The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-16
BristoW A men d m e n t
Means I surpation Ct
States Fights
ADOPTION MEANS
TROUBLE AHEAD
In Extreme Case Federal Gov
eminent Could Order Out
Troops to Take Charge of
Senatorial Elections Sena-
tor Fletcher Tells Why It
Should Be Defeated.
Especial to The Times Dispatch. j

Especial to The Times DiSpatchJ f
Washington. u. c.. June l5.-Scnutor
u. U. Fletcher OF Florida. to-day
sounded warning note against the
| ratificatio OF the bill for the election
of Senator's BY the people, declaring
that unless the Legislatures of the sew
| eral States reject the measure with
the Bristow amendment, the South
Will give up her elective franchise and
oil the rights and liberties that natu-i
| rally Follow. He sees trouble ahead
Tor the people of the South.
I cnl in favor of the election OF Sen
ato:s BY popular vote" Senator fetch
| err said. The people have n right tt
say who shall serve them in the Uniteo
states Senate. ] voted against the fina
| ,doption Of the resolution, which was q
substitute for the original adopted or
tie vote. and known as the Bristow
Amendment, and I hope, II the House
| accepts this amendment. that the Leg
! islaturas will reject It, The Bristow
| amendment has the effect OF giving the
f! Federal government authority to say
| when. where and in what manner
the elections for Senators shall be held
This Is the Objectionable feature. II
simply means that the States shall sur
render the control of their political
affairs to the government of the United
states. and l am unultcrably opposed
to 1t. believe we arc able to take
care of our own elections In the South,
without the aid or supervision OF Fed
| eral authorities. .1aG.
There is every reasonitc believe that
both branches of Congress will be
Democratic in the next two years. and
| then We can submit this propositions
L In, - f1l-n I'm 11.il
posal that might prevent tho Southern
States from regulating the franchise
| 4 ne ID democrats were practically a. unit
against the Bristow amendment They
believed It gives the Federal authori-
ties powers not now claimed over the
choice of Senators far-reaching and
vital. but many of them voted for the
| resolution after the adoption OF this
amendment. believing that the LcGEs-
latures should take the responsibility
of ratifying or rejecting 1t. This was
| not my idea at all think we should
| meet'responsibilities as they come, und
not pass them on to some one else.
We choose Senators In Florida by
! popular vote now, and the Federal au-
| thorltfes have nothing TO do with such
elections. Why should we surrender
our absolute control of such elections
and give to Congress the power to
regulate the time. place and manner
Of electing Senator's? 1t is argued
that other States should be favored
by adopting the amendment In the
first place. answer, let those States
adopt primary election laws, as we
have done. In the next place. our en-
.perience is. the South must look out
for herself and II the time should
come. as IL has In the past. when she
needed friends. she would find many
Of these same States giving their sym.
PATTY perhaps, but not their assist.
ance. The best friend the South has
| is the South. She has sacrificed In
the past, but there are some thIngs
she must not give up-one OF them Is
the regulation of the franchise"
! p. II. MEG