The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20
ELECT SENATORS BY
POPULAR VOTE

| BY vote OF 2S6 to 16. the House of
Representatives last evening passed
the resolution providing for the cleo
ton OF United States Senators by di-
rect vote of the people. Even these
sixteen dissenters-nfteen Republi-
cans and Representative McDermott,
of Chicago. a Democrat-would have
voted for the resolution had the
amendment offered by Representative
Young, Of Michigan. reserving to the
Federal Government the power TO
prescribe the manner OF holding cleo
lions for Senators, been adopted.
Sixteen Against
The fifteen Republicans who voted
against the resolution were Represen-
OF New York; Dodds. of Michigan; !;
Dwight. of New York; Fordney, of
Michigan; Harris. of Massachusetts;
Kinds, of Maine: Lawrence. OF Massa-
chusetts; Mccall. of Massachusetts;
McNorran, OF Michigan; Malby, Of
New York; Mann, of Illinois; Sullo-
way, OF New Hampshire; Utter. OF
Rhode Island. and Wilder. OF Massa-
chusetts.
Outside of the opposition by the Re
publican side to the passage of the
Rucker resolution, with its provision
permitting the States themselves to
prescribe the manner in which the
direct election of Senators should be
accomplished. the discussion was
largely academic.
Minority Leader Mann, Representa-
tive Young. OF Michigan. and other
Republicans protested that several
days should be given TO the consider
alton OF the proposition. Mr.. Under
wood, with a knowledge of n great
majority backing him up. calmly an
nounced that the Rucker resolution
would be passed before adjournment.
He threatened that IL the Republicans
showed any disposition whatever to
become obstreperous he would move
the previous question. cutting off all
debate and not even permitting the
finally agreed, that the resolution
should be discussed for four hours.
two hours on a side.
To Print Speeches.
Later it became apparent that this
was not sufficient and several mem
bers, including Mr.. Rucker, the au-
thor of the resolution, thought it
would be q good idea to permit men,
bers to extend their remarks in the
Record-the old leave to print privi-
lege-for five days.
Representative Sherley, Of Ken
lucky. suggested that leave to print
be given, but that speeches inserted
in the Record under this privilege
should be plainly marked so that il
would not appear they had been de-
decided that the restriction should be
imposed.
Republican opposition to the Ruck-
er resolution. without the Republican
amendment giving control of sena-
torial elections to the Federal Gov
ernment, was summed up by former
Speaker Cannon, of Illinois. who de-
clared he had voted two or three
times for a resolution somewhat sim
liar to this, and thought that the
people voting directly for Senators
would give as good results as are OBJ
tanned when they are chosen by the
Legislatures under the provisions OF
the present Constitution"
Mr.. Cannon went on to say that\he
would vote against the Rucker resolu-
tion because after providing the pro-
posed amendment for the election of
Senators by the people, it proceeds
further and amends section 4 of ar
ticle 1 of the Constitution" This is
the section specifically reserVing to-
Congress the right to make or alter
regulations prescribed by the States
as to the manner of electing Senators.
Representatives Talk.
Members of the House discussed the
direct election proposition. Repre-
sentative Ollie James, of Kentucky.
declared II would reduce the chances
of corruption in senatorial elections
to a minimum. Represen entative Clay
ton, of Alabama. declared the reso-
luton contained Eothing revolutions
ary. Representative Stanley, of Ken
lucky, member of the Committee
of Rules made a long speech in its
advocacy. Representative Norris of
Nebraska. the Republican insurgent
leader, declared everybody was for
the resolution. but urged the enact
ment OF the Young amendment, leav-
ing adequate power in the hands OF
the Federal Government