Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-15
'CUMh1INS' MESSAGE TO IOWA LEGISLATURE

United States provides only two
methods whereby the provision re-
specting the election of United States
Senators may be changed, and
Whereas, The method ordinarily
adopted, Of Congress on it's own in
states proposed amendment, has
heretofore been Ineffective, owing to
the refusal of the United States Sem
ate to submit such proposed amend
ment tosthe several states, and s.
Whereas, There is: nd alternatives
for accomplishing the desired reform.
save by an appeal by att least two
thirds of the states to Congress asking
that a Constitutional Convention be
called. Be it therefore
Resolved, That while this conven-
ton would much prefer that Con-
gress should submit to the several
states proposed amendment to the
ators by direct vote of the people, so
that the states might pass upon it as
single question, yet inasmuch as
the Senate persistently refuses to sub
NIT such amendment, 1t therefore
earnestly recommends that the legis-
latures of the several states do, in
pursuance of Article v of the Consti-
tuition of the United States make APP
plication to Congress to call con-
vention for the purpose of proposing
amendments to the Constitution of
the United States. Be 1t further
Resolved That the President and
Secretary of this Convention be and
the same are hereby instructed to
transmit duly certified copies of these
resolutions to the Chairman of the
National Committee, and of the sew
eral state committees of the two
leading political parties, also to the
governors of the respective states, to
each member of Congress, and to
the President. That in transmitting
the copies to the governors of the
states, the President and Secretary
of this Convention shall enclose let
ter urging each of them to lay these
resolutions before the legislature of
| his state"
| The Executive Committee will pre-
| sent the subject to the states as rap
| idly as their legislatures convene, and
| its members believe that two thirds
of all the states will make the apple
cation to Congress for constitutional
convention. It will be observed that
the resolution does not limit the scope
of the Constitutional Convention fin-
ally to be called. This is because it
power of Congress to limit the con-
vention to a single amendment.
! / am profoundly convinced that
Senators of the United States should
! be elected by direct vote. If there
! ever We're reasons for interposing a
secondary elective body between the
| people and their Senators, they have
| long ago ceased to exist, and in this
age there are affirmative and potential
reasons for restoring to the voters the
full privileges to which they are in
disputably entitled. Four times the
| House of Representatives in the Con-
gress of the United States has passed
ro.r . !
amendment, upon. this subject to the
states but the Senate has persistentlY
/ ignored the subject. There issno hope
| that it ever will take the step neces-
sary to give the states the opportun-
| ity to express their desires There
fore, 1t has become necessary to pur-
| sue the other alternative of the Con-
stitution, and call Constitutional
| Convention. I know that there are
men who fear such convention, but
their fear Is groundless, for 1t; cam
not be believed that theNC Constitution
will be unwiselY amended when 1t is
remembered that the members of the
| Convention, who will themselves be
4 the choicest examples of our eiVilza:-
ton, must first agree before any
] amendment can be submitted to- the
states, and then thirty five of the
forty six states must concur before
the proposed amendment can become
| a part of the Constitution. If this be
not a sufficient safeguard. we are not
fit to live in a free country.
| [ strongly recommend the passage
| of a resolution that will be an APP
| plication to Congress, under Article
| Y of the Constitution of the United
States, for the calling of a Constitu-
tional Convention to propose amend
| ments to the Constitution.
Educational Institutions
-. III
The experience of the last year in
all the institutions has been most
gratifying. They are at this moment
more prosperous, more efficient more
distinguished, than ever before. The
| liberal spirit manifested in the gem
lerous appropriations of the half dec
AIDE Just closed is bearing rich and
abundant fruit. The fathers and
mothers of Iowa who have boys and
girls to educate have more confidence
In these schools than they had in
i former years, and therefore the at
tendance of students is rapidly in
ereaSing.
AS l have more than once said, our
young people are worthy of the best
educational facilities that genius,
i learning and money can establish and
maintain. and we are swiftly nearing
the point at which it can be truth
1 fully said that they have as good as
the country affords.
| speaking SpecnlCally OF the 1nStitu-
tions; ii is most gratifying to note
that the university has added, dur
| ing the year, to its student body, a
larger percentage than any other uni
Eversity in the country. Its course OF
instruction has not only been broad
ened, but at the same time has been
made more practical. 1t is applying
more. effectually the distractions OF
learning to the actual things of life.
The fidelity of the board of regents
the leadership of its president and the
earnest, capable work of its instruc
tional force, are all to be commend
ed. I sincerely hope that you viii
make it possible for the institution
i to. grow until it fully occupies the field
which it was established to occupy.
The College of Agriculture and Me-
chanic Arts is not only maintaining the
high standard which was attained un-
der a former president, but the in
spiration of its present distinguished
head is constantly lifting it up into
loftier attitudes Of excellence. The
conduct of all its departments is eff.
f1cient in marked degree, but its
agricultural department is especially
\