The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1911-02-03

AIMED BY PROPOSED AMEND
MENT TO CONSTITUTION
Editor New York Age UO-
Covers Trick.

ELECI lON Or UNI I'D D "A rs |
SENATORS BY THE PEOPLE TO
BE THE VElL-AMENDMENT
TO RESOLUTION Rejected
SOUTHERN SENATORS WARNED
AGAINST SUCH A METHOD
DANGER IN TAMPERlNG WITH
THE FEDERAL DOCUMENT
BITTER FIGHT ANTICIPATED
NEGROES PUT ON GUARD.
The Negroes of this country have
been put on guard by the editor of the
New York Age as to the real mean
ing of the proposed amendment to
the Constitution to legalize the cleo
ton of United States Senators by the
people. The Age says in substance.
The resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution was last
v eek reported from the Judiciary Com
mittee to the Senate after a long de-
bate and discussion, and after an
amendment offered by Senator Depew
of New York had repeatedly been vot-
ed down. This amendment we are
happy to note, has been revived by the
New York Senator, and was few
days ago the subject of interesting
speeches, addresses and observations,
chief among which were the remarks
j of Senator Carter, who pointed out
the danger involved to certain class
of our electorate in the proposed
amendment, unless certain specific pro-
visions respecting the mode of elect
ing Senators were made.
Senator Depew's amendment pro-
vides that in the election of Senators,
all citizens have equal right of suf-
frage. w
The immediate and violent oppoSi-
ton of Southern and Democratic Sena-
tors to this proposition, it will readi-
ly be seen and even as the Southern
Senators themselves admitted, was
due to the fact that under it the South
ern colored men, now disfranchised
by the spirit and operation, if not the
letter of State laws, would have the
right of franchise in the election of
Federal Senator's 81 would rather
have no change" Clarke of Arkansas,
is reported to have said, than to ac-
cept such an amendment"
: Another mandatory suggestion
which has become the subject Of a
wrangle is that which provides for
Federal control of the election OF
Senators, the advocates of this provi
sion ably contending that, since the
Senators are Senator's of the United
States" representing the common
wealth as a whole in contradistinction
to representatives, who represent q
: given number of people, the govern
ment ought rightly to supervise, sup
erintend, direct and control the cleo
ton This seems to be not only gooC
constitutional law, but also the very
3 essence of eXpediency AS we under
5 stand it, those desiring the change il
q the manner of electing Senators seel
not to change the spirit of the pres
: ent law, but to really protect thu
!. spirit by safeguarding the dignity O
l the senatorship. How in the end thu
spirit of the law will be protected by
q changing the very fundamental prin
! cipal of it, is beyond us, and, we ina
i CINE, is beyond most laymen, and per
/ haps, excepting Borah, Of Idaho mos
lawyers in the Senate who are giveT
:, to reasoning from cause to effect, anC
who are not devoted beneficiaries O
4 the operation of legal subterfuges. o
!, course Senator Carter bravely warned
the Senators of the dangers of thu
: proposed amendment He said in un
9 polished speech, too seldom used ant
/ so often needed, that he perceived il
i the measure universal disfranchise
{ ment of the Negro. He saw also ;
> repetition of fifty years ago, whel
schoolhouses were turned into forums
( and pulpits into platforms, and mel
grew bitter one toward the other
May we not then appeal, not to Eng
land, but to our own countrymen TO
s justice to the Senator for reason, ant
,, to the leaders of colored Americans t
= lay aside, for a season, personal ambi
S tions, and bestir themselves like an
r Client men for the protection Of on
l. rights and the rights of our children
l. The Age would entreat every man an
l. woman who can write to send you
d Senator letter, not filled with arrow
y Of venom and hatred, though we ar
q condemned and prosecuted, but lette
5. asking for that justice to which We