The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-02-06


dent a Letter on the Subject.
WASHINGTON, D. C.-While en-
.;ng elaborate legislation and ap'
p-ooriating millions of dollars annual
: ior the enforcement of the eigh-
.ooth amendment congress has re-
,,sed deliberately to sanction any
aoro 10 carry out that provision o.
r., fourteenth amendment, which
Would penalize southern states for dis
Eranchising negroes.
likewise on five different occasions
he republican caucus OF the house
,,rned deaf ear to the appeal o.
conservative Tinkham, republican
4; Massachusetts,, to approve a resolu'
Eon providing for an investigation o.
f. violation of the fourteenth amend
Inent ,t:,.
The drys, who are Overwhelmingly
| the majority in the house, demon
Erated conclusive1y that they were
|ot interested even in ascertaining the
ktent OF evasion either of the four
esrth amendment or of the fifteenth
Inendment. which forbids denial or
Judgement of the right to vote ION
Ecount Of race, color or previous con-
Etion of servitude."
House Against Inquiry.
When Mr.. Tinkham in this congress
bowed an investigation as a matter OF
Institutional privilege, the house by
vote of AZ to 286 declared that the
Iotior was not thus privileged. Twice
he census committee declined to IA
|pr either a reduction of the repre-
kntation of states violating the 18th
snendment or an investigation.
The second section of the 18th
snendment provides that when the
|ght to vote is denied to any
the male inhabitants of such state,
hing q years of age and citizens OF
be United States, or in any way is
bridged except for participation in
sbellion or other crime, the basis OF
presentation therein shall be reduc-
4 in the proportion which the num-
kr OF such male citizens shall bear
] the whole number of male citizens
4 years Of age in such state"
when the bill to reapportion repre-
kntatives on the basis of the 1871
knsus was before the house Mr.. Ink
Rm made an unsuccessful effort to
btain an amendment reducing the
presentation of southern state S
Ihich have DISTINGUISHED negroes. He
serted that if the 18th amendment
|ere enforced the southern states
lould lose 80 members as follows:
llabama, 4; Arkansas, 2; Florida, /;
|eorgia, S; Louisiana, 2; Mississippi,
North Carolina, 2; South Carolina,
Tennessee, 2; Texas, 2; Virginia s.
Letter to President.
On account of the widespread dis
|anchisement and failure to enforce
Ie amendment the title of the presi-
tnt to his office and the representa-
|bn of the house are clouded with
Elconstitutionality, according to Mr.
Gnkham. He endeavored to enlist the
ID OF Mr.. Harding in the following
.tter he addressed to the president on
lecember End:
] 1T has been stated that i'll your adj
] ess to be made at the opening OF the
/ urth session of the 9th congress ii
your intention to refer to the wide
bread disrespect for law as eXen1pll-
ID by the unparalleled defiance Of
y federal statutes to enforce the 18TH
Hendment to the constitution and its
harchistic and revolutionary conse-
.hences. There can be no descent
lom its necessity.
l"You will agree that all parts OF the
Institution should be enforced equal
and impartially and in no part null
Ped
with the greatest respect may
Jaw your attention to the tact that
Ehereas the 18th amendment to the
institution is permissive in its au-
aorlzation to congress to pass legs
Hlon to enforce it the second section
j the 18th amendment to the constr
ation, which commands congress tc
aduce representation in proportion tc
Hstranchisemefit, is mandatory anc
descriptive and is now scandalously
ID completely unenforced and nulli'
Widespread Disfranchisemcnt.
With the greatest respect may
F. Graw your attention to the. lac
Aat with fragrant and widespread dis
Rnchisement, established by a mass
indisputable evidence now before
RngreSs, and by a common knoWl
&c and the second section OF thu
sth amendment to the constitution
Reinforced. the very tenure OF the OF
e you hold and the representation
the lower house of congress II
#nted with unconstitutionality.
i May |, with the greatest respec
% sincere hope that l transgress ne
fopriety, suggest that in your ad
seSS to the congress you draw its at
znnon to its present unconstitutiona
imposition and its own legal anC
2nstltutional obligations"
he president did not see mt tt
amply with the request in his mes
ge to congress in which he callet
implicit observance of the eigh
Smith amendment only. Mr.. link
IN did not feel at liberty to maxi
abhc the presidents reply to his let
NJ. Tinkham, who is one of TIL
Rders of the vets, said he would re
" his fight in the next congress TO
orcement of the fourteenth amend
int like other parts of the constitu
IN.
DRIED IN SITTING POSTURE