Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-10
SENATORS ARE ALARMED.
Movement to Have Election of sena
tors by Popular Vote.

tors by Popular VoSe.
Washington, Jan. 18.-Members of the
United States senate who are recog-
| nized leaders have taken alarm at the
progress of the movement for the cleo
ton of senators by the people. Reso-
lutions from six states have been re-
ceived already in this congress and re-
ferred to the committee on privileges
and elections of the senate, asking the
submission Of an amendment to the
federal constitution under the provis-
ions of article 5. to convention 10 be
called upon the application of the legis-
latures of two-thirds OF the states.
The states which have been heard
from thus far as Colorado, Michigan,
Montana, Oregon, Idaho and Nevada.
This is one-fifth of the number neces-
sary to comply with the constitutional
requirement of calling upon congress for
constitutional convention. If thirty
states, thru their legislatures make
such a demand the congress must act.
To head off the movement list of the
state legislatures to meet this year has
been prepared. Senators Allison of Iowa,
Plat of New York Foraker OF Ohio,
Kean of New Jersey, Hoar and Lodge
of Massachusetts and Penrose of Penn
sylvania, in the absence of Senator
Quay. have been delegated to warn their
people against further agitation of this
question.
II is asserted that the calling of ma
ttonal constitutional convention would
have a disastrous effect upon business
and will check completely existing pros
perity. Therefore the movement for a
mott ton oil yNyt.
err the assertion be true or not, the dec
laration is to be made that a convention
for the amendment of the constitution
means national disaster. That an
nouncement is expected to be sufficient.
1t is agreed by those in favor of and
opposed to the election of senators by
the people, that If a constitutional con-
vention should be assembled it could
not be restricted in its deliberations
Senator Burrows. OF Michigan, an ard
ent advocate of the popular election
scheme, admits that the one subject
mentioned in the acts of the legisla lures
received could be ignored, and the en-
tire field Of constitutional revision in
vaded This would mean protracted
controversy. 1t is pointed out on the
opposing side that revision of the con-
stitution of the state Of Virginia has
been in progress already for six months
without any sign of conclusion, where
the definite purpose of negro disfran-
chisement is the objective point.
For many years an effort has been
made to secure the adoption OF an
amendment to the constitution under
the provisions of article for the popu-
lar election of senator's That article
says that congress. whenever two
thirds of both houses shall deem 1t NEG
essary, shall propose amendments to the
constitution or on application of the
legislatures of two-thirds OF the several
states shall call a convention for pro-
posing amendments.
More than thirty state legislatures
formally have declared in favor Of the
election OF senators by the people, and
the resolutions adopted have been pre-
sented to the senate and house Of rep
resentatives of the United States with
out result. Under tine influence OF the
senate congress has ignored the demand
for "two- thirds vote Of both houses"
and subsequent reference to state APP
prevail Failing in this respect those
who are anxious to accomplish the pur-
pose Of cireumventing the control of
state machinery have resorted to the
alternative Of convention as provid-
al