New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-07
Two Amendments in One.


In pursuance Of this demand for d res
toration or lost popular government by
suitable amendments OF the Constitution,
This Joint resolution has been reported from
the Committee on the judiciary expected
amendment 20 the Constitution which
would provide that henceforth Senators
should be elected by the direct vote Of the
p.0p1s To nv surprise I found that this
-Asoution contained two amendments 70
the Constitution instead OF one. and the sec
ond which ! confess has filed me with
smaZement causes the change which was
supposed 10 be the object OF the resolution
70 sink into compare tive insignifcance. To
take the election OF Senators from the
legislatures OF the states and give II 70 n
direct popular vote Is simply change In
the mechanism Of government. 1t does not
touch the principles upon which the gov
eminent rests.
tie United States. by striking out from the
first paragraph OF Section everything re-
lstine 10 the election Of Senators. all power
% regulate the time and manner OF hold
inr Senatorial elections Not content with
fris the resolution goes on 70 give sfnrm-
stively all control over the time, place and
manner Of choosing senators 10 the legis-
'atures OF the states Inis chanse Is not
an alteration in the mechanism OF the sys.
TEN. {. strikes at the very foundation or
tho national government
Mr Lodge discussed at length the franz
ers OF tho Constitution and their work, add
ing
These makers of the Constitution not only
dealt with many conditions which are pre-
Osely the same to-day as they were then,
and which will be the same to-m9Tro"
other words with conditions as old as re
corded history-but they also dealt with
certain questions in regard 70 which they
lad peculiar and expert knowledge. They
we've Of course, deeply familiar with the
causes which led 70 the dire necessity OF
framing q new Constitution II there was
ever 70 be ? union Of the states. They had
seen the Continental Congress, whose state
papers had extorted the admiration OF Eu-
rope and drawn forth the praises of Chat
nam. which had declared independence
raised armies and maze aIhancesItney
nac seen this Congress decline into help
lessness and discredit until II had become
q heavier burden 10 Washington than the
eneuy in his front They rad seen the
Confederation which the Continental Con
gress had established come into BEING, en-
Joy z s.ckly life and finally sink into i'm
lsc.lity, while the states quarreIed among
themselves nd domestic disorder began 10
BY an these disasters and misfortunes
ne" were convinced that the Fundamental
'ause O. the failure Of the Continental Con
Ersss and OF the Confederation alike az
schemes OF government was that the cen
lrsl government had relations only with
me states and was absOlulely AZ lhelt
mercy. The makers Of the Constitution met
ms d,tcIlfy By an arrangement ~ once
ocld and simple. scientifically sound ana
sminentv practical They established a
government which dealt not with the states
rtt directly. with the people OF the states.
lhey brought the central government INTO
immediate contact with the individual man.
they created 3 real citizenship or the
tltec states, and thenceforth every amer
sl had a dual ctizenship-that OF ms
N state and that Of the United states. ~
=. hot TOO much 20 say that among All me
5rsat solutions which these men presented
.V me dl'hcUir problems they were caHeo
-pon 70 meet this was perhaps the most re-
.lefkaoe. II certainly was the most vital
t oreathed ire breath Of life into the gov
inment q me Constitution and that prlh-
We u the direct relation between the
tCple Of the United States and the cen
~ government runs through every pro-
.slcn q the instrument
IN pursuance Of this policy they provided
lat The United states should have the
ao"er, Il the need arose, 70 arrange 10Y
30 regulate the election OF senators ano
tSpresentatves ard 20 provide for the time
>. choosing The Presidential electors ano
~ ming the day on which the electors
,Lollo give their votes. that day 70 be The
'oine throughout the United states.
Gives States Full Control
hat the United States should have this
49, n reserve was funoamentaL 40
so's-nment can hope 10 live IL It cannot
ss.o.loe the means by which 1t Hvcs-H II
,.-ot protect It's own existence. ~ IS tnls
-. power which this Joint resoluuon pro-
ee,ssss 70 destroy so far as IL relates 70 the
.eetion OF Senators. Not content with de-
e--uoh the resolution BY direct and a.,
"''iFe words gives the whole cohuoi OF
Sc, Sis non Of Senator'S 20 the stNeI9,
rT..sff- mis- plan violates the luhoalIiehtdI
coa-iPt upon which the trainers OF me
eaassnlut'on proceeded in establishing the
-. iinent, the principle without Wmcn
To- qld not believe, and their belet WOE
eco on bitter experience, tnal any CIV
~