended
resolution would provide The amended
resolution. II it's substance were approved
by the states, would result in the states
DISTINGUISHING negro voters. II they 50 de-
sired without congress being able to raise
a hand, he said.
Committee rider. Unfair.
II strongly favor the Joint resolution to
provide for the election OF senators by
direct vote Of the people" said Senator
Curtis. but. DO not think it should be
burdened with the Objectionable and un-
fair provisions placed in It by majority
Of the committee, and as one OF the. sen
ators from the state Of Kansas J cannot
support the rider or joker placed in the
resolution bY-svmajOrlty- Of the committee"
That Senator .Blistoy should consider the
amendment to the resolution as immaterial
was matter of regret with Senator Cur
tbs. Il regret very much" he sa ID Of his
republican colleague, "te see the senator
treat constitutional amendment so
lightly. ....
The negro people are, entitled to protec-
tion in their rights. and congress should
not directly or indirectly say it was will
ing to let the states take away the right
which came to them as a result Of the civil
war; continued the senator. After the
war was over in order to meet new CON
ditions, the constitution was amended, and
the fifteenth amendment declares that the
right of citizens of the United States to
vote shall not be. denied or abridged by
the United States or By any state on &C
count of race, color or previous condition
Of servitude.' $50.
Grandfather subterfuges.
This amendment was made to protect
the former slaves who bad been freed, and
yet we find state after state by grand
father and other clauses depriving them
Of their rights. OF course there is no word
in the acts referring TO race, ,color or pre-
Hous condition Of servtude,' yet everyone
knows that when state undertakes to
keep a citizen thereof. from voting unless
his grandfather was voter, the object
is to deprive the negro from his right of
franchise.
IF the resolution as. amended is passed
and the constitution is amended as pro-
Wded, then. the congress gives up all its
rights to make or alter the regulations Of
a state for the election of United States
senators, and IL electors are disfranchised
II outrages. are perpetrated. If fraud is
committed, or If corrupt practices are re-
sorted. TO the congress remains helpless"
Senator BristQw was ap attentive listener.
but made. no reply toahis collegiate.