The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-03

ing CLOSE series OF hideous scandals
such as shock the moral sense OF the
country. while at tho same time furnish.
ing new and indisputable Testimony
agains, tho wisdom OF a plan capable oil
such Dissertation and abuse"
II is then asserted THAT the case has
Como beyond the argumentaiive stage
and the time for action looking 20 the
immediate application OF the renely.
which is the change OF the constitution.
is at hand. The minds OF the people are
made UP, It Is declared. and the repeated
action OF the house OF representatives in
voting to submit an amendment to the
people and the persistent failure Of the
senate TO act In the matter IS reviewed,
the latter being pointed 20 as further evil
dence that the remedy mas been delayed
too long. The record OF Mr. lsryan. "a
vorable to the change, Is pointed 10 and
the recent Interview OF Senator Jones,
chairman of the democrats National COM
niit,ec, is quoted, wherein he saId
III am in favor Of the election OF soma
tors by the direct vote of The people |
have changed my views upon this subject
within the last year or two. Tho Whole
people can not be debauched by money or
otherwise; 1t is safest to put all the power
We can in their hands
The Virginia democrats propose to hold
convention in Richmond on May IL.
composed of those who favor a change in
the method of electing senators. They
will at this convention take action look
ing to a temporary provision for the nam
ing of the party choice BY direct vote, and
will also act with view TO organizing a
National movement to bring about the
amending of the constitution 1t is pro-
posed TO set on foot a movement for Il
National convention to be held at some
central point and delegates from all
States will be asked to come and consider
the most effective means to force the
submission of the desired amendment to
the country.
There are two ways in which amend
ments to the constitution may be ef-
fected. "The congress" says the consti-
tuition. whenever two-thirds of both
houses shall deem it necessary, shall pro-
pose amendments to this constitution, or,
on the application of the legislatures OF
two-thirds of the several States, shall
call convention for proposing amend
ments, which In either case shall be
valid to all intents and purposes as part
of this constitution. when ratified by the
legislatures of three-fourths of the sew
eral States
The object of the National convention,
which IS expected to eventuate from the
present movement in Virginia, will be
to perfect an organization and start a
movement that will either force congress
to propose the amendment providing for
election of senators by direct vote, or will
cause a sufficient number of legislatures
to apply for a call for convention to
make the congress issue the call The
former Is the more desirable way to ef-
feet the reform, because it is more direct,
Involves less delay and less expense.
The Nirginians who are heading the
present movement are greatly in earnest.
Virgirians inaugurated the movement
that ended in calling the original con-
Nention that framed the entire constitu-
ton that supplanted the ARTICLES OF
Confederation Virginians presented the
greatest opposition to the Incorporation
OF the revision which their descendants
are now trying to eliminate, and Virgin
ians will probably soon accomplish the
object which their forefathers attempted
unsuccessfully.