New-York tribune., 1911-02-28
SENATORS ON VOTING
Animated Debate on the Direct
Election Resolution.
1T WILL COME UP TO-DAY
Senator Rayner, of Maryland,
Leads the Fight in Favor
of the Change.

Washington, Feb. ?7.-Several speeches
xere made in the Senate to-day upon the
resolution calling for the election of SEN
stors by direct vote OF the people To-
r,oryov the resolution will be put 10
vote. and the speeches on the eve Of the
iav that will determine its fate were heard
by the Senate with greater interest thah
has been manifested in the subject hereto
fore.
one OF the speakers was Senator Rayner
o. Maryland, who advocated the adoption
OF the resolution despite The sutherland
amendment which hao been voted into II
last Saturday. Another was Senator Bacon
Of GeorSic, Who having favored the ieso~
luton. had become perhaps lis stoutest
opponent in US aitercd form. He strongly
resented the aim and purpose OF the
Sutherland amendment. placing the control
Of the elections IN the hands OF Congress
Senator Percy. of Mississippi followed Mr
Bacon. and opposed the Measure
II had been believed by many that the
fste of the resolution was sealed when the
Sutherland amendment was adopted. The
hostility os enough Southern Senators to
prevent the necessary twO-thirds vote for
the resolution, ii was thought, had been
sroused by the amendment
Senator Jones. of Washington: Senator
Simmons. OF North Carolina. and Senator
Bourne. OF Oregon. also were among the
speakers. all being in favor of the resolu-
ton. Mr. Bourne spoke of the election
and primary SYSTEM OF his state known
as the Oregon plan. which he declared to
be real government by the people.
Mr.. Rayner would not accept as worthy
~ consideration the proposition that the
people are incapable OF selecting Senator's
The people want this change, and they
viii have H." lie said. "It is not the
olamor OF the mob it is not the impulse of
agitation: II Is me deliberate and matured
thought of the American people that the
change shall come. Between the people
and the Legislature. 7 prefer the people:
and ! would not want 10 hold my place
here for a moment if thought the popu-
lar sentiment of nv state was against me.
Legislatures are one thing, the people are
another Legislatures are sometimes con-
trolled ny political managers, and the peo-
PIE at this hour ar. IN the humor Of
breaking the bonds Of political despotism.
Following Mr.. Ravner. Senator Bacon, of
Georgia contended that il was not safe TO
adopt the elections resolution with the
Sutherland amendment engrafted upon it.
Saving that he would be for the resolution
without the Sutherland provision. he argued
that the effect Of that provision would he
10 place II in the power Of Congress com
pietely to regulate and control elections.
He did not believe this either wise or safe.
Admitting that the South is especially
interested ir the control Of elections now.
the Senator oontenied that the time might
cone when the question would be just as
scute in other sections OF the country. For
instance, the yellow peril" might assert
Itself in the West in accordance with the
exercise OF the franchise. Improbable as
this might seem now. Il could not be any
more so than WIS The prospect of negro
sGffrase in 1860