The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-11-17
SENATOR CLASS
ATTACKS NECR0'S
RIGHT TO VOTE.
Borah Dodges Issue, but
Regrets Amendment

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 16. -
Senator Glass of Virginia CD has
come out flatly in favor Of violation
of the fifteenth amendment to the
constitution Of the United States, Civ
ing Negroes the right to vote and eX-
cuses all southern states where the
lash and lynchers' moose actually de-
prive anywhere from half to two
thirds of the population from voting.
Senator Borah (R) of Montana, echoes
him in feebler strain.
In letter to Captain VIM. H. Stay
ton, head of the Association Against
the Prohibition Amendment, Glass
strives to answer Stayton's charges
that Glass, while insisting on the strict
enforcement of the eighteenth amend
meat, against liquor, winked at the
violation of the fourteenth and fif-
teenth amendments, giving civil rights
to Negroes.
Plain Reaction.
Glass came back with an argument
which can only mean, say political
observers, that tn nian is con-
fident that the present period of re-
action is good time to try and put
the stamp of law on the illegal prac-
tices now condoned by the law--the
murders and terrorism by which the
Negro is completely prevented from
voting in national, state, county or
municipal elections in the South.
The Southern senator declares that
the amendments giving human rights
to the Negroes, and particularly the
right to vote, were not properly adopt
ed, and that they need not be obeyed,
inasmuch as laws for their enforcing
were cheerfully neglected by the
northern victors in the Civil War, who
rode into power on the abolition pro-
gram, but had very little use for it in
private.
Courts Allow Mobs.
Glass glories in the fact that the
federal courts, controlled by Republi-
cans, have never declared any state
laws defining the rights of individuals
to vote or refusing to punish mobs
who interfere with this right, and
goes on. to say that there is mo fed
eral statute providing for the enforce
ment of the Fifteenth Amendment
which the people of any Southern
state 'deride, detest and spit upon
"And the white people of Virginia,
within the limitations of the federal
constitution, have complete control of
their state affairs, without the least
fear of disturbance by the blacks and
with Just as little fear of threats by
negropholist newspapers and politi-
clans favoring the repeal of the Eigh-
teenth Amendment to the Federal
Constitution. [ think this is true of
every other Southern State, which,
within the restrictions of the Federal
Constitution, has legislated against
the characteristics and habits of those
who are too ignorant, too simple and
too corruptible en- bloc to administer
the government"
Senator Borah, attacked by the
same wet organization for his insist
ence on the enforcement of the 18th
amendment, was also criticized for
statement made by him in the Senate
some time ago that it was tremen-
dous mistake to enfranchise the Negro
so rapidly, and that Congress evident
ly had all along decided that the
Southern states could enforce or fail
to enforce this amendment as they
liked, for Congress had many times
refused to define the limits to which
individuals might go in persuading
Negroes not to vite. Borah publically
holds the opinion that the Federal
government can do nothing if mob
in the South prevents Negroes from
voting. But in his reply to the Vets,
Borah evaded the issue by declaring
that he was in favor of obeying the
whole constitution, and all of its
amendments.