Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-23
SWANSON WARNS
CRITICS OF SOUTH
Senator Attacks Threats TO
Enforce Fifteenth
Amendment.

BY the Associated Press
Threats of political reprisals against
the South. heard so often in Senate
debate on the Smith and Ware cleo
ton cases. brought a measured reply
and sharp warning to Eastern Repub-
lican Senators today from Senator
Swanson OF Virginia.
In prepared address requiring
nearly two hours for delivery, the
Southern Democrat said he could not
too strongly express his resentment at
efforts made 10 intimidate Southern
representatives in Congress with
threats to enforce the fifteenth amend
ment and TO reduce Southern repre-
sentation at the Capital because Of the
disfranchisement Of the negro.
All States Equal.
THE time has passed In the history
of this country" he said. when the
South Is subject TO hostile and repres-
sive supervision or can be intimidated
by partisan vitupcralion. The time
has been auspiciously reached when
this republic Is a Union Of 40 States
equal in rights, equal In privileges. and
each State equal in every respect TO
every other.
Those who now repeat the bitter
animadversions Of the sixties and
seventies should realize that certain
victorious States no longer hold II Of
their sister States under military
domination and control. These IL
States as members Of the Union are
In no sense whatever inferior or
subordinate, ana purpose to assert and
.aaaw. tat AAR SNta Rr AAf go A@ tkA
Federal Constitution.
The South Is no mendicant asking
fayors, and the activities of the small
horde of Harpies which once preyed
upon her vitals cause her only feelings
OF disgust and contempt: but they serve
TO remind her OF the horrors Of It's
former times and confirm her In the
resolve that never again shall she be
crushed with the conditions which
brought confusion and disaster 10 one
of the happiest and LOWEST portions Of
the Nation
Stresses Loyalty.
Conscious OF unswervine loyalty TO
the Union. conscious OF her rights
under the Constitution. conscious OF a
patriotic desire for the development OF
the entire country along the pathway
OF prosperity and justice willing TO
make To the future such unstinted con-
tributions and sacrifices ID national
greatness and glory Us she made In the
olden days. the South proposes TO
exercise her rights under the Consti-
tuition nv her own will and Judgment
may dictate. undeterred by those who
are controlled by either hate or
ignorance"
Turning TO debates IN Congress
during reconstruction days and subse-
quent decision of the United States
Supreme Court Senator Swanson un.
dertook TO show that the educational
and other qualifications for the right
TO exercise suffrage In the South were
not In conflict with the meaning or the
intent OF the flfteenth amendment,
enacted with the view to giving the
vote To the freed slaves In the South
All OF the claInor against the South
ABOUT the non enforcement Of the
niteenth amendment" Senator Swan
son continued. ''ts eneendered either by
ignorance or inspired by the ulter,or
purpose to intimidate and threaten the
South, and embarrass her Judgment
ana VIII upon other matters.
Hits ignorant voters.
A. Aho S"ut1 mas exercised hcf Con-
stitsltional rights 10 eliminate class
OF ignorant. shiftless and corrupt voters
VINO Tor many years were In charee Of
her local. municipal and state affairs
win the result Of unapeakahle I'M
povrfishment aud disgrace
"Exerctsing their clear and constitu.
thnal right. the Southern States have
enacted suffrage laws which are neees-
aary 10 obtain clean, economical and
capable governments. The South Il re-
solved and determined that no part of
that section shalt ever become 4 Haiti
or santo Domingo and the dark. feater-
'ng sores OF reconstruction shall never
rcappcar u affiiet her"
turning next 10 the threats u reduce
representation of the Southern States I'm
the House OF Representatives because
tlie vast majority of the negroes in those
states fail to inset voting qualifications.
ths Virsinian reviewed congressional
debates on the fourteenth and fitteenth
amendments to imnrrss his view that
the enactment Of the tlflcenth amend
n,ent WAS Intended 10 vitiale the aee.
lion of ths fourteenth amendment, uns
der which representation might he re-
duoed.
QMates From Debates.
Senator Swanson pointed cut that II
representation were tn he based unan
ths number of qualified vaters tu a State
instead nj unnh the whale pnnulattan,