The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-07-04
Congressman Byrnes Re-
plies to Criticism OF
Harry D. Calhoun.
Shows, In Bamberg Speech, the Ab'
surdity of Contention that Bristow
Amendment, for which he
voted, Is IniraicaI to the In
terests of the South.


recess to attend the first campaign meetlng when
was held at Ban1berg ON Saturday, june 2O.
Before crowd that filed the court rOOn Mr.
Byrnes replied to the criticisms OF his opponent,
stating in substance, as follows:
When Mr.. Calhoun announced his canGlacy
in the newspapers he was quoted as saying ne mad
decided to make the race because | voted tor the
proposed amendment to the constitution proVll-
ing for the election of Senators by the people ~
stead of the Legislature, which amendment, &C
cording to him, provided for Federal suptrVl-
sion, military aid and troops at the polls.
Two years ago when first went to Nashlnss-
ton | instructed my secretary to send Mr.. Cal-
loun in response to his request the Congressional
Record, because | knew even then that he was
going to be candidate against me this year. ne
has received the record regularly ever SINCE ana
now, my friends, after two years, and alter
have cast hundreds of votes on different matters
coming I'D in Congress, | consider it h1gn COM
plnent that he can criticise only one OF my votes
Because of the absrrdity Of his criticism OF
this one vote and my desire to avoid any contro-
yersv. I decided to overlook his criticism, but
since that time he has distributed through the
newspapers of the District circular relterat1ng
this statement and creating the impression that
for some measure inlca to the interests OF the
South l voted, deserting my Democratic COL
leagues As this is a Misrepresentation OF the
facts, think you will agree that as your repre-
sentative [ owe it to you not to relala silent
Let me saw at the outset that before would vote
for any measure providing for Federal super
vision, military aid and troops at the polls III
South Carolina, would pray that my tongue
would cleave to the roof Of my mouth and my
right hand lose its cunning.
Now let me read you the resolution OF which
he complains:
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution pro-
viding that Senators shall be elected by the
people of the several States.
Resolved bv the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives of the United States OF America IN
CONGRESS- assembled (two-thirds Of each House
concnrring therein), That in lieu of the first para
graph of Section three Of Article of the Const-
fnton of the United States, and in lieu OF SO
much of paragraph two of the same section as re-
1ates to the filling of vacancies, the following be
nronosed as an amendment to the Constitution,
which shall be valid to all ntents and purposes as
mart Of the Constitution when ratified by the
legislatures of three-fourths of the States:
!The Senate of the United States shall he COM
nosed of two Senators from each State, elected
bv the people thereof for SIX years. and cach
Senator shall have one vote The electors III each
State shall issue writs Of election to I'LL such va
csnc;es. Provided, That the legislature OF any
State NAV empower the executive Thereon 10
make temporary appointments until the people
fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may
direct.
sThis amendment shall not be SO construed as
to affect the election or term OF any oe'Ld'0i
chosen before it becomes valid as part OF the Oo1'-
''' CHAMP CLARK,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
J. S. SHERMAN,
Vice-President of the United States 2nd
President of the Senate.
7 certify that this Joint Resolution originated
in the House of Representatives.
SOUTH TRIIBlE,
Clerk
As vo1 readily see, it provides for nonc OF the
dreadful calamities referred to by him. The only
difference in this and the Constitution as it now
cxists IS the substitution of the words by tie
people for the words 'by the Legislature OF each
State. ..
We did not make this law; to become law 1t
must be ratified by three-fourths of the States
If thirteen States disapprove of it, 1T Will be &C.
feated. If it becomes law it will simply have the
Senators elected as the Congressman now are' at
the election in November instead OF by TIE l~eelS
lature. 1t is practically the same resolution una }t?5t
has passed the House time after time, III the r1i-
tv-fifth and Fifty-seventh Congresses Wne1
some men who voted against it this time Vo'e'l
for it. twas then supported by every Democrat
in the House. But it always failed in the Senate
because the corporations have controlled the Scn-
ate and they opposed it because they could con-
,frol the Legislature easier than they could con-
~trot the people, Thirty-eight States, including
South Carolina. demanded this resolution 1or
which I voted, and this year it passed the House
and came to vote in the Senate. Some men-