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Line 61: + + − + − The conservative Lodge, despite his past support for civil rights legislation, barely offered any support for the Dyer Bill, fearing white backlash against his potential support of a "bill of questionable constitutionality."<ref name=waldrep,p.77/> The Republican caucus turned to Shortridge for enthusiastic leadership of the Dyer Bill's advocates, though his parliamentary skills proved unable to overcome that of Democratic opponents Oscar W. Underwood of Alabama and Byron P. "Pat" Harrison of Mississippi,<ref name=greenidge/> who along with Borah successfully hindered the Dyer Bill's passage.+
→Defeat of the Dyer Bill
A government agent involved in Mack's case over the mailing contract, Leon Howe, desperately urged federal protection of Mack against a mob lynching:<ref name=waldrep,p.77>"African Americans Confront Lynching," p. 77.</ref>
A government agent involved in Mack's case over the mailing contract, Leon Howe, desperately urged federal protection of Mack against a mob lynching:<ref name=waldrep,p.77>"African Americans Confront Lynching," p. 77.</ref>
{{cquote|This case appears to offer an opportunity to obtain Federal jurisdiction, as Mack was a government employee. This agent holds no brief for negroes, but from my brief residence in Florida I am convinced that some federal action should be taken in such cases as these.|||Agent Leon Howe, cir. July 1922}}
{{cquote|This case appears to offer an opportunity to obtain Federal jurisdiction, as Mack was a government employee. This agent holds no brief for negroes, but from my brief residence in Florida I am convinced that some federal action should be taken in such cases as these.|||Agent Leon Howe, cir. July 1922}}
The Dyer Bill was first introduced into the Senate by [[Charles Curtis]],<ref name=tarbert/> the Republican Majority Whip at the time and future vice president under [[Herbert Hoover]]. "Indian Charley" Curtis with his roots in [[Topeka]], Kansas, as a [[Native American]], was well-established among party ranks though posed worries on the bill's shepherding through the chamber due to his conservative reputation possibly alienating populist Western Republican senators if he led the party debate.<ref name=tarbert/> The conservative Lodge, despite his past support for civil rights legislation, barely offered any support for the Dyer Bill, fearing white backlash against his potential support of a "bill of questionable constitutionality."<ref name=waldrep,p.77/> The Republican caucus turned to Shortridge, who although eager to lead the caucus was highly inexperienced for the task.<ref name=tarbert/>
====Borah's accusation====
====Borah's accusation====
Borah claimed that most Republicans who voted for the Dyer Bill believed it to be unconstitutional,<ref name=waldrep,pp.74-75/> only giving bare minimum support to continue presenting an appearance of the party maintaining its pro–civil rights origins. Borah's accusation served to embolden the Southern Democratic opposition, who seized upon weak, supposedly nominal Republican support to castigate the legislation's constitutionality.
Borah claimed that most Republicans who voted for the Dyer Bill believed it to be unconstitutional,<ref name=waldrep,pp.74-75/> only giving bare minimum support to continue presenting an appearance of the party maintaining its pro–civil rights origins. Borah's accusation served to embolden the Southern Democratic opposition, who seized upon weak, supposedly nominal Republican support to castigate the legislation's constitutionality.
====Defeat====
====Floor showdown: the legislation is killed====
Shortridge's parliamentary skills proved unable to overcome that of Democratic opponents Oscar W. Underwood of Alabama and Byron P. "Pat" Harrison of Mississippi,<ref name=greenidge/> who along with Borah successfully hindered the Dyer Bill's passage.
==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==