Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-06
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

of the recognized basis Of apportioning
representation In the South. even when
they are barred from voting according
to the gentleman from Massachusetts,
while the gentleman from Alabama re-
iterates his eloquent plea that white
aliens who voluntarily refrain from as
Stunning the obligations OF American
citizenship-a right thus taken by re-
straint away from colored native-born
Americans-shall not be any part OF
the basis of electing Representatives to
Congress. nor electors to the electoral
college, which must have the same
number as members Of Congress. Aliens
mostly live in the North; dtsfranch1sec
Negroes in the South.
In an article by Prof Albert Bushnell
Hart, which appears In the June num-
Der of Current History. under the head
ing, THE National Origins Plan for
Restricting Immigration" the writer
says:
Nowhere in the country does there
appear a demand for unrestricted i'm
migration; though Tor perhaps because)
hundreds of thousands Of Mexicans
have made their way across the border
of the United States, and are now be-
ing distributed, not only in the South
west but in the Northwest, and even
in the manufacturing towns OF Hi
nois and Minnesota. The present i'm
migration law contains the dangerous
provision that natives of adjacent coun-
tries (Mexico and Canada may enter
without quota. The result Is the
establishment Of Mexican quarters in
designated areas of several Southwest
ern cities. where they live very much
YA.r u ~ Izaf,s 81. IL
Middle Ages. However, the greater part
of them simply slip across the border,
thus avoiding the record Of admission
and the necessary tax, and the total
limitation of possible immigrants"
There is picture of aliens who are
a part of the basis of congressional
representation and of the electors who
choose our chief executives, but who
have not the slightest interest in be-
coming true and voting American citi-
zens.
No statesman seems to have vet been
mindful of an entirely different class
of Americans which are included in the
census as a basis of representations in
Congress. yet who have no vote at the
polls. They have not refused, like the
disloyal aliens, to become American
citizens, for they are native-born Amer
leans. They have not been harassed by
Ku KluX nor any other organization
with the view of browbeating them into
staying away from the polls. They con-
stitute about half of the total popula-
ton, and really are growing in proper
ton each year, and II challenged as
disloyal. they become indignant, yet
they seldom cast a vote.
They are counted in the census as a
part of the population and therefore
their number adds Just as much to the
representation from their States in
Congress and the electoral college as
do the loyal, patriotic voters. They even
subscribe to the rallying cry Of our Rev
ton without representation" yet they.
themselves. tamely submit to that
tyranny" year after year.
These are the millions Of American
citizens who neglect to cast their votes.
They are Indifferent TO the value OF the
franchise, for which we reproach aliens
who fail to strive for 1t and for which
We expect Negroes to risk their lives in
fighting to protect it.
II wish to say" added Representative
Tinkham, TO the members of both
SloeS VINO taIk' ana Cdlk HCcSSaHIly.
about the enforcement of laws and
about following the Constitution, that
it is their duty. not only Is honest
men but In allegiance to the oath they
take every two years to sustain and
support the Constitution, to adopt this
amendment. applause and defeat Of
the amendment to apportion districts
according to population not disfran-
chised, whether voluntarily or forcibly.)
This recalls TIN Riglow nanex Of