Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-07-15
DIRECT VOTE FAVORED.
Movement for Popular Election of
Iirai4.h s4ntsa s.......-. &C.,.

vote instead of through State Legisla-
lures is growing ut an encouraging pace.
Twenty-one L, slatures have passed
resolutions calling upon Congress to take
steps toward the proposed reform. These
States are shown in the accompanying
table. As the change can only be ae-
complshed through an amendment TO
the constitution Of the United States, it
Is necessary for two-thirds of the total
number of States TO apply to Congress
for a eony ntion to consider the matter.
Congress itself, By q vote of two-thirds
Of both houses, could propose the change,
but with the United States Senate a rich
mans club that objects to popular cleo
tons to Its exclusive ranks. no initiative
by Congress is probable. and on four
occasions the Senate has refused to con-
slider the matter, after the House had
taken the necessary action. The success
of the movement therefore depends on
the Legislatures.
The manner in which amendments to
the constitution of the United States can
be made is prescribed in article of the
constitution as follows;
The Congress, whenever twothirds Of
both houses shall deem II necessary, shall
propose amendments to this Constitution,
or. on the application of the Legislatures OF
twothirds II the several States, shall call
convention for proposing amendments,
which in either case shall be valid to all
intents and purposes as part OF this M
stitution when ratified by the Legislatures
of three-f0urths of the several States, or by
conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the
one or the other mode OF ratification may
be proposed by the Congress Provided,
that no amendment which may be made
prior TO the year 1865 shall In any manner
affect the first and fourth clauses In the
ninth section of the first article, and that
no State. without Its consent, shall be de-
prived Of its equal suffrage IN the Senate.
In ether words, amendments may be pro-
posed:
l. BY Congress whenever two-thIrds OF
both houses think It necessary.
2 BY a convention which must be called
by Congress on the application Of two-thirds
Of the States.
Aud the, amendments so proposed shall
become part of the Constitution when rati-
l. BY the Legislatures Of three-fourths Of
the States
Q BY conventions in threefourths of the
States.
Congress to propose which method of
ratification shall be adopted.
There being now forty-hre States, thir-
ty Legislatures must make application
for the convention, A bill in favor of
direct election is now pending in one of
the ten States that have not yet taken
any decided action either by vote or in
committee, for or against the change.
Fourteen States have killed, by vote or
In committee. resolutions asking for popu-
lar election of Senators.
1t is evident, therefore, that these
doubtful States which lie in the Missis-
sippi valley and along the Atlantic sea-
board, must form the battle ground Of
the movement in the future. a significant
feature of the table of States that have
defeated resolutions in favor of popular
election Of Senators, is that it is made up
largely Of the old ahd wealthy States of
the East Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire. New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island and Maine have declared against
it, all except Maine in certain terms; in
Maine the matter was recently referred
to the next Legislature. Not a State
east of the Allegheny Mountains appears
In the table of States that have approved
the change.
Killed in Committee.
In several States the Legislature has
not taken vote on the question, the
bills having been smothered in commit
Tee. JIllS Was the case IN INDIANA, Mary
land Mississippi, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Washington and Wyom.
ing. In Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachu-
sets. New York and Florida the matter
came to vote, but was defeated. The
Florija Legislature, indeed. passed the
bill. but the Governor Of the State vetoed
1t and the veto was sustained. The Mas
saehusetts bin was killed in the State
Senate, the result being attributed to
the influence of Senator Hoar, who has
been the most outspoken opponent of the
direct election proposition in his State.
Names Legislature has Stunned respon-
sibility in The matter. defeating a bin
for direct election. with a recommends
tion that the subject be considered by
the next Legislature. In Delaware the
House passed such bin. bur the senate
took no acton on it. Neither house of
New York's Legislature gave u majority
for the bill introduced this year. A d.
rect vote bin has been introduced for sew
eral years in Indiana. with the same re-
suit, indefinite postponem",It.
States whose Legislatures have taken
favorable action: