Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-01-15
Popular Election of Senators, and the
Next Step.

Next Step.
1t is evident that the American
people may soon have to decide as to
the adoption of two vitality important
amendments to the constitution of the
United States:
(a) An amendment providing for
the election of United States senator's
by popular vote; and following the
adoption of that amendment, another:
OBJ Changing the present form of
representation, which gives each state
two senators, and providing for rep
resentatiOn in the senate on the basis
of population.
The first amendment will, in all
probability, go to the states within a
year The short debate in the senate
on Friday disclosed that there is a
majority in that body in favor of the
amendment. The senate committee on
judiciary had reported the necessary
resolution for submission of the
amendment to the legislatures of the
several states, and the test vote in the
senate on the question of considera-
ton showed a substantial majority for
the proposition. There is, it is true,
decided difference of opinion in the
ranks of the amendments friends as
to the wording of the amendment.
The democrats of the southern states
want TO have the election machinery
left to the states, because they fear
that federal supervision would lead to
the annulment of the southern laws
against negro suffrage. A few sena-
supervision, because they want to
give the negroes the right to vote for
senators. The committee report is for
state supervision, and the amend
nfent when passed VIII doubtless en-
body that principle. 1t may be that
on account of the brief time the
present congress will be in session the
proposed resolution will not pass both
houses before the day of final ad-
journment, but the passage of the
resolution in the next congress ap-
pears to be a certainty.
Public sentiment in the United
States is unquestionably in favor of
the popular election of senators. and
it will not be many years until the
necessary twO-thirds OF all the states
will have adopted the constitutional
amendment.
And it is equally apparent that the
adoption of this amendment to the
federal constitution will be quickly
followed by a general demand for an
other amendment providing for repre-
sentation in the senate on the basis
pOpulous states is already discussing
the question, as one of the coming
issues. There is no denying that
there is a widespread sentiment in the
older states against equal representa-
ton in the senate from the sage
brush" country. The people of those
states consider 1t Outrageous" that
like Montana, Wyoming, |
Idaho, Nevada, Arizona. New Mexico, !
and so on, each with a total pOpula- |
ton not as large as an ordinary city |
Of the east, should have two men, /
bers of the senate, the same as the !
really populous states. This feeling, |
indeed, is at the bottom of the bitter
opposition which Arizona and New |
Mexico have so long encountered in
their campaigns for statehood.
Nobody can doubt that a popular
vote of the United States would be in
favor of reducing the senatorial rep
resentation from the "Sagebrush
And If the advocates of the initia-
tive and referendum ever succeed in
getting the people of the whole cOun-
try to adopt the system as a part
Of the machinery of the national gov
eminent, It certainly will bring the end
Of equal representation for the states
Of small population in the senate of
the United States.