The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1912-05-25
THE BRIsTow AMENDMENT.

lion OF senators ny u4l
,,yison papers in this state innuenc-
ad NV a feeling that the amendment
:. o menace to the South or are they
simply trying to knock Onoer-
wood? asks the Savannah News
.If they really think" says oH'
savannah contemporary, that the
amendment is full of peril to the
south why were they silent in regard
70 If until it had passed both houses
Of congress? One would naturally
think that the time to oppose the
amendment was before it passed Ine
horsa We do not recall, however,
that any one of them waved VlsoI-
ors1v the flag of danger until 1t
dovnad on them that Mr.. Under-
wood had voted for the amendment
The vote was taken in the house Oh
Monday of last week, and the result
v,oo IN the dispatches the next DAY
On the day following the morning
Naws commented on the passage OIL
tho amendment and called attention
tn the fact that it didn't have the ap-
oroval of some of the Southern con-
gressmen, giving the reason why they
didn't approve it. The Wilson papers
do not appear to have thought there
was ANYTHING Objectionable in the
amendment until their attention was
called to the fact that Mr.. Underwood
had voted for it.
But what is the Bristow amend
r,or+q II doesn't introduce anything
new into the constitution. 1t simply
nroyides for retaining what is there
now The amendment providing Tor
the election of senators by the peo-
ME as it passed the house was as
follows
The senate of the United States
shall be composed of two senators
from each state, elected by the peo-
ME thereof. for six years; and each
senator shall have one vote. me
electors in each state shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors
of fine most numerous branch OF the
state legislatures.
The times, places and manner
of holding elections for senators
shall be as prescribed in each state
by the legislature thereof.
When the foregoing came before
the senate Senator Bristow moved to
amend it by inserting, but congress
may at any time by law make or
alter such regulations, etc. These
quoted words are now part of the
constitution and have always been.
They are called the Bristow amend
ment because they were left out OF
the amendment providing for the
election of senators that was origi-
nally passed by the house.
when the Bristow amendment
was before the senate Senator Clark
of Arkansas voted for it in order to
save the whole amendment, that is,
the amendment providing for the
election of senators by the direct vote
of the people. The rejection of the
Bristow amendment meant the de-
feat of the proposition to elect SEN
ators by the people.
why should Mr.. Underwood be
singled out for attack by the Wilson
papers? He was instructed to vote
for the amendment just as it stood
before the house. This instruction
was given by the state democratic
convention of Alabama. That state
didn't view the Bristow amendment
with apprehension and Mr.. Under
wood has said that he didn't regard
it as threatening danger to the South.
He voted his convictions and at the
same time obeyed the instructions
of his state.
There doesn't seem to be any par
ticular reason for danger from the
Bristow amendment in this state.
The negro vote is limited by the
state laws, and the amendment to
the constitution providing for the
election of senators by the people
doesn't change them. After the rat
ifcation of that amendment the fed
eral constitution will contain, as it
does now, the following
The electors in each state shall
have the same qualifications requl-
site for electors of the most numer-
GUS branch of the state legislature.
If the wilson papers are really
sincere in their opposition to the
amendment for the election of sena-
tors by direct vote, as amended by
Senator Bristow, We assume thai
they will oppose its ratification by
this state when it comes before the
legislature.
"As there were only tnirty-nint
votes in the house against the
amendment, as reported in the dis
patches. there must have been goot
. co,+%,orr, ron Crpssman w1(