The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-12-26
CAUSES WORRY AMONG
1HE NEW STATE
POLITICIANS
SOME PLANS OUTLINED
Several Constitutional Prop.
Ositious Offered

Tbs recent conference, called by
Governor Cumndns of Iowa. TO dis
c.ss the proposition Of electlng Uni.
tea states senators by the direct vote
Of the people, was perhaps of rs great
interest in Oklahoma as IN any other
portion Of the entire country, because
OF the fact that the constitutional con.
vcntlon. IN session here is trying to
solve the same problem withoat run
ming up against the federal cohstitu.
tional provisions in regard to the
selection of United Stetes senator's.
Three propositions for the cOnsti
tuition. on this subject have been in
tgodnced thus ar They are by VIII
lam II Murray, of Tlshomingo. Demo
cratic president OF the congeation;
G. NJ Haskell. OF Muskogee, Dcmo-
cratic floor leader, and j. Il. Safer. of
saltwater, one of the twelve Repub-
la-ans or Apostles" AS they have
been humorously dubbed, N the con
yention
All three propositions, while hav.
ing the same end in view, are differ
ent IN character. That by President
Murray is by far the most stringent
in its provisions, since It makes ii g
Imisdcmeanor In Office for q member
1f legislature to vote for any candi.
date for senator other than that
chosen by the direct vote OF the
people.
Mr.. Safer in his provisions for
choosing senators follows the plan,
now being used along similar lines in
Oregon, Nebraska. Texas, Illinois and
some other states, choosing the party
nominee by the primary system, and
then permitting tho Legislature tc
elect the peoples choice Mr. Has
lSel simply provides FOR "the nomina
ton and election of all state officers
including United States senators By
the direct vote of the people, bu
Outlines no plan leaving that Tor the
legislature TO enact.
/ President Murray however, out
lines his plan in full, as follows:
"Be It resolved, That the cOnstitu
lion for the proposed state OF Okla
homa contain the following prowis
ions, to.wit:
"The legislature shall provide 70
submission to the voters of the stat
The candidates for United States sen
ator at the same time aud place 70
The election Of members Of the legis
'abrre. and the porson receiving tn
highest number Of votes for Unite,
States senator shall be elected by tn
Legislature to said position.
"And il is hereby crowded that
SHALL be the duty of each member O
each branch Of the Legislature to vot
for such popular choice; and shoul
gny member or members o. eithe
branch OF the legislature fail or rt
lnse TO vote for the choice so e.
pressed. it shall be the dcty of th
governor to remove gcich member @
members from office and shall orde
IN election to FIJI such vacancy 0
yacan,ies.
IT is farther provided that certii
catos of election shall be iss ed onl
I 10 such persons for United States sei
ator who have received the highes
nmber of votes as herein provides
end who shall have been elected b
the legislature, agreeably to The term
of the constitution Of the Unite
states"
When asked II he thought his pre-
osition would win ogt in the constitl
tional convention, President McriT
answered. Yest, bet your life, Il va
win. IN make z win even if II ha
10 he taken on the floor Of the col
vention," He maintains that his pie
is legal and th9t it viii be pvt inl
tho state constitution. There ~
lmany, however, who believe that Mu
rays plan ID orbldden by the @
fbling act.