The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-05-17
THE SOUTHERN CANDIDATE

thought, 1t yet thinks, his candidacy is
the party as a whole. but against Tn
derwood himself 1t has had nothing to
say But the following from the At
lanta journal, and based on the official
record, is a mighty hard question for
any democrat to explain:
What an amazing return Of graft
tude Congressman Underwood mas
made TO those Southern states that
have Supported him for the democrat !
ic nomination.
He has defended and, through the |
power of. his leadership, rammed thru
the House a piece of republican lesis- i
Iation 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 bal
lots against the corrupt and venal ne
gro vote.
Congressman Oscar Underwood, tout
ed as the one Simon-pure Southerner
In the presidential race, has champion
ed the so-called Bristow amendment,
which in ultimate effect at least. ena-
franchisement law ever passed by the
states. and, if it so wills, to send fed
eraI marshaIs and federal troops to
displace and overawe Southern senti-
ment at the polls.
Thus has he rewarded the democrats
of the three Southern states that ac
cepted him in good faith a true
friend and neighbOr. Thus has he
shown his magnificent loyalty to the
interests and to the ideals of this sec
ton, and it's people.
Let US glance a moment at this Bris-
tow amendment and see just what its
purpose is, and where it will lead.
There is now pending in Congress a
resolution calling for the submission
of an amendment to the constitution
whereby United States senators may be
elected directly by the people. instead
of being chosen, as is now the case, by
the state legislatures. The underlyin 9
principle of this resolution is sound
democratic doctrine and it has been
cordially supported in the South But
Congressman Bristow, republican
representative from Kansas, introduced
some time ago an amendment to the
main resolution which deprives the in
dividual states of any voice Whatso-
ever in fixing the time, the place and
the manner of holding senatorial cleo
tions. Over these important partic-
ulars, the federal Congress is given ex-
elusive control. The people of Georgia
for instance, might adopt some specia
form of election which they would con
slider essential to political purity ant
Justice They would undoubtedly ap
ply to the senatorial, as to other elec
tions the standards of their negro dis
LIT 1, I,f,f
did not suit the federal Congress and i
the republicans were in the majority
Washington, it is not only possible, bu
probable, that we should be peremptori
~ ordered to fling away our owl
home made plan and accept one mad
by alien interests in other sections
where conditions are vastly differen
from what they are in the South. An'
should decline to do so, Congress
would unQuestionably be authorized
under the Bristow amendment 70
which Mr. Underwood voted, to dragon
US into submission by federal marshal
or troops. In short. Congress, not tn
state, would have the authority to fl
the qualification of electors, to enact
force bill to carry out its orders and t
fog us back into the ills and outrage
that marked reconstruction days.
ern patriotism when Congressman Tn
derwood urged the passage of thi
tyrannouS amendment
Not only did he stalwartly ally him
self with Mr.. Bristow, who, as is We
known, introduced the amendment t
please his negro constituents in Kan
sas, but he went still further in hi
betrayal OF Southern interests. II
voted against and spoke against
counter amendment offered by Con
gresham Bartlett of Georgia. Judg
Bartlett, realizing the grave menac
which the Kansan's scheme carried 70
this state and section, endeavored t
qualify it by having the house specific
ally declare that Congress shall no
have power to provide for the qualifi
cation of voters within the variou
states, or to authorize the appointment
OF supervisors of elections. judges Q
election or returning boards to certif
the results of any such election: nor t
authorize the use of United States mar
shals. or the military forces of tn
United States or troops of the Unite
States at the polls during elections.
What was Congressman Underwood
attitude toward this timely and needfu
provision, intended to protect the right
and welfare of the South? He turne
his back squarely upon it and joine
with the leaders of the north and of tn
republican camp-with Cannon an
DalzelI and Payne-in forcing throug
a despotic measure that must sickle
the heart of every thinking Souther
citizen And this he did, despite tn
fact that he had previously promise
Judge Bartlett TO support the latter
amendment.
Is this the stuff of which Souther
candidates for the democratic nomina
ton are made? Is this the second Jeffer
son to whom we are to entruSt IN
great work of restoring our section |
its former spleendor and bearing aloi
its traditions?
Georgians may at least congratulate
themselves that they have IN Congress
in Judge Charles Bartlett. repreSef
tative who stands staunchly by III
things they believe in and who ma
rather deserve the confidence OF II
own people than TO play them tralto
for the political favor of other sec
tions.
1t is gratifying, too. to note that eN
cry member of the Georgia delegatio
in Congress voted for the Bartle
amendment and against the BriSto
amendment. And so did everyone
the Tennessee democrats vote for tn
Bartlett amendment. Every Sout
Carolina member voted for 1t, ever
Virginia member. every North Care
lima member, every Arkansas membe
every Louisiana member and. with w
H. rT.,S-