The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-04
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POSTAGE PREPAID.
CHANGING THE PLAN OF ELECTING
SENATOR'S.

Almost since the constitution was
adopted there have baen may ements to
amend it. The original organic law
contained but seven arucIes. Since
then eight have been added, making
now fifteen. Three grew out of the war
and the ignorance and fanatIcIsm OF the
north. The fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments are full of evll and ought
to be wiped out. That there are few
amendments that could be made that
would prove j%udicious and helpful there
c a hardly be any doubt. TO limit the
presidential office to One term of six
years as the latter and wiser constitu-
ton Of the southern C~onteuerdcy adopt
ed with true insight and more Perfect
craftsmanship. 1t would cut off un-
nun. hered and very great evlIs. mo
-anCes and outrages. An income tax
amendment would be sanitary and
wise.
AS to amendments generally since
this still young government began Dus1-
ness something over a hundred years
ago. there have been 1876 amendments
proposed ending with the nftfeth con-
gress. Since then more than 200 have
been offered. At present but one
amendment is aggressive and interest
1ng-to amend the constitution as to
'electing United States senator's by pop
ular vote instead of by the legislatures
of the states. But during the present
congress it is stated that over fifty
amendments have been offered. The
house adopted the amendment and 1t
is now with the senate whether it shall
pass or not. 1t requires d two-thirdS
majority to pass it. The probability 1t
that it will be defeated. The house two
or three times before within d few years
adopted it.
Thus far Michigan, Colorado. Mon
tana. Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and Ten
nessee-all northwestern states but one
have through their legislatures voted
In have an amendment for the election
"f senators by a direct vote OF the peo-
PIE. The movement Is more aggressive
low than at any previous time. 1t is
stated that more than thirty states
have by resolution expressed a desire
to change the method of eleCting sena-
lors to a direct vote and not blythe old
Legislative way. That the change will
be made for some years TO come Is at
least doubtful. The senate will never
adopt it. The arguments are not all
n way. There are calm, intelligent.
rejecting men. and some are demo-
Gratis. who are not at all enamored of
the proposed change, but see in it diff
culties and perhaps even dangers.
in a we'll considered article OH the
proposed amendment IN the New York
Forum" for April, by a we'll known
Journalist, from whom we have taken
some of our statistics, Mr.. II. l.. West.
of the Washington Post. a native of
New York state and we believe a re-
publican, he states clearly an objection
people, which is we'll worth close at
tention. The same objection has been
urged by others. He writes.
Apart from this. however. it would
seem as if a constitutional convention,
for whatever purpose called, would be
unwise. 1t would be Il most disturbing
HleIIleIll III Liz IldllOlltI IL IL
true that the legislatures which have
already acted have specified only one
desirable change; but all authorities
agree that if the convention
1T would not and could not be restricted
10 his single consideration. Every
propositions 10 matter how radical.
which might be conceived in the fertile
minds of would-be statesmen. would
be offered for discussion. The I'VE
ZION wOuld. in all p~robabilits, be in seS-
sion for a year, during which time the
business interests of the country would
pass through a period of uncertainty
that would be almost disastrous. Be
sides this, the spectacle of such a rev.
cred document lying helpless in the
hands of those who would possess the
power TO mar it's beautiful symmetry,
to alter its familiar and ~oft-construed
sentences, to introduce new and posi-
bly, dangerous phrases would be a o
to the moral sense of the nation. After
all, the American people are conserVa-