The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-01-26

i Washington, January 21.ANorth-
ern Senators who supporty the pend
ing resolution providing for the cleo
ton OF Senators by popular vote
were charged with ignorance by Sem
ator Carter, Of Montana, in a speech
,ltoday, and Southern Senators with
a scheme to saddle constitutionally
the Acknowledgement of Negro votes
upon the country.
II Mr.. Carter claimed that the Ques-
ton OF electing Senator's by direct
lVote and Of taking out of the Consti-
tuition the right Of Congress to make
any law or regulation for the pro-
lection Of senatorial elections
against fraud, violence Or corruption
were SO indissolubly united in the
resolution that the people of the
polls could not separate them in
order to express their choice
He contended that the resolution
when sent to the Committee on Jul
tdieia4ey- carried only the simple prop
Iosition of having Senators selected
ty direct vote, and that the other
I proposition. had been adopted as a
rider" in order to get the support
TO- Senators who favored giving to
Legislatures the right of disfran-
Ichising Negroes.
! The addition to the simple propo-
isition of which Mr.. Carter COM
planned would provide that the
times, places and manner of holding
ELECTION for Senators should be pre-
Iscrlbed In each state by the Legisla-
ture thereof, just as 1T is now pro-
lvided by the constitution, but the
succeeding clause giving to Con-
u gross the right, to make or, alter
such regulations has been elimina-
tied.
Was Legislative Joker.
This alleged rider was character
lied by Mr.. Carter as a "curiosity in
Legislative jokers,' manifestly used
as float to bring the main amend
ment out Of the committee room.
He predicted it would prove dead
ly weight in more than one-fourth
of the State Legislatures, if it does
not serve as a "sinker" in one or
the other branches of Congress.
The occasion demands plain
speech and forbids evasion" said
Mr.. Carter. Certain Senators mot
content with the success obtained in
lsuppressing the Negro vote through
curious variety Of state constitu-
tional provisions and legislative de-
vices said he, now seek absolute
ly to deprive the General Govern
ment Of all power to protect the
election of members Of the Senate
from such fraud, violence or corrup-
ton as may taint a senatorial cleo
tiCn North or South" He said that
the adoption Of the amendment
would give substantial, though linn
tied, national sanction to the dis
reimbursement Of Negroes in the
, Southern States.
Senators Not Satisfied.
I'm their disfranchisement," said
Mr.. Carter, I'VE now passively &C.
: tquiesee, -b#t-With this supine atti-
tude some Senators are not content;
they ask us actually to strip Con-
gress Of the power to question cleo
ton methods and actions in so far
; as the election of United States Sen
| ators may be concerned, and by the
: way Of 1nducement to the Congress
, and the nation to consent to the per
{ manent suppression of more than
t a million votes at elections to choose
, Senators, they will cooperate in the
adoption OF constitutional amend
= ment providing for the election Of
| United States Senators by direct
| vote CT the people"
5 ! - Mr.. Carter admitted that perplex-
2 Ing questions confront the people OF
v lthe South, but warned the Senators
| supporting the proposed constitu-
2 ;ttonal limitations that they had
. better allow time and tolerant pub.
- lie sentiment to aid in the solution
s or certain problems rather than tC
= invite the country to give constitu.
Y uonal sanction to deplorable expe.
dients which every patriotic citizen
- must earnestly pray may not lone
= be deemed necessary in the South
! Cites lodge Election BILL.
\ The Senator recalled the Lodge
p election bill, its defeat and the re
r action that "sWept practically every
o section Of the old Federal election
4 laws from the statute books, bu
@ there the reaction stopped aand the
country settled down in patience fol
o a period Of reflection and observa
o tion.n
V To the Senator there occurred NJ
+ treason for fear this period woult
: not long be continued unless tht
men of the South shall insist upor
Immediate and final disposition 0