Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-06-15

washington, June 1.-THE Senate
tonight. by vote of Ga to "a, passed
the resolution amending the constitu-
tion to provide for election of senate rs
by direct popular vote. The Bristow
amendment, giving to the federal gov
ernment supervision of such elections,
was adopted, a. to A. the vice-presi-
dent casting the deciding ballot. The
House had already passed the resolu-
ton.
The debate began shortly after noon
and soon drifted to a political affair.
Democratic senators criticised Senator
Bristows change of attitude. Mr..
Bristow framed the principal amend
mcnt, to continue the supervision of
senatorial elections in Congress, in
stead of delegating 1t to the states as
proposed by the House resolution. In
the last session the Kansas senator
voted against an amendment offered
by Senator Sutherland of Utah, which
would have had the same effect.
Mr.. Bristow said that in both in
stances his attitude had been die
tated by his desire to do that which
most certainly would insure the sue
cess of the main resolution.
Bristow. referring by name to Senators
Cummins. Clapp and La Toilette. he
declared "the nsurgent crowd never have
been sincere on any subject they have
brought before the country"
The chair called Mr. Davis to order.
Mr.. Cummins declared Mr.. Davis's state
ment of an alleged instance was untrue.
Mr.. Bristow refuted the general charge.
saying that only under great provocation
would he pay any attention to what the
senator from Arkansas said"
MIR. Bacon, aroused feeling by declaring
that great interests had been bringing
enormous pressure to bear to defeat the
resolution and Senators Works. Guggen-
helm and Cummings arose to refute the
allegation.
The alleged detection Of the progressives
was scored by Senator Reed of Missouri
who declared the conversion of Mr. Bris-
tow to Senator Sutherland's viewpoin,
was because of the negro vote In
Kansas"
Adoption of the Bristow amendment.
which omitted the House provision
transferring supervision of senatorial
elections from Congress to the State
Legislature. was made possible by Mr..
Clark of Arkansas casting the only
democratic vote for 1t. The tie would
have been prevented if his vote had been
cast with his party. with which he later
voted on adoption of the resolution.
Five republican insurgents. Borah,
Gronna, La Toilette Poindexter and
Works voted against the amendment
On the resolution as amended the vote,
Ga to "a, was six more than the necessary
two-thirds majority. OF the "a negative
votes. eight were cast by democrats and
16 by republicans follows:
Observation-Disclosures Crane, Burn
ham. Dillingham;. Gallinger, Hepburn,
Lippitt. Ledge. Lorinler, Oliver, Page,
Penrose. Richardson, Root, Smoot and
Wetmore
Democrats-Bacon. Eankhead, Fletch-
er, Foster, Johnston Percy. Terrell and
Williams.
The resolution as passed follows:
THAT in lieu of the first paragraph O.
section three of article one of the consti
tuition of the United States and in lieu O.
sc much of paragraph two Of the sam,
section as relates to the filing of vacan
Giles, the following be proposed as al
amendment to tho constitution which
shall be valid to all intents and purposes
as part of constitution when ratified b,