The Colorado statesman., 1924-02-02
(Lincoln News Service.)


Washington, Feb. 1, 1924-Back in
the year 1890, Henry Cabot Lodge, n
new member in the House of Repre-
sentatives, from Massachusetts, intro
duced what is known as the Force
Bill" a measure to amend and supple
ment the election laws of the United
States, and to provide for a, more effi-
cient enforcement of such laws" The
bill was intended to suppress direct or
indirect notification of national laws,
and was calculated to protect the citi-
Zenship rights of cOlored voters, who,
at that time, were being intimidated
and shot down by their, "best friends"
in certain sections of the country,
whenever they attempted to cast their
ballots. The proposed legislation
evoked the bitter criticism of the Dem
ocrats, and through series of acri-
monious debates the bloody shirt was
hoisted again and again in the halls of
Congress. Important general legisla-
ton was delayed and the country was
thrown into political turmoil, merely
because Republican leaders thought it
time to protect, through adequate leg
islation, the citizenship rights of one
tenth of the country's population. The
bill passed the House but was tabled
in the Senate by fusion with Demo-
Gratis of five insurgent Republicans
who were more interested in free-coin-
age currency legislation than in hu-
man rights.
And today, after lapse of thirty
four years we have a similar legisla-
tive situation with the same heroic
lodge, now a senator, again introduc-
ing a Republican enforcement measure
that will protect our citizenship. And
again, are his efforts threatened by a
band of insurgent Republicans who
are voting with the Democrats on af-
fairs that unfavorably effect the legis-
lative program of their party. Assum-
ing that the Democrats and insurgents
are sincere in their protestations for
a strict enforcement of the prohibition
and wOmen's suffrage amendments,
Senator Lodge has, with the backing
of the regular Republican organiza-
ton, wisely included in the bill en-
forcement measures for the Fifteenth
Amendment, and we shall soon learn
whether history is to repeat itself. The
bill which follows was introduced by
Senator Lodge on Jan. Z, 1924.
as. 1771 A BILL
To provide for the enforcement of the
Fifteenth, Eighteenth and Nine
teenth Amendments to the Constitu-
ton of the United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress as
sembled, Whoever shall for beverage
purposes manufacture, sell, transport,
, import, or export intoxicating liquor
within, into, or from the United States
or any place subject to the Jurisdiction
; thereof shall for a first offense be
fined not more than $1,000 or impris-
oned not exceeding six months, and for
a second or subsequent offense shall
be fined not less than 81 900 nor more
than $1,000 and be imprisoned not less
than six months nor more than five
years, and such liquor shall be forfeit
ed to the United States.
Sec. 2. Whoever shall deny or
tabridge the right of any citizen of the
United States or any state to vote on
account Of race, color sex, or previous
Condition of servitude shall for first
offense, be fined not more than $1,000
or imprisoned not exceeding six months,