The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-09-06
NOT PARTY QUESTION
No Action from Him On Popular
Election of Senator's.

Election of Senators.
Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 6.-President
Taft has declined to recommend that
congress pave the way for the direct
election of senators by providing for
a constitional amendment Action to
that effect was urged by w. ]. Brayn
In personal letter to the president,
but the chief executive in reply says
he does not consider it a party ques-
tion. MIR. Bryan in today's issue of
his Commoner made public the letters
that passed between himself and the
president. The Bryan letter was as
follows:
Lincoln, Neb.. July 13. 1909.-Hon-
William H. Taft, The White House,
Washington: Now that the states are
going to vote on the ratification of
the amendment specially authorizing
an income tax, why not give. them
chance to vote an amendment provid-
ing for the election Of United States
senators by popular vote? In your
speech of acceptance you said that
you personally were inclined to favor
such change in the execution.
Would this not be an opportune time
to present the subject to congress? :?
Two constitutional amendments some
authorizing an income tax and the
other providing for the popular cleo
tion of senators-would make your
administration memorable. and 1
pledge you whatever assistance I can
render in securing the ratification Of
these amendments. With great re-
spect, l am. your truly. w. ]. Bryan.
The response of the president was:
"The White House. Washington,
July %, 1909-My Dear Sir: have
your kind letter of July 13. am not
prepared to urge as an administration
matter the submission of ar amend
ment changing the constitution with
reference to the election of United
States senators by popular vote. AS
said in my speech of acceptance,
hardly deem this party question and
as there is a very wide difference of
opinion in my own party in respect TO
1t. l think 1t ought to be presented to
congress, not as a party OF ;tS an ad-
ministration' question, but as mat
ter Of individual opinion. With great
respect, am, very sincerely yours,
William H. Taft.
Hon. William Jennings Bryan, The
Commoner, Lincoln. Neb.
Mr.. Bryan adds the following cdi-
torial comment:
"1t is as we feared 1t would be-
President Taft declines to recommend
the submission of a constitutional
amendment providing for the election
of United States senators oy popular
vote. In the same speech in which
he declared for an income tax he said
he was personally inclined to favor
the popular election of senators. He
recommends an income tax, but de-
clines to recommend the senatorial
proposition.
1t seems that he does not regard
his expression of personal friend
illness as committing him to any ef-
fort to secure the amendment. AS it
joint resolution submitting such an
amendment, and as he now declines
to recommend 1t, it would look like
his reference to it was a matter of
surplusage. 1t is hardly fair to hold
out such hopes during the campaign
and then disappoint them when the
election is over We were afraid of
it, as. see notification speech. August.
1908:
with respect to the election of
senator's by the people, personally
am inclined to favor it, but it is hard
ly a party questions A resolution in
its favor has passed Republican
house of representatives several
times and has been rejected in a Re-
publican senate by the votes of SEN
ators from both parties. 1t has been
approved by the legislatures of many
Republican states. In number of
states, both Democratic and Repub-
lican, substantially such a system
now prevails"