The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-08-10
ELECTION OF L. :. SENATOR BIZ
DIRECT VOTE.

ELECTION OF |. -. SfNN lOh -
DIRECT VOTE.
The Washington Post. comment
ing upon the apparent determma-
ton of the people in various sections
of this country to select United
States Senators 10y direct vote oi the
people. in spite OF and practically in
defiance of the provision oil the /. ).
Constitution providing for their ST.
lection 10y the legislatures oftheVarl-
Gus States, says in part:
Virginia is To elect "a senator la CON
Yress by dirvt vote. Tor that i what the
Democratic primary means,0nd neat year
Tenpess.,. will hold STATE primary rlcc-
ton of the DemocraticParty todct"rmihr
whether T.. W tarmack shall be- p-rtrt
ed Senator or surrender hls togo Ia Ii l..
TAYLOR Both Virginia and tennessee are
Democratic States, and for some loitN
wears the Democratic party has h1'h
claiming that it is the only friend the
Constitution of the nited States has lett
among the living. assuming that the Dem
ocratic marty il alive. which Is doubtful.
That cOnstitutionprovidcs that Senators
shall be- elected 10y the state legislatures.
and to choose them 10y popular vote oil
the dominant party Ot aStatrls defeat
Of the Constitution and revolutionary ~
character.
In 1858 Douglas and Lincoln were the
candidates Tor their respective parties Tor
Senator from Illinois. but there was no
thought of a State primary and NO as
sault on section 3. Article OF the Con
stitution. ntheircandidatur They were
named 10y general conSent-at least Doug
las was. This innovation will have but
one result. Ii will transfer from the state
legislature 10 party convention the -
lection of senators.
Just one reflection. Gloon was despl-
cable character.a disgusting demaSogur.
vain. shallow .mischieyOus. Arlstides was
Observation-Disclosures sage. apatrloi.
a herO-Aristides the Just. and he might
ba called Aristides the Great II tlrS''
two Athenians Were Pincarnate. ana
American citizens and politicians II Is a.
certain as that tomorrow sun shall run
his course in the heavens that Cieoh
would favor the election OF United States
Senators 10y popular vote.and II lsequal
~ certain that Aristides would cling 10
the system of the fathers.
All the same. the people will have their
way: and in some of the States they have
already accomplishment.
If the above sentiments were cN-
pressed by a Democratic paper III
Virginia at this time. they would no
doubt be regarded as reasonable,
but nevertheless there is much in
what the Post SAYS. and there are
strong arguments to be made ON
each side of the controversy. If
present the primary method OF select
ING Senators is in the experimental
stage. and the question of 1t survival
is one of doubt. the outcome ofwhlch
is being watched by conServativePeo-
pie with no little interest
The Republican party in West Nir-
GINA seems to be hopelessly divided.
and even Senator ElkinS is pOwerless
to harmonic the differences The
split is on the tax laws recently pass
ed by the legislature. asd Mr.. Elkins
SAYS as they were drafted 10y fonr Re
publican lawyers. passed 10y a Re
publican legislature and approved by
a Republican governor. the party
should try them before raising such
a racket. The Democrats are not
worried over the split.
1t is said Hon. II. G.. Strut. of
England. has invented a clock that
will run for thirty thousand years.
unless some OF the parts wear out
and will need renewing. which can
readily be- done. OfcOurse. world
will have to take his word for the
length OF time il will run.
The great Southern journalist,
Capt. Evan T. Howell, died at his
home in Atlanta, Georgia. on sun
day. He was prominent in state
and National politics and Was the
successor Of the late Henry W. Grady
in the editorial management OF the
Atlanta Constitution.
The fog interfered with the peace
commissioners Sunday and they
were so delayed that they did not
reach Portsmouth ut the appointed
time. Thus the negotiations com
mence in a foe, but let us hope they
will not end in fog.
Gen. Roy Stone, a veteran OF the
Civil and Spanish wars, died at Nor
ristOwn. n. j., Sunday. lie was
strong advocate of the Fredericks
burg Battlefelds Park, and was anX
ious to see it completed.
VIRGINIA NEWS
The barn OF Ferdinand Gooch, IL
Madison County was struck by hghi
ming recently and burned.
Miss Louise Turner, aged twenty-fOul
died Monday at Village, Northumbel
land county, Of consumption.
Henry b. Thomas, OF Culpeper County
and Jennie C. Embrey, OF Fauquit
County, Were licensed to wed in Wasl
ington Tuesday.
A large Joe Willard club has been form
.. 81 ~ LIT tnon.illn tn nlNnncn fhn II