The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-02-14
SOUTHERNERS
Are AROUSED
Object TO Roots Remarks on
Senatorial Elections.
GOVERNMENT MUST CONTROL

Senators From South Fear that II
Sutherland Amendment Is lncorpo-
rated In Bill Providing For Direct
Vote of People Own Constitutional
Rights viii Be Tramped Upon.
Senator Bacon Gets Direct Answer
to Query as to Its Effect.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE speech
Of Senator Elihu Root in the senate
against .the election of United
States senators by direct vote was
characterized on the floor as one of
the most impressive ever delivered in
that body. For more than two hours
the senator from New York held the
attention of every member and the
crowded galleries while he pictured
the effect of the adoption of the pro-
posed constitutional amendment upon
the institutions of the country and
the senate itself.
Mr.. Root declared that the pro.
posed change was based upon dis.
trust, upon theory that state gov
ernments are corrupt and incompe.
tent. Senator Root held up before
the senate the consequences of this
| theory when pushed to It's logical
| conclusion, raising his voice In sol.
emn warning that it would lead ulti-
mately to breaking up of the re.
public along new lines.
Senator Root before he had con.
cluded had stirred the southern SEN
ators with the idea that the proposed
legislation will give the federal gov
ernment power to annul the grand.
father clauses in the constitutions of
the southern states. The southern
senators, nearly Lall OF whom favor
the direct election resolution, were
greatly aroused over Senator Roots
speech and clearly indicated that
they would not risk any action which
might put the federal government in
| the way Of interfering with the quail
fcations that have been prescribed
In southern states for the black
voter.
Amendment Arouses Fears.
| The Sutherland amendment to the
direct elections resolution Is the fea-
ture of the proposition that is both
ering the southern senator's. This
amendment provides that congress
shall have power to fix time and
place and prescribe the manner and
methods OF elections for United
States senators. If the Sutherland
amendment Is adopted the votes OF
the southern Democrats on the gen
eral proposition apparently will be
| alienated.
The rumpus with the southern sen.
ators came at the conclusion OF Sen
ator Roots speech. Senator Bacon
! OF Georgia arose and. after declaring
that the speech was one of the most
impressive ever delivered in the SEN
ate, ne asked Senator Root to ex-
plain what he meant by certain
yelled references to conditions in
southern states
Senator Root In reply recalled that
he had been discussing the proposed
|
olution by the government of the
United States of the power necessary
to enforce effectively the fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments to the con.
stitution.
"There are some things done in
| the SOUTH" said ne, (which | know
the senator from Georgia deplores.
There are the lynchings and cases OF
| peonago. Then there are the consti.
| tutlons with their grandfather
clauses which were adopted to null
| lify the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments. The people OF the
United States are apparently willing
to hold their hands and to give god
speed to the southern people so that
they can work out their delicate
problems, but If the time comes for
the protection of the blacks and the
people of the nation are convinced
! that oppression is being visited on
them, then the great reserve power
of the national government will be
re.energi2ed and exercised In these
fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments."
In the executive session the nomi'
nations Of ex.Representative Duncan
Mckinley to be surveyor of customs
for the district OF San Francisco and
James ]. Britt of North Carolina to
be third assistant postmaster gen.
eral, were confirmed.
|
MILLIONS ARE STARVING
MIaaion ariaa Annaal For Mapsv tn