The Washington times., 1908-08-15
twenty-five States Would
Elect Senators by Popu-
lar Vote.
NEED NINE MORE
FOR CONVENTION
Hope TO Act Over Head of Upper
House-Views on the Po-
litical Outlook.

It IS not generally known that twenty
two States have formally asked the
Federal authorities 10 call a consttu-
ticnaI convention in order that au
amendment TO The OnSu- l'Jn may De
adopted providing fer the election Of
United States Senators by direct vote.
Mr. Bryan has pledged himself TO CON
vene an extra session Of Congress, II
elected. for Ihe sole purpose of Initial
ing this reform by legislation.
There are now reposing in the office
OF the secretary of the Senate, Charles
G. Bennett. Of Brooklyn, twenty-five
resolutions passed by the same number
OF States. demanding a constitutional
convention. The States which have
gone on record as fayoriug popular
election Of Senators are Montana Iowa,
Nevada, Wisconsin. oregon, Colorado.
Washington, Idaho Nebraska, Tennes-
see, PENNSYLVANIA, Michigan, Mime
sofa, South Dakota, Utah, Kentucky,
Indiana. Florida. North Carolina, North
Dakota. Ohio. and Wyoming. This list
does not include Virginia. Illinois. South
Carolina. Alabama, Mississippi, or
Louisiana, in each Of which States pop
ular primaries for choosing Senators
have either been actually adopted or
are generally favored.
Parties Divided.
It would seem from all this that the
venerable constitution is threatened
with another bit of tinkering in the near
future. It is true that the Republican
national convention a. Chicago turned
down decisively a position to favor the
election Of Senators by direct vote. Mr-
Taft has expressed a leaning toward this
proposition, but It IS unlikely that the
Republican party leaders Will attempt
10 bring about relOrm voluntarily.
II Bryan is defeated, the change must
come through a constitutional COuVen-
tion demanded by the requisite number
Of States-twO-thirds. Thirty-Ons States,
through their Legislatures. must ask
Tor constitutional convention berOre
such a gathering is mandatory Action
on the part Of nine more States Will be
sufficient.
of Representatives has repeatedly eX-
pressed its belief that the old-fashioned
manner of choosing Senators by the
vote OF legislatures should be done away
with The House has four times passed
resolutions favOring a change The
Senate has persi5tenty ignored the
question, taking no action whatever on
the various House resolutions. The
Senate is in no hurry to adopt changes
calculated 10 threaten the tenure Of its
members.
Senate Gives Reason.
The willy Senators have a plausible
reason for steadfastly opposing the in
novatlon They say that the convening
Of a convention 10 change the ConsJi-
tuition might lead to all sort Of era
barrassments. They recall the Arabian
Nights story of the sailor opening a
jug upon the seashOre and releasing a
Genie which could not again be i'm
pTisOned. II would furnish an excuse
Tor the agitation Of SOciaistic SA peri
Iaents in government, leading PERHAPS
10 far worse evils than the present sys-
tenn of elscting Senators.
According to an experienced news
paper correspondent, who has Just re-
turned to Washington after a careful
canvas of the political situation in the
important middle West the present out
look indicates that Taft will carry
Kansas and Ohio that Bryan Will car
ry Nebraska, and that "a horse race
will take place in Indiana, which is
anybOdy's State"
THE situation in Ohio" said this
correspondent. "is anything but pleas
ing 10 the Republican leaders, although
/ think Mr.. Taft viii get the electoral
vote OF that State. The Cox machine
is understood to be planning to knife
the Republican State ticket on account
OF the liquor question. 1 should not
be surprised II the Democratic State
ticket should win and a Democrat be
chosen TO succeed Senator Foraker. It
for MI Taft TO beat Bryan there.
States For Bryan,
81 think there is no doubt that Mr..
Bryan will carry Nebraska this year
in spite of his 1900 failure. and it seems
equally certain that Mr.. Taft viii cap
ture Kansas There will be bumper
crops in the middle West this year.
which will be a great help to Mr.. Taft.
The farmers are not rallying around
the Democratic banner as was hoped.
On the other hand, a great deal Of dis
satisfaction exists in the smaller cities.
business men who have been doing
business for the past twelve years with
the Steel trust are ripe for the kind
of radicalism represented by Bryan.
The general sentiment in the small
Western towns, especially where manu-
featuring is an important industry. is
4Cr Mr.. Bryan.
Indiana is a toss-up in my opinion.
As conditions are now, l should conf
IDENTIFY expect the State to be carried
by Bryan. Ih5 Republicans there have
. worse attack Of apathy than in any
other State / visited. The string of
Fairbanks newspapers is not going to
give Taft much aid. The Indianapolis
News leans toward Bryan if anything,
but generally is ignoring the Taft cam
paign The Fairbanks newspapers are
dsvCting themselves largely to State af-
ever that the Democratic candidate for
governor in Indiana, Tom Marshall, viii
win He Is tremendously popular and is
one OF the best Campaigners in the
country"