Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-03

| besought Senator Martin at Roanoke 10
| vote for a resolution which in effect
would give the voters Of Virginia the OPP
| portunity 10 elect their senators, and mat
| he stated he was opposed 10 such acton
on principle. That, I'm substance, Is what
! said. But Senator Martin now says: L
| shall vote FOR such an amendment to the
Constitution" This question has been
| burning issue in Virginia for the past
| two years. and now. for the first time'
Senator Martin has secured his own con-
sent to say: II shall vote for such an
| amendment to the Constitution
WHAT A SENATOR CAN DO.
The Senator does not now say he be-
leves I'm the right Of the people to choose
their senators. He does not even say he
thinks they are entitled To enjoy mat
privilege lie Is going TO vote for sucn
an amendment, however, and II IS iair 10
presume that he means what he says,
and says what he means. 1t is also TO De
presumed that every senator Of the
United States has read the Constitution
Of his country. II. therefore. Senator
Martin has read the copy which is lur-
nished every senator, he surely knows
that. as a senator, he can never have an
! opportunity 10 vote for any amendment
| to the Constitution. Congress can pro-
pose amendments. Two-thirds Of both
houses OF Congress can pass resolutions
proposing amendments which, when rati-
fed by the legislatures OF three-fourths
of the several states. shall be valid as
part OF the Constitution. Senator Martin
cannot therefore vote for any amend
nnent TO the Constitution. If he does not
know that he is lamentably ignorant
concerning the Constitution under when
he lives. If he does know it he ought
never 10 have said II shall vote for such
an amendment to the Constitution for'
as a matter Of fact, he can never 90 50.
He knows too. that 4 he remains in the
senate for the term of his natural life,
he will I'm all human probability never
be given an opportunity TO vote for
resolution submitting this amendment 10
the legislatures OF the several States. For
more than half a century efforts nave
been made in the Senate to secure vote
upon resolutions looking TO an amend
ment to the Constitution which will per-
init the election of senators by the direct
vote OF the people. Senator Martin might,
with all safety. have said he would even
vote Tor a resolution Of that kind He
knows that in spite Of the almost univer-
sal demand for a change in the method
of electing senator's, the Senate has al
ways turned q deaf ear 70 every appeal
made 10 1t upon this subject. and that
there Is little likelihood he will ever be
given an opportunity TO vote for fcso-
luton submitting the question to the
states. lie might as well, therefore. have
said al shall vote for resolution SUD-
mitting an amendment to the Constitu-
tion TO the legislatures of the seVeral
States" which would have been sensible.
N
have gone this far such a declaration
could probably never embarrass him, ana
IL could mislead only those who wished
10 be misled The promise which he does
make is impossible of accomplishment,
but were il otherwise It comes rather late.
II hasn't even the merit Of a death-Ded
confession The man who honestly be-
lieves in the election OF senators by the
people will not be caught by such a prom
ise as ths-especlally when II has been
v,rung from unwilling lips upon the eve
OF an election in which the man who
makes it is deeply interested.
DIVISION OF PATRONAGE.
In reply to my comments upon the fact
that i'm the division OF the census super
visorships the First, Third, Eighth. and
Tenth districts had fallen TO the Repub-
leans. Senator Martin says: I'VE (Sena-
tor Daniel and HIMSELF made an earnest
effort 10 secure the appointment of the
man recommended by Mr.. William A.
Jones'" and that 'in our desire to Sc
cure this appointment Tor Mr.. Jones
district. offered TO exchange for the First
District one OF the other districts which
had been assigned to Us, and earnestly IN
sisted upon it, but our wishes were
not respected" Aside from the state
ment made by Mr.. Green, at Houston,
that Senator Martin had offered TO eN-
change the Sixth District with the Re
publican Executive Committee for the
First District. this is the first intlma-
ton | have ever had 10 the erect thht
Senator Martin desired the appointment
OF Democrat IN my district. IL TINS
be true. why was l never Informed Of 1t
bv any of the Democrats who participated
i'm the meeting in Washington city when
the slate was fixed up. Although my
colleague. the Hon. John +. RiXey, ana
myself were in Washington on that day,
neither Of us were ever informed OF the
place Of the meeting, nor invited or eA-
pected 10 attend it, 1t was, as we after
wards learned. held at the Colonial Hotel.
Mr.. Swanson, and other friends or Sena-
tor Martins. We were told, were present.
Neither Mr.. RiXey nor myself was
ever informed as TO what was done at
we read it in the papers. who had been
agreed upon as supervisors for our dis
tricts.
HE DEEPLY RESENTS IT.
We were absolutely ignored l have
been informed that Republican, who
attended the meeting. had said that his
party asked only for the Third and Ninth
districts. and that the Democrats were
nermitted 10 select five districts from
those remaining In the absence Of in
formation from Democratic sources,
confess / have thought this statement
bore the semblance Of truth. ! have
felt. TOO. that the treatment which
/ received was due 10 the fact that
had had the temerity 20 espouse the
cause OF the people in the matter or
the election Of senators, and l have re-
garded il as an indignity gratuitOusly
offered the splendid Democratic cOnsti-
tuency which j have the honor To rep
resent. As such, l deeply resent ii. /
was told when at Houston that the
gentleman selected for the Sixth District,
a resident OF Halifax, felt under deep
OBLIGATIONS to Senator Martin for his
kind offices In procuring his appointment.
and that his relatives and friends would
show their gratitude by their earnest
efforts i'm Senator Martins behalf. Now,
that they know tnat Senator Martin be
sought the Republicans 10 take his as
trict. IL Is Just possible their gratitude
may be little less lively.
Senator Martin admits that ~ the maj
ter Of appointments he has given the pre-
ference to his friends, and he seems 70
regard his conduct in so doing as enuTey
commendable. For my part. / cannon
agree with him. l hold that when Presl-