The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-15
CHANGE NOT WANTED.
SOUTHERNERS OPPOSE FEDERAL
INFERENCE IN ELECTIONS.
According to Percy, People Would
Even Forego Popular Election OF
Senator's.

Washington. Feb. S.-The South
would prefer the defeat OF the resolu-
tion calling for the election of United
States senator's by direct vote OF the
people TO its passage If amended as
Senator Sutherland of Utah has pro .
posed. so as to place control Of such
elections In the hands Of congress, de-
clared Senator Percy Of Mississippi in
a speech today.
Mr.. Percy addressed himself ex-
clusively to the consideration Of the
Sutherland amendment. He con-
tended that in the provision of the
constitution giving congress supervi-
sion over the election Of senator's, the
power Of control Is only formal. 1t
could extend only to legislatures and
not In the original voter acting on his
right Of franchise in case Of popular
cleo ton Of senators. AS 1t now stands
1t Is an emergency power to be used
by congress only in case Of the failure
Of a legislature to act.
Yet" said the Mississippi senator,
by the alchemy OF senatorial logic
II has been transmitted into one Of the
chief bulwarks Of the government"
The acceptance Of the Sutherland
amendment would give the national
government control of electors and
might be so employed as to result In
the appointment Of supervisors Of
elections. which would be most OBJ
jectional. the senator maintained.
He declared that never. except during
the 25 years from 1870 to 1894 when
election laws were resorted to to pro-
tect the negro vote in the Southern
States. had the national power Of
supervision been invoked In the
matter OF the election Of members Of
the house Of representatives, "and,"
he added. "never In all that time was
there a day when the general welfare
would not have been promoted by
striking these laws from the statu-
tes."
Referring to the effort of 20 years
TO pass the force bill. Mr.. Percy de-
clared that legislation along the lines
then contemplated would have re-
suited In chaos. whereas the Southern
States left 20 their own devices OF
government, there has continued
prosperity for hoth whites and blacks.
y believe" ne said. thai those
dark days have sone never ~ return,
and yet We find warrant for appre-
hension In the threat Of the senator
from New York (Mr. Depew) that
senator's voting for the resolution
would feel the result Of the negro vote
In the doubtful States. 1t indicates a
desire to curry favor with that vote
and 1t may AFFORD a sufficient incen-
tive to attempt to control elections" {"
While. however. he considered that
the day was far distant when any
political party would undertake to
enact federal laws for the contro. &c
State elections. nevertheless, it was
felt that too much caution could not
be exercised.
Taking up the Switzerland amend
ment Mr.. Percy said:
'The extension Of the federal power
as contemplated by the Switzerland
amendment Is a price greater than
the South is willing to pay for the
right of electing senators by direct
vote"
In conclusion Mr.. Percy declared
that the South recognized the futility
OF any attempt TO repeal the fifteenth
amendment to the constitution and
that such a course would not be un-
dertaken by that section OF the coun-
try.