The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-02-07
Declares to Elect Senators
by Direct Vote Would
Violate Constitution.
SAYS THAT THE RESOLUTION
STRIKES At THE VERY FOUN-
DATION OF THE NATIONAL Gov
EMINENT, AND IF SUCH A RES
OLUTION CARRIED 23 STATES
COULD AT ANY TIME STOP OP-
ERATloNs OF GOVERNMENT.
BY Associated Press.

attempts to transfer to the various
states control Of and time and manner
of electing United States senators as
proposed by the resolution providing
for their election by direct vote, was
advised by Senator Lodge in speech
in the senate today declaring that the
proposed change in this respect
strikes at the very foundation of the
national government"
Lodge said that the plan violates the
plans of the trainers of the constitu-
tion and if the amendment should be-
comesa law he declared that twenty
three states, including. perhaps. only
minority of the population could at
any moment arrest any movement 'o1I
the government or stop all its opera
tions."
DENOUNCED AS "MocKERY."
The senator denounced as "a mock
cry" the 'pretense" that the proposed
legislation is progression. Not only
was it mockery. but it was retro
gression and reaction Of an extreme
kind" he said.
IF adopted" he went on, "it would.
carry the government back to the con-
troversies and the struggles out OF
which the constitution was born and
which beset and endangered the in
fancy OF the United States.
Enlarging upon the danger OF the
proposed change. Mr.. Lodge said: @
MISREPRESENTATION is the first law Of
seeYne toT % no matter how we may
decide the question Of methods by
which senator's should be elected, the
- - he Tpi a.
States to control those elections. If
need be, is essential to the govern
ment's safe and continued existence.
Any attempt OF this sort to break down
or weaken the authority of the United
States ought to be resisted to the last.
| It is amazing that it should be sug-
gested at time like this. when the
government of the United States is OF
necessity taking up new duties and
new obligations as demanded by the
conditions OF the time, at a moment
when the national government re-
quires all its strength. And yet 1t is
proposed here to weaken it, to take
from it the one power which In the
time Of stress will assure its existence
II cannot believe that such a propo-
sition as this will be accepted by con-
8f0SS. cannot DelloVe IiidI Tie COuH-
try would tolerate 1t II 1t were once
Understood. Too much has been sacri-
feed to preserve the union of the
states and to maintain the nationa
government to permit any tamperins
with those clauses which guaranteed
its very life.'
The Massachusetts senator reiterated
his opposition to the election of sen
ators by the people and contended fol
the maintenance of the constitution II
its integrity. 'It has," he said, 'showl
itself capable Of adaptation to the new
demand as It has adapted itself t.
those Of the past, and I have hope'
and believed that the new policies an.
the necessary reforms which the peo
pie desire could all be brought about
, as they have hitherto been accom-
plished. under the constitution Blu
new prophets have arisen who are no
content with the reforms which hav
/ been and which will be affected by la,
and they demand that the constitutio
itself shall be changed. Its success l
the past, which has challenged the ad
miration Of the world. is not to be con
sidered as any plea in its behalf"