The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1910-09-22
HON. KEY PIT1MAN EXPLAINS
Treats of Principles Embodied
By Statement No. l. Gov
erning Election.
Reno. Nevada, Sept. 18th, l91

To the Citizens of the State of Nevada:
Apparently some uncertainty and
doubt exist in the minds of many vot-
ers as to the purpose and effect of that
part of the Direct Primary Law rela-
tive to the election of United States
Senators.
Being candidate on the Democratic
Ticket for that honorable and impor-
tant office and seeking the suffrage
and support of all our citizens, l feel
that it is my duty to publicly and un-
equivocally declare my construction
and stand on that part of the law.
The Constitution of the United
States prescribes that United States
Senators shall be elected by the State
Legislatures, and the members of leg
lslatures cannot be deprived of this
privilege without amending the Consti-
tuition. Such an amendment will un-
doubtedly be adopted in the near fu-
ture, as two thirds of the States OF the
Union have endorsed The amendment
and requested that it be submitted to
the people. Our state Legislature has
unanimously declared in favor of such
amendment, and all parties in our state
have heretofore in their platforms de-
manded that United States Senators be
elected by the direct vote of the people
and have pledged the members of their
respective parties to the support Of
such principle.
While the Legislature cannot be de-
prived, without such amendment, of
the power of electihg United States
Senators, a method has been provided
in the Direct Primary Law by which
the people may instruct the members
of the Legislature as to their choice.
1t is also provided by such law that the
legislative candidates may file with
their nomination papers as to whether
or not they will respect the will of the
people and vote for the peoples choice
for United States senator. Similar
provisions have been tried with success
in other states. In Oregon two years
ago, Senator Chamberlain, q Democrat,
was elected, although a majority of
the Legislature was Republican. The
plan is being tried in this state at this
election for the first time. A number
of the legislative candidates of each of
the parties have failed to pledge them
selves to abide by the will of the
people and vote for the candidate for
United States Senator, irrespective of
party, receiving the greatest number
of popular votes at the ensuing general
election. believe that in most cases
this omission occurred through mis-.
understanding rather than through a
desire to defeat the will of the people,
and my actions will be governed ac-
cordingly. But even if every member
of the Legislature should refuse to
pledge himself to the people and
should attempt to deprive the people of
the right they demand and are entitled
to, | would not be a party to any such
un-Democratic conduct.
And for the purpose of setting at
rest any doubts that may exist as to
my conduct in any event, / pledge my
self, on my word of honor, as follows:
If at the ensuing general election,
either Senator George S. Nixon, Re-
publican nominee for United States /
Senator, or Honorable Judd Harris,
candidate for United States
Senator, shall receive the greatest |
number of votes for such Office, then
shall use every honorable means to in
luce every member of the Senate and
Assembly to vote for such candidate;
md will unequivocally and finally re-
'use to permit my name to be submit
ed to such legislature to be voted upon
'or such office; and in the event such
. vote is had against my will, under the
conditions referred to above, will not
such act and if so elected
will not accept such Office or qualify.
KEY PITTMAN.