The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-01-23
ELECTION OF SENATORS BY
VOTES OF THE PEOPLE
Reports Show Plan is Growing. in
Favor.

| i.HCf HiCNtiiSi 10 nave Inc COHSll-
tuition of the United States amended
so as to provide for the election OF
Senators by the people is growing.
What is called the alterna we plan is
being followed by the promoters of
the movement TO have such an
amendment submitted. The State
Legislature of Iowa at the suggestion
! of Governor Cummins, led off by the
adoption of resolutions at its last
session inviting the Legislatures OF
other States to pass resolutions re-
questing Congress TO call conven-
ton for the purpose OF proposing the
desired amendment 1t is necessary
for two-thinds of the States, or thir-
ty-one of them, to forward to Con-
gress such a request before it be-
comes mandatory on Congress to is
sue tae convention call.
Although the movement was barely
under way at the time the State leg
islature of most OF the States were
in session last year twelve States
promptly adopted the resolutions
suggested by the Iowa legislative
body. These resolutions have been
forwarded 10 Congress.
The resolutions adopted by the
| Wisconsin Legislature are typical of
the others that have been reported 70
Congress. They are as follows:
Whereas, 1t is the sense OF this
Legislature of the State of Wisconsin
that the public welfare demands that
the United States senators should be
elected by direct vote OF the people
and
Whereas, The House of Represen-
tatives of the Congress of the Unit
ed States has, on four separate occa-
sions, passed by two-thirds vote a
resolution proposing an amendment
to the Constitution providing for the
election of United States Senators by
direct vote of the people: and
Whereas, The United States Sen
ate has refused to consider or vote
upon said resolution. thereby deny
| ing to the people of the several States
a chance to secure this imperatively
needed change in the method OF elect
ing Senators; and
Whereas, Such opportunity TO
amend the constitution of the United
States may be obtained by united &C
ton of the legislatures of the several
States under and pursuant TO the pro-
visions of Article V of the constitu-
ton of the United States, calling 'or
convention TO propose such amend
ment; now therefore
"Be it resolved, That the legislat-
Assembly OF the State of Wisconsin,
That, under the authority OF Article
V OF the constitution of the United
States, application is hereby made TO
Congress to forthwith call a consti-
tutional convention for the purpose
of submitting TO the States for rati
fcation an amendment TO the Fed
eral constitution providing for the
election OF United States Senators by
direct vote of the people; I I'D farther
"Be is resolved, 1nat the legfslat-
ures OF all other States OF the United
States now in session or when next
convened be, and they are, respectful
" requested TO join in this applica-
ton by the adoption of this or an
Equivalent resolution; and be it fur
Their
Resolved, That the Secretary OF
State be, and he is hereby directed
transmit authenticated copies OF this
resolution and application to the
President OF the Uni,ed States to the
Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States. and to the sew
eral members of said bodies repre-
senting this State therein, and also
to transmit copies hereof to the leg
islatures OF all other States of the
United States.