Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-16
Submission to Popular Vote Of
Constitutional Amendment
For Biennial Election
BEFORE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Some Politicians Regard the PROPOSE
ton as Affecting United States sena
torial Politios-would Mean Eliml
nation of 1905 Election and Extra
Session Of Legislature in 1906.

Des Moines, Nov. 16.-It is commonly
understood that there exists we'll de-
fined and carefully planned scheme to
achieve the defeat, before the thrtieth
general assembly, of the resolution
submitting to popular vote constitu-
tional amendment for biennial cleo
tons.
All members of the coming lesisla-
ture who have visited Des Moines since
election have said that they under
stood that such a scheme was on foot,
and some of them have expressed the
belief that 1t would be successful and
that the people would not be given an
opportunity to vote for the immediats
abolition of half the general elections.
IL the legislature passes the resolu-
ton this winter, the amendment vii
be voted on next fall.
None of the members elect have sig
nified cognizance of the source of ths
influence against the biennial elections
amendment, at this time. Among
some politicians it has been assumed
that it originated among those OPP
posed to the state administration, pc
litically. The defeat OF the biennial
elections proposed either In the legis-
lature or by the people at the polls
upon its submission, would mean a
years less service for Governor Cum
minis and other incumbent state Off
GERS who are aligned with him. for the
most part, in factionai political sense
The fight which has started against
the amendment is the first that ii has
had to meet. When Senator Titus OF
Muscatine first proposed the resolution
of submission in the legislature of 1893
it met with practically no opposition
1t also went thru the session of 1900
without {, fight and with but one OF
two adverse votes. When 1t came VI
in new form in the legislature of 1902
due to the fact that the supreme court
said the assembly OF 1900 did not prop
erly pass the measure, there was nc
dissent and the resolution was passed
without debate or opposition. The
principal discussion about 1t in the lob
bies was with reference to whether Il
was in defective form and whether the
assembly had properly passed 1t.
In view of the fact that about thir.
ty-five members OF the house and TWEEN.
ty-five members OF the senate who VII
sit in the Thirtieth general assembly
served in the Twenty-ninth, also, ant
voted once for the resolution said &
member elect who was in the city thi:
week, II do not see how the defeat o.
the amendment can be achieved. How.
{c Qhnfif the Gi9.
position TO fight 1t. and expect to SEE
a vigorous effort made to prevent IT.
submission. The newspapers of TN
Estate are against 1t, generally. ant
their influence has been made to b;
felt, during the last two years
Some of the politicians regard tn
proposition to defeat the amendmen
as affecting United States senatorial
politics. The composition of the as
sembly in 1S96-'S7 and 1S9S-'99 woult
appear not to be affected by the de-
feat or passage of the amendment. IN
der the amendment the election of 190
would be eliminated. and the Legislature
which meets in 1904. that Is. In tw'
months from this time, would hold az
extra session In the winter OF 1906. TIT
next assembly would be elected. then
in the fall of 1906, to follow with SEES
sion in the winter of 1907.
Whether state politics. senatorial
politics, or merely the desirability o
abolishing annual elections Is involv
ed, there is no doubt about the move
ment which is well defined among
members Of the general assembly t.
oppose the biennial elections resolution
Of submission when 1t goes before thu
,rhirtieth general assembly.