Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-27

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WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. A,-Sena-
tor, Chauncey NJ, Depew. of New York
today made his farewell address to
the senate, and his swan song, on this
account attracted wide attention. How
sver, st. held deeper interest for the
people OF the south, because he assaiieo
the negro disfranchisment laws In force
in practically every southern state. he
addressed his remarks to the proposed
constitutional amendment for the cleo
ton of United States senators by the
direct vote OF the people, and It was 70
this connection that he paid his respects
to the legal rights of the negro.
Senator Depew declared that the word
ing of the proposed amendment 10 the
Constitution will, In effect, legalize negro
Acknowledgement. wherefore he argued
for the adoption of qualifying clauses
that have been proposed by himself ano
Senator Sutherland. Of Utah. he oio mo-
attempt to develop the danger 70 nesrc
Acknowledgement that viii come OF tne
passage of the resolution in any shape
n was his purpose to 50 emasculate
the amendment as to make 1t impos-
sible of passage. He did not dwell upon
the fact that regardless OF the language
Of the amendment, the senate viii have
authority to investigate the elections IN
the south after the ratification OF the
popular elections proposal.
THE REAL DANGER
and the real danger to the negro dis
reimbursement laws lies In this tact, as
has been pointed out in another special
disnatch to The Journal from Washing
tom. AS the Judge OF its own members,
the senate, in the event Of popular cleo
lions, will have authority to open the
ballot boxes In the south and set ASIDE
the result OF an election, II II can oe
shown that any considerable number OF
illegal s"-negroes-were denied the
right of participation In the election
The first few paragraphs of Senator
Depew's speech serves to illuminate the
position he developed in his speech to-
day and they are quoted yer batim.
Mr. president: The subject under dis
cussfon is a joint resolution entitled
sJoint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the constitution providing that
senators shall be elected by the people
OF the several states.
Who are the people OF the several
states? The constitution leaves US In
no doubt on this question II begins win
the immortal declaration:
we. the peopl eof the United States,
in order to form a more perfect union,
establish Justice, insure domestic tran
GUILTY.. provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings of liberty 10 ourselves and
our posterity, do ordain and establish
this constitution for the United >tsates OF
America. 81
The 18th article OF the constitution de-
fines. thu people by declaring that
kil persons born or naturalized IN the
tinted states and subject to the Juris-
diction thereof are citizens Of the Uni
ted States and OF the states wherein they
reside.
81 REPBAL.S CONSTITUTION.
The 18th amendment declares that the
rights Of citizens of the United States
TO vote shall not be denied or abridged
by the United States or by aasy state
on account OF race, color, or previous
condition Of servitude.
The proposed amendment to the con-
stitution, as reported from the judiciary
COMMITTEES and now before the senate,
seems to me 20 be an EFFORT under the
ruise of popularizfng the election Of
United States senator's to permit under
the constitution the states to disfran-
chise large classes OF their electors. In
stead of providing that senator's shall
be elected by the people Of the several
states, 1t virtually denies the people Of
the right to elect senators by impair
inf the 18th and 18th amendments to
the constitution, which were intended
to secure the elective franchise to all
citizens OF the United States. If this be
true, then we are paying a tremendous
price to secure a change in the present
methods Of electing United States sena-
ntorss The constellation makes the fol-
lowing provision for election of
members of congress:
The times. places. and manner OF
holding elections for senators and rep