Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-04-15
QUESTION OF FOREIGN TITLES
Senator Gore Would Revive Ancien,
Issue.

A neat parliamentary question has
been raised by Senator Gore Of Okla.
homa as to the life Of a proposed
amendment to the constitution Of the
United States pending its adoption by
the several states Of the Union.
The question raised concerns an
amendment proposed in 1910 as to the
bestowal Of titles on citizens Of the
United States, or the receipt by them
Of gifts, emoluments Of offices for for
eign rulers. Under the proposed
amendments, acceptance Of such titles
or presents would disqualify for citi-
zenship in the United States.
Only one more state was needed at
the time for the adoption Of the pro-
posed amendment, or one-half state,
as the senate, and not the house of
the general assembly Of South Caro-
lima gave its assent to the idea, and
for thirty years this was taught in the
public schools as the Thirteenth
amendment, Senator Gore says. Off,
cials Of the general assembly Of South
Carolina have been asked to look into
the legality Of adopting the amend
ment at this time. The letter follows:
II beg to call your attention to the
constitutional amendment set out be-
low. It will explain itself. It was sub
mitted to the states by congress In
1910. There were only five votes
against 1t in the senate and only three
against it in the house. 1t lacked on
ly one state of ratification at the time.
might say 1t lacked only half state
as the senate Of South Carolina did
ratify it. 1t was popularity supposed a,
the time that it had received the re-
quisite number. Indeed 1t was printed
in the school books for third Of a
century as the Thirteenth amendment
There was so much confusion in the
public mind in regard to the matter
that the fifteenth congress appointed
a committee to investigate the history
and status Of the amendment.
II do not know whether an amend
ment so submitted would ever die of
old age or not. There Is nothing In
the constitution which limits The time
of ratification. AS you know the con-
stitution as it now stands provides
that no person holding ony office of
profit or trust under the United States
shall without the consent Of congress
accept of any present, emolument, Of
fee or title Of any kind whatever from
my king, prince, or foreign state.
This applies only to officials and does
not apply to private citizens. More
over, congress can give its assent to
the acceptance of titles Of honor and
nobility. Congress has given its con-
sent. Several Americans have already
been knighted or granted such titles.
There may be q difference in opinion as
to whether these titles and trappings
of nobility are in perfect harmony with
our democracy. There is undoubtedly
considerable sentiment in the country
against the acceptance Of these royal
favors. At any rate, you will pardon
me for calling the matter to your at
tention. If you thought 1t worth while
you could have had your judiciary
committee look into the legal effect OF
the ratification Of this amendment at
this time:
Resolved by the senate and house
of representatives of the state Of -
in general assembly met, that the fol-
lowing amendment to the constitution
Of the United States proposed by the
senate and the house Of representa-
tives of the United States Of America
in congress- assembled is hereby ap-
proved and ratified by the general as
sembly of this state; that is to say:
"If any citizen Of the United States
claim, receive or retain any title OF
nobility or honor, or shall without me
consent Of congress accept or retain
any present, pension, office or emolu-
ment Of any kind whatever from any
emperor, king, prince or foreign pow
er, such person shall cease to be q cit
izen of the United States and shall be
incapable Of holding any office Of trust
or profit under them or either OF
them"
"'Resolved further by the senate
and the house Of representatives OF the
state of - in general assembly met
that the governor Of this state be and
is hereby requested to transmit copy
of the foregoing resolution to the ex'
ecutives of the several states IN the
United States and to the secretary o'
state of the United States"