The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-26
will CHECK IT UP
Senate Committee Considering
Direct Vote Question. e
Expected That a Favorable Re-
port Will Be Made.
BRISTOW STIRSTHINGS
Has Kept After the Members
Since Submission.
Line Upon the Situation in the
Two Houses.

Washington, d. c., Dec. 26.-Mem- |
bers of the senate will soon be con-
fronted with legislation calling for the |
direct election by the people of Unit |
ed States senator's. This is the inter-
esting situation which has developed |
in the senate committe on judiciary, !
to which was referred the resolution
introduced by Senator Joe Bristow of
Kansas, calling for the direct election
of senators.
When the Bristow resolution was
sent to the judiciary committee SEN
ators who were opposed to change in
the method of electing members of the
upper branch of congress theaved
sigh of relief, and took it for granted
that the resolution would remain
quietly in a convenient pigeon hole and
accumulate coat of dust and cob
webs. But not SO. Senator BriStoW
has got busy. During the last session
he insisted from time to time that the
committee either make report on
his resolution or that the senate dis
charge it from further consideration
of the document. He stirred things
up several times last session, and is
now on the job again.
Since the November elections. Sem
ator Bristow has been pressing the
judiciary committee members for &C
ton on his resolution and with such
reported to the senate soon.
Senators Borah of Idaho, Rayner Of
Maryland and Dillingham; of New
Hampshire. are the members of the
subcommittee having the resolution in
charge and they are ready to report
IT to the full committee with the rec,
ommendation that it be reported to
the senate When the resolution is
brought before the full COMMITTEES,
Senator Depew will offer an amend
ii, rot a lla-
right to say when and how the sena-
toriaI elections shall be held.
DEVELOPMENTS since the opening of
the present session now make it pos
sible to get a clear line on the situa-
ton that will obtain through the win
ter as between the different Republic
can factions, between Republicans and
Democrats, and between the different
elements in congress and the White
one fact that stands out above all
others is that there is no peace be-
tween the regulars and the insurgents.
The disaster to the Republicans in the
elections has not brought them to-
gether. It has made the insurgents
more enthusiastic, and has made the
regulars more dogged and determined;
In a few matters, where they feel
that they have to for political reasons,
the regulars are prepared to yield. AS
to most things, they are prepared to
fight it out with the progreSslles. CH
shin subsidy, revision schedule by
schedule, and numerous other matters
the regulars have not shifted. They
are coming over to support OF tariff
commission, because they think il
good politics and because the presi-
dent has urged it.
In spite of numerous conferences
between President Taft and progress
gives, good feeling has not been re-
stored between the White House and
L. insurgents
strike at any part of the White House
program they do not like. Some OF
them undoubtedly would relish 9
chance to do so.
So far as the Democrats are con-
cerned, they are making It plain thai
they intend to play politics at every
turn of the road. They are bent OF
heading the Republicans off from do
ing anything this winter out Of whlef
partisan credit for the G. o. +. coule
he secured. While the house Demo
cratic leaders get out to balk a COM
mittee on committees, the feeling fol