The Detroit times., 1910-12-15
THE ENGLISH ELECTIONS
VIA CONTRAST IN CONSTITUTIONS
By FREDERIC ! HASkIN

United States senators, but as these
resolutions were not uniform III
wording, there is no prospect that
anything will come of II. AmericanS
may think that some of the methods
employed 70 reform the house OF
lords are absurd, but they would dc
well to remember that the task tf
infinitely more simple and direct thar
similar undertaking To reform the
senate would be in the United States
AS matter OF fact, the British
constitution permits the voters tcl
have a very much greater direct in
fuence In public affairs than does the
American constitution. The suffrage
is limited in England to greater ex'
tent than II is In America, there arc
special privileges legally enjoyed by
wealthy and noble persons which,
would be repugnant to American I'M
stitutions. and there is caste sysl
tenn wholly foreign to the essential
Democracy OF the great Republic. But
Notwithstanding these limitations
the British elector has the right not
only TO cast his vote on one side OF
the other OF great political con
troversy. but he also has the right
TO demand that his will be carried
into execution Immediately.
Up until this time this right has
been qualified and limited by the fact
that one party has had an over
whelming majority in the upper
chamber of the legislature and has
therefore been enabled to block Leg
islation on subjects which had not
been made the specific issue in 81
oil Int M he
house of lords in modern times, ever
has refused to reflect the will OF the
electorate as expressed on a definite
question. The same cannot be sale
for the United States senate. Demo
cratic senates have refused to con
slider the mandate Of the people when
they elected a Republican house OF
representatives and Republican sen,
ates have likewise ignored the result
OF an election giving the Democrats
a majority of the lower house.
Americans will do well to watch
closely the course of events in the
coming session Of parliament, in
which the relations between the com
mons and the lords will be readjust,
ed. There is every reason to be-
lieve that American politics Is again
approaching crisis involving the
conflicting rights and powers OF tho
federal and the state governments
crisis such as threatened disunion
in 1898. in 1912. and in 1882, and
which precipitated n sectional war in
1861. This controversy some day.
must be settled. and Americans may
study with advantage the methods
pursued in Great Britain when great
constitutional problems press for
solution
Whether the British or the Ameril
can constitution is the better Is a
question open to discussion with
much TO be said on both sides. But
it cannot be questioned that British
politics is more interesting, more ex-
citing, and more determinative than
the American brand. British Radi-
Gals and Tories are divided in Hive
questions, and interest in English pol
itics is kept white hot by the con,
slant discussion of pertinent prob
lens OF government, making unnecesl
sary any appeal to party regularity
or any fetish worship OF party
name.
IL may require one or two more
general elections to settle the pend
ing constitutional controversy I'M
Great Britain, but one is not afraid
to hazard the prediction that 1t will
all be settled and forgotten long be-
fore the three-fourths OF the states
OF the American union have got any
action on their demand for a revision
OF the constitution to permit the
direct election of United States sem
ators. They do some things better
in the Old Country.
TomorroW-Passenger Steamboat
Traffic.