The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-07-04
Oscar Underwood Tells Why He Fought
For Amendment.
May 2Ist, 1912.

Concord, North Carolina
My dear CALDWELL:
Yours of the 10Th inst. reached me this morn
ing, in reference to the Brstow amendment OF
course as you understand, the Bristow amend
ment is merely in line with amendments to the
Constitution that have repeatedly passed the
House of Representatives since the Civil war,
and received the votes of the Democrats in Con-
gress. 1t places the United States Senators on
exactly the same status as the members of Con-
gress. 1t does not in any way change the quail
fcations of voters and do not think there would
have been any real question raised about the mat
ter if it had not been for the fact that | was
candidate for the Presidential nomination and the
Wilson men in the House tried to use my vote to
affect the result of the election in North Carolina.
In this day and time there is no possibility of
Force bill being enacted | really believe it is an
injury to Our people in the South for some of Our
Statesmen to continue to talk about it. If the
Bartlett proposition had been agreed to in the
House, the Senate undoubtedly would not have
concurred and it would have resulted in the de-
feat of the resolution to elect United States Sen
ators by the people. AS I have always been
heartily in accord with the main purpose of the
resolution could not vote for proposition that
| felt was intended to defeat it.
Of course, the real vote was on the adoption
of the Bristow amendment itself. Two hundred
and thirty-seven voted in favor of it and thirty
nine aginst it. Ali the Democrats FROM New
Jersey, Mr.. Wilson's state, voted with me against
the Bartlett amendment, as did Mr.. Henry, of
Texas, and Mr.. Bureson, of Texas, who were
recently in North Carolina, making speeches for
Governor Wilson. On the passage of the Bris
tow amendment, Burleson and Henry both voted
for it, as did Messrs. Kitchen, Page, Pou, Small
and Stedman of your State and most of the Dem
ocratic members from the South. When the fl
nal vote was taken in the Senate on the Bristow
amendment Senator Simmons of your State vo
ted for it and Senator Overman, who gave out
the interview against me stated in the Senate,
when his name was called, ''On the final passage
of the joint resolution as amended (Which was
the Bristow amend1nent) | am paired with the
Senior Senator from South Carolina MIR. Till
man, If he were presented he would vote nay
and l should vote 'yea." l send you record of
June II, 1912, with corner of page turned, giving
the vote of the Senate, andalso the Record of May
18th, giving my speech on the vote in the House.
I think after an examination of these records
you will see that the charges made against my
the present campaign, and that the position I
took was really sustained by the Senators and
members of Congress from North Carolina, be-
cause if they really thought there was danger in
the Bristow amendment, they would not have
voted for it. Of course, it goes without saying
that am not in favor of a Force Bill or having
Federal troops at the polls, but was in favor of
eecting United States Senators by the people,
and cast my vote to accomplish the result.
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) O.W. UNDERWOOD.