Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-05-17
4 SOUTHERNER, FORSOOTH

leadership, rammed through the house a piece of
Republican legislation that strikes at the very root
and life of those protective suffrage laws by which
Georgia and Alabama and Mississippi and other
commemorative of the south have fortified their
ballots against the corrupt and venal negro vote
Congressman Oscar Underwood, touted the one
Simon-pure southeTner in the presidential ace has
championed the so-called Bristow amendment, which
in ultimate effect at least enables congress to over
ride every Acknowledgement law ever passed by the
states and, if it so wills, send federal marshas
and federal troops to dispace and overawe southern
sentiment at the polls.
Thus has he rewarded the Democrats of the three
southern states that accepted him in good faith
true friend and neghbor, Thus has he shown his
magnificent loyalty the interests and the ideals of
this section, and its people.
Let us glance moment at this Brstow amend
ment and just what its purpose is and where it
will lead. There is now pending in congress
luton calling for the submission of amendment
to the constitution whereby United States senators
may be elected directly by the people, instead of being
chosen is the case, by the state legislatures
The underlying principle of this resolution is sound
Democratic doctrine and it has been cordially sup
ported in the south. But Congressman Bristow, a
Republican representative from Kansas, introduced
time ago amendment to the main resou-'
tion which deprives the individual states of any
voice whatsoever in fixing the time the place and
the manner of holding senatorial elections. Over
these important particulars the federal congress is
given exclusive control The people of Georgia. for
instance might adopt some special form of election
which they would consider essenaI political purity
and justice. They would undoubtedly apply to the
senatorial, as to other elections, the standards Of
their negro Acknowledgement law Yet il this method
did not suit the federal congress and if the Republ
cans were in the majority at Washington, it is not
only possible, but probable, that should be per-
emptorily ordered to fling away homemade
plan and accept one made by alien interests other
sections, where conditions vastly different from
what they in the south. And should we decline
to do So congress Uould unQuesttonably be author
ICED, under the Bristoi0 amendment for Ohich Mr..
Underwood Uoted, to dragoon into submission by
federal marshdlS troops In short, congress, not
the state would have the authority to fix the quail
fcation of electors to enact force bill to carry out
its orders and fog back into the ills and out
RACES that marked Reconstruction days
Verify, it was a splendid act of southern patriot
ism when Congressman Underwood urged the pas
sage of this tyrannous amendment! -'.~
Not only did he stalwartly ally himself with Mr.
Bristow, who, is we'll known, introduced the
amendment to please his negro constituents in
Kansas, but he went still further in his betrayal Of
southern interests. He voted against and spoke
against a counter amendment, offered by Congress
Bartlett, Of Georgia. Judge Bartlett, realizing
the grave menace which the Kansans scheme car
red for this state and section edeavored to qualify
it by having the house specifically declare that
congress shall not have power to provide for the
qualification of voters within the various states or
to authorize the appointment of supervisors of eec
ton judges of election returning boards to certify
the results Of any such election to authorize
the of United States marshals, or the military
forces of the United States troops of the United
States at the polls during elections"
What Congressman Underwoods attitude to-
ward this timely and needfu provision intended to
protect the rights and welfare of the south? He
turned his back squarey upon it and Joined with
the leaders of the north and of the Republican camp
with Cannon and DalzeI and Payne-in forcing
through despotic measure that must scken the
heart Of every thinking southern citizen And this
he did, despite the fact that he had previously prom
ised Judge Bartlett support the latters amendment
Is this the stu6 of 0hich southern candidates for
the Democratic nomination are NADER Is this the
second Jefferson to whom we are to entrust the
great work of restoring our section to its former
splendor and bearing aloft it's Traditions?
Georgians may at least congratulate themselves
that they have in congress- in Judge Charles Bart
lett, representative who stands stanchly by the
things they believe in and who had rather deserve
the confidence of his own people than to play them,
traitor for the political favor of other sections
1t is gratifying too to note that every member
OF the Georgia delegation in congress voted for the
Bartlett amendment and against the Bristow amend
ment. And so did everyone of the Tennessee Demo
Gratis vote for the Bartlett amendment Every South
Carolina member voted for it, every Virginia mem
ber every North Carolina member, every Arkansas
member, every Louisiana member and, with two
exceptions, every member of the Texas delegation
3 So stood the south. Where stood Congressman
Underwood, heralded by the interests behind him as
the New souths prophet and puissant leader? He
stood in amazing aloofness; and to keep him COM
pany were Uncle Joe Cannon and Serene Payne, the
tariff-maker.
1t should be noted that Mr. Underwood acted not
merely individual congressman from Alabama
but as leader of the Democratic majority of the
house. His protest could easily KILLED the BriS-
too amendment His acqWieScenSe and support
pressed IL through.
1t is interesting to speculate on what would have
happened in Georgia had Mr.. Underwood revealed
himself thus clearly before instead of after May the