The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1911-03-31

the last clause OF the paragraph
was stricken out altogether,
1t was against these changes, aud
to preserve the constitution as it
now exists in this respect tina. the
Sutherland amendments were direct
cd. These amendments were adopt
ed SO that the only change in the con
stitution the Boi.ah resolution pro-
posed. as 1t came TO a final vote,
WIS that Senators shout. he elected
by the people, instead of by he leg
islatures. Nine democrats voted
against it, at least six of whom would
have voted for 1t, and carried, 1t had
changes first proposed by the
resolution, Withholding from Con-
gress the power of supervising the
elections. not been stricken out.
The debate was able and brilliant
on both sides. The strongest and
most impressive speech In opposi-
ton admittedly was that made by
Senator Root Of New York, He
finish, and really accomplished Its
defeat He declared the people
should not contract the habit OF
amending the Constitution; thai sta
billy of government is matter Of
vital concern, and that constitution
al changes should be made only for
reasons of gravcst concern.
He was opposed to the election OF
senators by the people, believing the
old system of legislative selection
er changes proposed that Senator
Roots opposition was especially III
rected In the proposed insertion OF
the word "as" in the first clause of
Section 4 he saw "a clear, distinct
and "nquestiona bic abandonment OF
the peremptory command" of the
constitution requiring state legisla-
lures, as matter of their duty to
Ito prescribe the times, places and
manner of holding elections and
substituting therefor action which
the gislature may or may not take,
al IL may ltStIl pIcici+ II o'.>tS
prescribes. well and good 1t does it
under its own authority. If state
does not prescribe, we'll and good.
There is no mandate of the constitu-
ton of the United States requiring
the state to do it
The other changes. if adopted, he
declared, would remove the last YES
tnge of national authority to make,
alter or control the regulations
which tho legislatures may prescribe
for the election of members of eth
er house OF congress, SO long held
to be necessary for the preservation
of the national iifes That part OF
Senator Roots speech which so deep
ly stirred some of the southern sen
ators was as follows:
Il do not know, SIR. that the time
viii ever COME hope 1t never VIII
when II will be necessary to apply
another federal election law to pre-
vent the creation of members of this
body from being a shame and dis
grace, but | protest against robbing
our nation Of the power to exercise
such control over the selection OF the
men who are to constitute its gov
eminent.
Il am deeply sympathetic, Mr..
President. with our friends from the
south, who are dealing with the DIFF
ficult problem of adjusting the re-
lations between the white and the
black populations OF their states.
aI, ~ J.
lie that mistakes have been made in
the attitude of that part OF the
country where | was born and bred
and where / received my first ideas
OF the political policy of our coun-
try. | would not now like to see an
attempt to stretch out the hand OF
federal power and interfere with
the progress of our friends in the
south toward the solution OF that
difficult and embarrassing problem.
But, Mr.. President. | must pro-
test with all the energy OF which
am capable against our country's
robbing itself of the power to do 1t
II 1t need be.
Freely conceding to our friends
of the south the manifold shortcom-
ings OF my own people IN the north,
they must not think hardly OF me IL
say that from time to time things
are done in some parts of the south
that the states ought to prevent, and
II they do not that the country must
prevent the moment they touch the
constitution OF our government.
Senator Bacon asked Senator
Root what these things are which,
happen In the south and may call
for federal interference; and was
frankly told that among them are
lynchings, peonage and the introduc-
ton OF election methods grouped
under the general description or
grandfather clauses all adapted
to limit and weaken the effects OF
the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments to the constitution, enacted
for the protection CT the negroes.
Senator Bacon inquired, with in
creasing interest. II the New York
senator meant to say that congress.