Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-07
IOWA MEMBERS ARE
VERY WELL PLEASED.
Interstate Senatorial Conven-
tion Resulted in a Good
Experience Meeting
ACCOMPLISH OBJECTS IN TIME
Will Result in Other Meetings to Bring
the Question of Constitutional Con-
vention to a Head-Attendance is
Somewhat Disappointing = Perma-
nent Committee Selected.
,necia1 to Times-Republican.

! nent Committee Selected.
/ Special to mes-Republcan.
| Des Moines, Dec. Public senti-
ment all over the country demands di-
frect election of senators. This senti"
ment. needs only intelligent directie..
| And when men elected to office realize
f, that the people are in earnest and unit
ed on this proposition the rest will be
easy. This was the summing up of the
! senatorial election case by leading
member of the convention.
! The convention here las been a sort
of experience meeting where the rep
resentatives of the progressive states
have told of the weakness of the pres
ent system of selecting senator's. The
| Oregon and the Louisiana delegates
! were able to report that in their states
something real and tangible is being
! done to overcome the blunders of the
constitution makers They have direct
primaries wherein the people are per-
mitted to say who they desire for sem
ator. Good results have followed.
/ They do not want to go back to the old
way, but they might accept better
way.
Some of the members of the conven-
tion were disposed to grieve because
this convention was not more largely
attended 1--WE have no cause to feel
discouraged" said Mr.. Mackenzie, of
Colorado. THE first irrigation con-
vention we held out west was not more
largely attended than this one; but 1
attended the last one at Boise City
where two thousand persons were
present. Tili. is the way these things
grow upon the people. We are in the
right and this movement is sure to
tention.'
In a large degree the convention
which has Just met here will become i
permanent convention, or at least il
will be the forerunner of others yet to
be held Some permanent organization
will be effected that will keep the mat
ter alive. The determination of the
convention to go direct to the legisla-
lures of the various states and to ask
for national convention to revise the
constitution, means that much work
must be done, and it was the almost
unanimous sentiment of the members
here that this should be DONE At the
outset there was strong dislike of the
national convention method of revising
the constitution, but nearly all the del
egates became satisfied that this is the
only way reform can be effected.
The Iowa members of the convention
expressed themselves as well pleased
with the general results of the conven-
tion A good start has been made in
the right direction, and while it is rea-
lized that few reactionaries will con-
tinue to complain because reforms are
wanted yet the members believe that
a change in the constitution is certain.
An executive committee, composed
of five members to be appointed by
President Strobe, was authorized. It
is given direction of all matters within
the powers of the convention and au-
thority to make it's own plans. The
committee was given the further power
as follows:
1.-The executive committee shall call
to it's assistance as advisory commit
tees, one or more of the delegates from
each state, and shall prepare an adj
dress to the legislatures of each state.
that has not heretofore acted on the
subject, requesting the adoption OF
such resolutions as may be presented
from time to time by this convention,
and to urge upon the states of Color
ado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan,
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska. Neva-
,da, New Hampshire, North Carolina,
North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsyl-
vania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah,
Washington and Wyoming. which have
already acted. to renew and continue
their efforts to the end that the cleo
ton of United States senators by di-
rect vote of the people may soon be an
accomplished fact.
That said executive committee shall
take such other steps as this conven-
proper and advisable to further the
cause represented by this convention"
The convention is dissolved on the
submission of the specific senatorial
amendment by congress, according to
the resolution of Mr.. Barkworth, of
Michigan, which was adopted.
President Strobe announced the ex-
ecutive committee, composed as fol-
lows:
Thomas A. Cheshire, Iowa, chairman.
Thomas j. Herman, Louisiana.
Frank C. lGoudy. colorado.
w. r. Ellis, Oregon.
C. M. Kimbrough Indiana.