The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-16
BRYAN's DOUBLE MISTAKE.

Mr.. Bryan misses the point in his
appeal to President Taft to urge upon
Congress an amendment TO the Federal
| Constitution permitting the election OF
| Z. s, Senators by the people. For,
! IT has been abuudantly demonstrated
that the Senate will not agree 10 any
snch amendment; so II is idle to ap.
proach this question from that stand.
point.
But if the people want this amend
ment, they can get it another way.
When twoihirds of the States ask an
amendment TO the National Constitu
ton, it is made the constitutional duty
of Congress to call convention for the
purpose of framing and submitting such
amendment 10 the States. But twenty
seven States have already concurrcd in
asking this amendment. viz:
Arkansas. California Colorado. Idaho
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas. Ken
ttucky Louisiana. Michigan; minnesota,
Missouri. Montana, ma; Ne bra ska, NGyada' I
sylvania. South Dakota Tennessee, Tex
as. Utah. Washington, Wisconsin. and
Wyoming.
But four moro States arc needed TO
add TO these. TO compel Congress TO
call the constitutional convention re-
ferred to. Any four of the following
States would be enough:
Alabama. Connecticut; Delaware; Flor
ida. Georgia, Maine, Maryland Massa-
chusetts. Mississippi. New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York. North Dakota.
Ohio. Rhode Island. South Carolina, Yer
,i,,fn FIrrs sir,l1
There are plenty of Democratic
States-Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mis-
sissippi-to say nothing Of South Caro-
lima and Virginia, to carry out this
change in the Constitution which Mr..
BRYAN seems 10 have so much at heart
and which is a pledge in the National
Democratic platform. As such, it is
binding on more than enough Demo
cratic States to carry the proposition.
But in fact, even more Republican
States have endorsed this proposed
amendment than Democratic States.
The proposition urged upon Prcsi-
dent Taft is only one of the methods
provided for amending the Constitu
ton The other is by 'two-thirds Of the
States taking the initiative when Con
grcss refuses to act, as the Senate re-
fuses to act, as on this idea. And this
latter is the way TO proceed in this
case. Mr.. Bryan appeal should be
made TO these States, and not to the
President.
That Is, however, on the supposition
that such an amendment is necessary
in order to obtain the popular election
of Senators. But it is not necessary,
Most of the Southern States already
choose their Senators by popular vote,
in primary elections. Some of the
Northern States do the same, a con-
spicuous instance being Oregon, where
the people chose n Democrat for Sen
ator. while at the same time electing
Republican Legislature. which was
obliged TO ratify the peoples choice,
SO that Mr.. Bryan is doubly mis-
taken He is mistaken in appealing
to President Taft in behalf Of the
amendment his appeal should be to
the States; and enough Democratic
States are left to make the submission
Of this amendment sure And he is mis-
taken also in thinking this amendment
necessary: for the people can and do
in many States-and may in all-elect
their Senators without It, Any State
may at any time authorize the popu-
lar election Of Senators, and the rati-
fcations by the Legislature may be
made a mere form, Just as the constitu-
tional election Of President and Vice.
the real election being by the people,
months before.