New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-11
ROOT AGAINST AMENDMENT
Argues for Present Method of
Electing Senators.

1
Washington, Feb. 10.-Opposing all sug-
sestions looking to a change in the manner
( OF electing United States Senators, Mr..
1 hoot, OF New York, TO-DAY addressed the
Senate on the resolution providing for cleo
ton by direct vote Of the uecple.
Mr. Root found in the main proposition
mat If changing the method Of electing
/ Senators-an effort to evade responsibility
/ in the matter of government Declaring
1 tho principal reason given for the change
+ TO he the corruption of state legis-
latures in the interest OF candidates for
Senator, he said that a more fundamental
change should be made than is proposed
he would so 10 The root of the trouble by
SO purifying politics as TO obtain better
material in the legislatures.
If the people would look properly to the
selection Of candidates for the LEGISLATURE,
he was sure there would be comparativeIy
/ little complaint concerning the election OF
Senators by legislative action, and he was
sure that in that event the agitation for
direct elections would gradually disappear.
Mr.. Root said that as the constitutional
requirement now stands il commands the
/ state legislatures to fix time and place
! Tor and TO regulate the manner of elections
Of Senators. If the requirement should be
/ abandoned the legislatures would be under
no compulsion to act. He advised great
caution in amending the Constitution and
did not think it well that the habit should
be contracted.
Reverence for that great instrument,
the unwillingness to change IT, the senti-
ment that has gathered around 1t, consti-
tute the stability Of the people who inhaDt
/ this great nation" he said. II was especial
! ly desirable he continued. that few changes
! should be made in the relations between the
states and the national government In
I such cases the burden was doubled. A war
! had been fought to settle the most vital Of
/ these problems. and to make a change
| bringing about new relations should not be
! lightly undertaken
! Admitting tho expression Of wish for
popular elections, Mr.. Root contended that
/ the feeling IS mere assent-not a violent
desire. Naturally. he thought the electo-
rate would accept any extension Of the
/ franchise The evil. however. which the
people wished to see cured was the defects
( in the plan Of electing Senators by the
/ legislatures. They were tired OF deadlocks
/ and impatient over such delays as that
now shown in the Montana Legislature 10
/ return Senator Carter. Thee troubles were
/ due to the statutes and OF to the Consti-
tuition. 4 farreachinG remedy could be
! found in permitting the election of Senator'S
/ by a plurality vote.
The agitation in the present case Mr..
Root traced to the popular dlstrust of rep
/ rcsentative government
strangely. this movement comes at
I time when the development Of the country
makes it more and more necessary that
we should depend upon representative gov
/ eminent" he said. The initiative. the
referendum, the demand for popular cleo
lions, are expressions of weakness Of
| democra cies."
! Admitting this 10 be q period Of read
/ iustrncnt in the Union, Mr. Root said that
| many experiments would be the result Of
( this condition The country. he declared
/ lad suffered more from too much than
| from too little legislation, and he predict
| ed that the proposed change would de-
| rrive the states Of the services as Sena-
ators Of many men of wisdom and expert
! ence who would not undertake the labor
and inconvenience OF popular campaign.
BAD Senators Become insignificant.
IF" said Mr. Root. bad men are sent
J to the Senate. as some claim they are.
they find their level here--they find II in
nocuous insignifcance.'
| He gave ii as his deliberate Judgment
that the Senate has performed its duty
! Loyalty, faithfully and completely, and has
supplied toShe history of the country a
| line OF iIlustrious men and record OF
achievement which furnish the most con
| vincing proof that tho world ever has had
that popular government is q possibility
among men"
With Congress relieved of its supervisory
power, the national government, he argued
would 10 longer have the power of self
| preservation and -perpetuation. He
acknowledged that this provision in the
Constitution had been the basis OF the fed
eral election law but he assured the Sen
! ate that the application OF the law broke
uu condition 10 New York which made
| the election Of Senators and Representa-
| lives the mere matter Of the dictaton of
one man. Ballot box stuffing and repeat
irg had been the order Of the day. and
they only were broken up by the applica-
lion Of the law He would not willingly
/ lose this protection.
lie sympathized with the Southern peo-
PIE in the solution Of the race problem,
but was not willing 10 sacrifice the right
of the federal government 10 interfere
anywhere IL such interference should be-
come necessary.
Warns Southern Senators.
Some things are done in parts Of the
South" said Mr.. Root, that the states
ought not 10 permit and II they do per-
NIT them the country must not, the minute
they touch the Constitution" lie said that
the North had made mistakes in regard 10
the race problem in the Southern states
quoting Senator Percy's declaration that
the South could not afford TO pay for popu.
lar elections the price Of federal control
Mr.. Root closed by saying
Il say with much earnestness to the Sen.
ator from Mississippi and his Republican
allies that the time has not come when the
people Of this ration are entering the mar
ket place 10 buy the right to preserve and
protect 'he national power under the Con-
st.tution.'
Replying to one Of Mr. Roots arguments,