Arizona republican., 1911-02-11
HE STIRS UP THE SOUTH
By Injecting the Race Cues
ton He Makes Southern
Opposition to Proposition
to Elect United States
Senators by Popular Vote

washington, Feb 10.-Through the
injection of the race question into the
hitherto comparatively commonplace
discussion in the senate Of the resolu-
ton providing for the election OF SEN
ators by a direct vote Senators Root
of New York and Bacon of Georgia to-
dav lifted the controversy to plane
of almost sensational interest.
The incident arose in connection with
extended remarks made by Mr.. Root in
opposition to the Borah resolution. He
said the national government could
not afford to barter away the privi-
lege of supervising senatorial elections
in the south, if needs should arise for
such supervision.
Also in speaking of the observance
of the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments to the constitution, he said that
from time to time things happen in
the southern states which SHOULD not be
permitted and which should be correct
ed, if not by the states themselves, then
by the national government.
This declaration caused a visible stir
on the democratic side. Ii at once be
came manifest that If anything was
lacking to insure opposition by the
southern senators To the resolution, ii
had been supplied by Mr.. Root.
Mr. Borah, who has charge Of the
measure. charged that the race ques-
ton had been dragged into the case for
the purpose Of alternating the minority.
when Mr.. Root concluded his speech.
he left the chamber. Mr.. Bacon imme-
diately expressed a desire for specifi-
cations regarding the things the New
York senator had said happened in
the south" which ought TO call for fed
eral Intervention. but the demand did
not reach MIR. Root until after Mr.
Mr.. Beveridge had made formal re
Div To the New York senator's speech
and the senate was prepared 10 ad-
journ.
Just before o'clock Mr.. Bacon re-
viewed 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
he had references to the voluntary sur
render by the government of the power
to enforce the protection of the suf
frage privileges of the southern negro.
Facing senator Bacon and speaking
with great, elaboration, Mr.. Root
enumerated the peonage system. the
lynching of negroes and the disfran-
chisement provisions such as the
grandfather clause as in the ccnstitu
tons of many southern states. as some
of the things calculated TO deprive the
black man of that equal protection
which the constitution guarantees.
1.-The people OF the United States" he
said. are willing to fold their hands
and wish the southern people Godspeed
in working out their delicate problem
so long as they do so in kindness. but
should there be such oppression as calls
fer the exercise of the power of the
United states To enforce the amend
ments. that power will be exercised
and it ought to be-"
Mr.. Bacon replied that such questions
as lynching and peonage were in no
wise cognate to the subject under con-
sideration. He accounted for the
lynchings on the ground of severe
provocation. which he said deprived
men of their reason and made demons
of them. He found one cause for them
in the scarcity of population. and to
show that this crime was. confined to
no one part of the country. he said
there had been lynchings i'm New York
in which the victims were burned to
death AS for the charge of peOnage,
he declared there was no practice in
the south worthy of that name Indi-
eating doubt as TO Mr.. Root having had
such an offense in mind, Mr. Bacon
said he was sure that the New York
senator was really inveighing against
supposed offenses against the fran
chise
Am l correct?" questioned Mr.. Ba-
con.
Perfectly" responded Mr.. Root
Then he added: IF the constitution
should be so amended as TO provide
for the election of senators by the di-
rect vote of the people. the national
government must retain the power to
make these elections free and unham-
pered. Without this privilege. the gov
eminent of the United States surren-
ders the power for its own preserva-
ton"
Does the senator contend for the
power of congress to annul laws now
on the statute books of the states, such