The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-04


| United States has read the Constitution
| OF his country. II. therefore. Senator
| Martin has read the copy which IS our
nished every senator. he surely knows
| that as "A senator. he can never have an
opportunitv 10 vote for any amendment
| TO tn Constitution. Congress can pro-
| pose amendments. Two-thirds OF botn
| houses Of Congress can pass resolutions
proposing amendments which. when rat-
fed by the legislatures OF three-iourths
| Of tho several States. shall be valid as
mart OF the Constitution. Senator Martin
| cannot therefore vote for any amend
mont TO the Constitution. II he does not
know that he Sc lamentably ignorant
concerning the Constitution under which
he lives IT he does know II he ought
never TO have said: Il shall vote for such
an amendment 10 the Constitution for
as matter Of fact he can never do so.
lie knows. too. that II he remains In the
Senate for the term of his natural life
he will, I'm all human probability never
he given an opportunity 10 vote for
resolution submitting this amendment 10
the legislatures Of the several states. For
more than half a century efforts have
been made I'm the Senate 90 secure a vote
upon resolutions looking TO an amend
mcnt 10 the Constitution which will per-
nit the election OF senators by the direct
voc Of the people. Senator Martin might.
with all safety. have said he would even
vote for a resolution Of that kind. lie
knows that in spite Of the almost univer-
sal demand for a change Ia the method
of clccting senator's the Senate has al
ways turned deaf ear 20 every appeal
made 10 Il upon this subject and that
there is little likelihood he will ever be
given an opportunity to vote for reso-
luton submitting the question to the
states. lie might as well, therefore, have
said: 81 shall vote for resolution sub
hitting an amendment 90 the COnsutu-
! ton 90 the legislatures Of the several
Safes" which would have been sensible.
even II 70 meant nothing 20 him. lie
might have gone this far Such a decla-
ration could probably never cmbarrass
| him, and It could mislead only those who
wished 20 be mised. The promise which
he does make is impossible Of accom-
plishment. but wero 10 otherwise 81 comes
rather late IL hasn't even the merit OF
"a death-bcd confession. The man who
honestly believes in the election of scna-
tors by the people will not be caught by
such a promise as this-espeCially when
IL has been wrung from unwilling lips
upon the eve of an election in which the
man who makes IL IS deeply interested.
THE CENSUS APPOINTMENTS
that ion the division Of the census super
visorships the First. Third Eighth and
Tenth districts had fallen to the Repub-
leans Senator Martin says we tSen-
ator Daniel and MYSELF made an earnest
effort 10 secure the appointment OF the
man recommended by Mr.. William A.
Jones'" and that "in our desire 10 Sc
cure this appointment for Mr. Joness
district, offered to exchange for the First
u. b. AL.
had been assigned 10 us. and earnestly
insisted upon IT, but our wishes We're
not respected" Aside from the state
ment made by Mr.. Green at Houston
that Senator Martin had offered TO cX-
change the Sixth district with the Re
publican Executive Committee for the
First district, this IS the first intima-
ton ] have ever had 10 the effect that
Senator Martin desired the appointment
Of a Democrat I'm my district. If this
be true, why was ] never informed Of 70
by any Of the Democrats who partici-
pated in the meeting in Washington citv
when the slate was fixed up. Although
my colleague. the Hon. John +. RiXey
and myself were in Washington on that
day. neither of as were ever informed Of
the place OF the meeting nor invited or
expected 10 attend. 10 was. as We after
wards learned. held at the Colonial Hotel
Mr. Swanson and other friends OF Sena-
tor Martins we were told were present
Neither Mr. Rixoy nor myself was ever
informed as 10 what was done at this
meeting. We did not know. until we
read 10 In the papers who had been
agreed upon as supervisors for our dis
tricts.
We were absolutely ignored. I have
Deen informed that a Republican. who at
~ asked only for the Third and Ninth dis.
tricts and that the Democrats were per-
mitted 10 select five districts from those
remaining In the absence of information
from Democratic sources I confess l have
thought this statement bore the sem
blance Of truth. l have felt too. that the
treatment which ! received was due 20
the fact that had tho temerity 20 espOuse
the cause Of the people I'm the matter OF
the election Of senators. and I have r.
gardcd 10 as an indignity gratuitously
offered tho su'endid Democratic cOnstitu-
ency which ] have the honor TO represent
AS such / deeply resent g. ] was told
when az Hous on that the gentleman So
lected for the Sixth district q resident OF
Halifax. felt under deeD obligations TO
Senator Martin for his kind offices in pro-
curing his appointment and that IFS rela-
tiyes and friends would show their graft
ude by their earnest efforts I'm Senator
Martins behalf Now that they know
that Senator Martin besought the Ropub-
leans 10 take his district it is just posi-
bic their gratitude may be little less
lively
REMEMBERED HIS FRIENDS.
Senator Martin admits that in the mat
Ter of appointments he has given the
preference TO his friends and De seems TO
regard his conduct in so doing as entirely
commend1ble. For my part. / cannot
agree with him. / hold that when Presi-
dent Mckinley allotted 90 Virginia a GER
tain number Of places 20 be filed by
Democrats. and permitted the Senators
20 select the men 20 hll them 30 was not
only unjust 10 the great body of the
Democrats Of Virginia for Senator Martin
90 select his personal friends in every IN
stance. but that his conduct Zoo so doing
was anything but commcndable Tie IS
su~-osed TO represent. under such cir
cumstances. the ID .mocracy y the entire
state. and he has no right 10 bestow upon
his own personal following patronage
given him I'm his public and official ca-
paciiy as the allotment Of the Democracy
OF Virginia.
Such appointments are not the personal
perquisites of any senator and are not
given 10 enable senators 10 build no pO-
liucal machines for the promotion Of their
own interests.
now come 10 Senator Martins votes
on the amendments 10 the war revenue
bin. Fortunately for the truth of his
tory. there IS such a publication as the
Congressional Record.
] stated az Houston that the war reve-
nue. bin was probably the most important