The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-29

The state educational conference opened here today. being essentially for bringing the southern and general educational boards and the county superlntendents of the state into harmony. Most of the superintendents are in attendance and held preliminary meeting of their own in the afternoon at which the only busi- ness done was the appointment of a leg islative committee.
 After numerous successful efforts to suppress a vote on the text book ques- tion, the issue was forced and state uni formity as opposed to county uniformity was endorsed by majority of five.
 ~~~<~-t<<%%-~-s-<& affairs. under the constitution. in their own way.
 It will not be considered an intrusion on your legislative functions to call your attention to the mode of electing sena- tors.
 Mode of Eleeting Senators.
 There was a great anxiety in the first and the only constitutional convention of the United States, to secure to each state equal representation in the federal senate After much debate. 1t was at last de- clared in the constitution formed by that convention in
 Section B. The senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the legisla- ture thereof; and each senator shall have one vote.''
 That clause, giving to each equal rep resentatlon in the senate was not entirely satisfactory, in that, whilst 1t gave that right 1t did not provide against taking 1t away, by an amendment.
 The wise men of that day looked well into the future by the light of history.
 When they came to the fifth article, providing how the constitution might be changed, by amendments proposed either by two-thirds of each house of congress or by a convention of the states. when ratified by two-thirds of the states, the wise patriots of 17S7 added a proviso in substance declaring: That no state with out It's consent shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the senate" And in that form article was adopted by the convention in 17S7. and was ratified by the states in 17SS, and in that form 1t still remains. And 1t is the only part of the constitution now in force which, by It's own terms, can never be changed by amendment, no matter how that amend ment be proposed, without the consent of every state.
 No Change Wanted.
 Who wants 1t changed? Surely this change in that wise work of the sages of 17S7 ought never to be proposed or rati- fled by state located in what has been truly called "the minority section of the union."
 If a change is made in the manner of choosing senators, now fixed, how long will 1t be before senators, like represen- tatives, will be in number in proportion to population?
 Various amendments are now pending in the senate to change the mode of electing senators, and changing the num- Der of senators to be elected from each state There is now pending in the sen ate resolution introduced by senator from New York to amend the constitution so as to give each state a number of senators in proportion to its population. This change If made, would give to New York about fifteen senators, to Illinois about eleven, to Ohio about nine, and to Alabama three.
 And { is proposed amendment also pro vides that the congress shall have the power to fix the qualifications of the voters for senators in every state.
 And when a senator, thus elected by the people applies to be seated, the sem ate could send for persons and papers and inquire into the returns from Me- Gees Switch and reject the returns and the senator because the census and the returns from the beat did not agree, and because the senator returned as elected was not needed by the majority of that body-as is now the practice in the house of representatives.
 It Is most earnestly hoped that the leg islature of Alabama will not sanction any change in the constitution of the United States as to the mode of electing sena- tors
 Be Slow to Abandon Rights.
 In fact, gentlemen, we of the minor ity section ought to be slow~very slow, in giving our consent to any change in the only safeguard we have to any rights of our state, if 1t still be a safeguard
 In conclusion, l congratulate you and