The Washington times., 1910-11-29

FRANKFORT, KY, Nov 29.-That
the State Of Rhode Island is UnaIter-
ably opposed TO the direct election OF
United States Senators by the people,
was the assertion of its chief executive,
Gov. Aram J. POthIer, to the house of
governors, which convened here today
Selected &c make the response TO the
addresses of welcome Of Mayor Pols-
grove and Governor Wilson, the chief
executive Of the 'IittIest State plunged
at once into the big topic OF the con
ference After reviewing the fact that
in his State the two political parties
have consistently threshed out the sub
ject on the stump, Governor POthier
said:
As President Taft has well said, the
question is not one OF party. and should
not be determined by party considera-
Iions. It IS not surprising, however.
that IN Rhode Island-for that matter
IN all of the New England States, where
the Republican party has controlled the
election OF Senators for years-the Dem
Ocratic platforms contain this year
demand for such an amendment to fhe
Federal Constitution.
Rhode Island View.
so far as the sentiment Of Rhode
Island is reflected by its general as
sembly, the disposition Is a. regard the
considerations that aCtuaJed the trainers
Of the Federal Constitution as having
the same weight today as they had in
I7S7.
Those who look with disfavor upon
the proposition 10 change the Constitu-
ton in this respect hold to the BELIEF
that the two houses OF Congress should
not be elected by the same ConstItu-
encies; also the advantage which each
possesses over the other would be to
q consideTa bly, extent IeSSened- IN fact
that there would be little advantage
left, save IN the difference IN proper
tion which the Senate anu House mem-
beTships bear 10 their respective States,
and the difference in the terms OF serv-
ice Of the members
AS this subject is 10 occupy an i'm
pOrtant place in the discussion OF this
conference may l express the hope that
the brOadest conception Of the welfare
and stability Of the nation. and OF every
one OF its integral parts, VIII direct and
influence this body in its conclusions
upon 50 vital question
Thirty Governors Present.
over thirty governors and several gov
ernOrs-eIect were present when the
opening session was called 10 order
Many of the executives arrived on nom
ing trains and We're escorted to the
capitol in automobiles.
The conference Of the chief executives
OF many Of the States, opened in Ken
tucIy's new capital under favorable
auspices.
Elaborate plans for the entertainment:
OF the visitors have been made There
and banQuets-
Tomorrow morning the governors viEl
80 TO Louisville where the real business
OF the conference VIII begin Present 20
assist in the welcome today was the
venerable former governor Of Kentucky,
Simon Bolivar Buckner, now eighty
six years old, veteran OF the Mexican
war and sole surviving lieutenant gen
eraI OF the Confederate Army.
Political Tableaux-
The new state house where the gov
ernors met was a regular Presidential
beehive today. and a number of in
tsresting meetings were noticed.
The governor of Ohio said to the
Eovernor-eIect of New Jersey
Elm very glad 70 meet you, doctor"
and as they greeted each other the
hopeful Democracy o. Frankfort
looking on, ProieSssd 10 see IN II a
1ifelike IA bleau OF the next President
and next Vice President shaking
While Judson Harmon was shaking
hards with Dr. Woodrow Wilson,
close by stood Marshall, the governor
OF Indiana. another Of the hopes Of
the Democracy, and there We're some
who said that when Marshall shook
hands with wilson that there was
being produced more accurately
prophetic tableau than the first one
Although such topics are 10 be dis
cuSsed as uniform divorce laws. the
conservation of human life and trees
and the short ballot. the three govern
ors who are rated as first rate Presi-
dental timber, are easily the whole
show