Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-06-28
NJ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ AAA ~
\ DeS MOineS Letter
= Items of Interest from Our Correspondent
II at the State Capital

Conference Of State Called.

|
Conference of State Called.
Des Moines--An interstate convention
for the discussion of the question of the
popular election of United States Sena.
tors will be held in Des Moines, Sept
.. The official call was issued on the
23rd by Gov. A. B. Cummins and is
In harmony with the resolution intro
duced by Senator Lewis and passed
by the last general assembly.
The convention will be attended by
a commission composed of five dele.
gates from each state in the union.
The governors of the states have
been notified and, Judging from the
interest which has been taken in the
question of the election or the sena-
tors by the people, an almost COM
plete representation is expected. The
arrangements in detail have not been
completed, although it is highly prob
able that the sessions will be held in
the Auditorium.
The plan of Senator Lewis, WHICH
was acquiesced in by the rest OF the
legislature, directs the governor Of
the state of Iowa to invite the gov
errors of the several states to name
representatives to an Interstate con-
vention to be held at Des Moines, or
elsewhere, for the purpose of secur-
ing such action on the part of the
several states as will result in a con-
stitutional convention for the pro-
posal of an amendment TO the constr
tuition providing for the election of
United States senators by direct
vote.
So general was the interest and so
widespread was the seeming demand
for thorough hearing Of the Ques-
ton from every state in the union
that what was first started as merely
state conference was expanded into
an interstate conference and will in
its results bring about one of the
most notable gatherings in the his
tory of the United States in recent
years.
The plan contemplates the taking
Of affirmative action at the Des
MoineS convention. Then, followed
by the action Of two-thirds of the leg
islatures of the several states, the
congress, by constitutional provision,
must call a convention for the pro-
posal of the desired amendments.
1t is not at all improbable that the
action of the state legislature will be
the opening wedge to bring about
the reform which has been suggest
hn Loe oil
ed so many inquiries concerning the
proposed convention that he deems
that considerable interest will be
shown and that the attendance will
be exceedingly large and complete.
The governor directed letters sent
out to all of the governors of the
states Saturday, notifying all of
them of the date of the convention
and the purposes for which it was
called. A copy of the letter follows:
"Des Moines, Iowa, June %. 1906
The Thirty-first general assembly OF
Iowa adopted a joint resolution,
copy of which I have the honor to
transmit herewith, authorizing and
directing me to invite each of the
governors of the several states to ap-
Aoint and commission five delegates
to constitute an interstate conven-
ton. The purpose of the convention
so to be assembled is to secure such
action on the part of the states as
will result in calling a constitutional
convention for the proposal of an
amendment to the constitution of the
United States providing for the cleo
ton of United States senators by
direct vote.
1T is with great pleasure that I
now perform the duty laid upon me
by the general assembly and solicit
your cooperation in accomplishing
the reform suggested in the resolu
ton. I most respectfully invite you
to appoint and commission five dele
gates from your state to meet with
delegates appointed and commission
ed by the governors of other states,
in the city of Des Moines, in the
state Of Iowa, on the 9Th day Of Sep
TENDER, 1906, at 10 o'clock in the fore
noon, to consider and act upon the
subject set forth in the aforemention-
ed resolution.
Twill you kindly give me an early
response, with the names and ad-
dresses of the delegates appointed
with assurances of high regard, l
am yours very truly, t.-
ALBERT B. Cummins,
Governor Of the state OF Iowa"
Temperance Legislation.
More effectual temperance legis!a-
ton has been enacted by congress
during the past two weeks, in the
opinion of DR.. l. N. McCash, state
superintendent of the Iowa Anti-Sa-