Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-07-14
DIRECT VOTE FAVORED.
Movement for Popular Election
United States Senators Grows.

&sAoNSmcnE Tor 1ODudar ELECTION OK
United States Senators Grows.
Special dispatches to 4 Chicago paper
from correspondents in every State of the
Union indicate thar the movement to
elect United States Senators BY popular
vote instead of through State Legisla-
lures is growing at an encouraging pace
Twenty-one Legislatures 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 ac-
complished 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
Tor a convention to consider the matter
Congress itself, by a vote OF two-thirds
OF both houses, could propose the change,
but with the United States Senate a rich
mans club that objects 20 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 two-thirds of
both houses shall deem It necessary, shall
propose amendments to this Constitution,
or, on the application of the Legislatures of
two-thirds Of the several States, shall call
convention for proposing amendments,
which in either case shall be valid to all
intents and purposes part Of this Con-
han ffzf4 HAap fr1g
OF three-fourths 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 1S0S shall in any manner
AFFECT the first and fourth clauses in the
ninth section of the first article. and that
no State, without it's consent, shall be de-
priyed of It's equal suffrage in the Senate.
posed:
l: Rg Congress whenever two-thirds of
both houses think II necessary.
2 By a convention which must be called
by Congress on the application Of twothirds
Of the States.
And the amendments so proposed shall
fed
:. BY the Legislatures of three-fourths Of
the States.
2 By conventions In three-fourths of the
States.
ratification shall be adopted.
There being now forty-ive 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
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 and wealthy States of
the East. Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island and Maine have declared against
1t, 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 a vote on the question, the
bills having been smothered in commit
tee. This 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 a vote, but was defeated. The
Florida Legislature, indeed, passed the
bill, but the Governor Of the State vetoed
it and the veto was sustained. The Mas
sachusetts bill 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 bill
for direct election, with a recommends
ton that the subject be considered by
the next Legislature. In Delaware the
House passed such bill, but the Senate
took no action on it. Neither house of
New York's Legislature gave a majority
for the bill introduced this year. A d.
rect vote bill has been introduced for sew
eral years in Indiana, with the same re-
suit, indefinite postponement. '
States whose Legislatures have taken
favorable action: