Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-06
IO ONLY GIVE IMPETUS
That Is All the Interstate Sen
atorial Convention Can Ac-
complish
DISAGREEMENT AS TO METHODS
Majority of Delegates Favor Calling
Constitutional Convention - Lar
rabee Believes it Is Safe Procedure
Governor Cummins' Address to the
Convention.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to mes-Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. 6-"The making OF
the grand old constitution of the I'm
tied States had its beginnings in q
meeting not more earnest nor intelli-
gent than this interstate convention to
constitution So said a California
delegate as he surveyed the convention
with critical eye.
The convention is not large in num-
bers. 1t was not expected 1t would be.
But there is intense earnestness AMI
seriousness about the assembly. Tie
| men WHO represent the dozen states
irealize full well that it is, business Of
vast Importance that brings them to-
gether Governor Hanly, of indiana,
a type Of the much reviled reformer,
sent five delegates and he was so much
| interested that he made sure that ev-
cry one would attend the convention.
1t was appropriate that the conven-
| ton should be opened by Governor
| Cummins, who had the duty Of ex-
| tending to the states, on behalf OF
| Iowa, the invitation to be represented,
and in his brief address he stated very
clearly the reasons for the convening
| of the convention. Governor Cum
Minis, in his address, referred to the
fact that many good citizens have had
doubts as to whether or rot j. woull
be wise to call a general convention
for amending the constitution. There
are dangers in such plan, for it would
open the way to general revision. But
Governor Cummins SAID tina. there are
other things which nigh. we'll engage
the attention of such a convention, as
for instance, the divorce problem, re-
garding which he believed :hs people
are ripe for change which can only
He said he need but refer to the mes
sage of the president just delivered, to
show that convention might we'll take
up other matters.
In brief speech taking the chair
as temporary presiding officer, Cover
nor Larrabee indicated that the words
of Governor Cummins had somewhat
removed from him the prejudice which
he had felt against a general conven-
ton to revise the constitution. He had
been opposed to such a convention,
but considering the safeguards which
have been thrown about such method
of changing the constitution he did not
know but that it would be all right.
1t is evident that this broad question
of the method of getting at the amend
ment to the constitution will be one
much discussed, and that the conven-
ton will not be of one mind
What we can do and will do" said
an Indiana delegate, "is to give d.
roction and impetus to the movement
Wn .ch is general for a change in the
constitution so that senators may be
ell cted directly by the PEOPLE. We
PROBABLY will not be abe to do mora;
Tut that is worth the doing. We haY.
beer passing resolutions and adopting
me MOI lals all too long. Let the peo-
pie decide what they want and then
go after it hard and they will g:4 it.
This convention therefore has .,e'-.rs
it work of initiation that is sure to
grow into great movement"
Governor Cummins' Address.
In his address calling the conven-
ton to order, Governor Cun1mins said
in part:
'4The controversy respecting the COM
position of the United States senate,
and the manner of selecting it's mem
bers, began on the 30th day of May,
1887, when the Constitutional Conven-
ton took up for consideration the plan
submitted by Virginia for a national
government, and some phase Of it has
been under discussion almost continue
ously during the one hundred and nine
teen years that have since elapsed.
The decision of the convention in or
ganizing the national house of rep
resentatives has remained for more
than a century, without challenge be-
cause it was right; the decision of th9
convention in organizing the senate has
been questioned thru all these years
simply because it was wrong
I'm so saying, it must not be under
stood that lessen the glory which has
gathered around the immortal assem-
bly, which framed the constitution of
conditions which surround it. the tenn
pei, u dolllOIS anu interests OF the men
who composed it, the unexplored field
it was expected to occupy; when we
remember that loyalty meant not 10y
atty to a union (for there was no I'M
ion), but loyalty to the states from
it's members came it is a mar
vel that anything was agreed upon,
and a miracle that it's compromises
We're so often in harmony with a de-
velopment that was yet to take place.
Every patriot must agree with Glad
stone, who, in speaking of the constitu-
ton, said: cit is the most wonderful
every struck off at a given
time by the brain and purpose Of
man."
The election of senator's by legisla-
lures, instead of the primary voters,
vas a concession. first to those who
Insisted that the government about to
formed should be a compact be-
veen states. and not a government
bringing from the people; second,