The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-12

Washington, June 1l.-To-mororw
the United States Senate will cast It's
maj vote on the constitutional amend
nent pending for the election of
United States Senators by popular
vote, in accordance with an agreement
reached on May rs.
Two resolutions providing for this
change VIII come before that body.
and from a poll of the members, II is
safe TO assume that one or the other
Will undoubtedly pass
The Bristow resolution, which pro-
vides simply that the Constitution
shall be amended TO permit the cleo
tlon OF Senators By direct vote of the
people, in the manner in which mem
bersS;of the tHouse. are now i elected.
VIII be disposed of first IT was a
similar measure that suffered defeat
IN the closing days OF the last Con-.
eress, despite the fact that najority'
OF the Senators were In favor Of the
principle which II embodied The
enemies of the measure, however. sue
ceeded In alternating the support of the
Sonthern members by pointing out
that the resolutions would practically
deprive the States OF their control over
SUCH elections, and place this power
IN the hands of the national govern
ment- This caused the defeat Of the
measure. ~ Tl IN
The other resolution, providing for
this amendment. is fathered by SEN
ator Borah, and stipulates that the re-
spectire States shall have full CON
troll over the elections at Which San
ators shall be chosen ,'
II is almost a certainty that one or
the other of these measures will get
The necessary two-thirds vote. to en-
sure It's passage Many Of the most
oltter opponents of the measure fail
ed OF reelection. and their places
nave been filled for the greater part
by men pledged to its support.
IL TINS measure Is passed tomorrow.
mas been waged almost since the birth
OF the Constitution.
More than 1000 attempts haya beer
MADE on the part of members Of Con.
gress for the individual States to hrIno
about the desired reform Many time
mas a resolution providing for this
change been passed by the House of
Representatives, but II almost struck
a snag in the Senate.
brief history Of this fight bring.
TO light that Mr.. Wilson, Of Penns;:l.
yania. in 17S7 advocated this rArorni.
but was voted down. Again In 1926
a resolution was introduced in Con-
gress looking toward a change in the
method of electing Senator'S. and since
that time the subject has been dis.
cussed at almost every session of Con-
Eress. but without avail d.
OF late years. however, the In
creasins frequency OF scandals Incl
dent to. the electing of United States
Senator'S has brought this measure
more TO the front than ever before.
1 was I'm 1894 that the House passed
the popular election measure and
placed 1t before the Senate. where it
was promptly defeated. Since that
time the fight has been carried on
vigorously. In May II, 1885, another
resolution passed the House. only to
meet With defeat at the hands of the
Senate. Two more attempts were
made, one. on April H. 1900: the other
on February 13, 1902. In each case.
however. the measure met the Sena q
axe.
The supporters of this measure have
been very active, and have resorted to
pressure of Congress through popular
demand for this measure by having
the Legislatures of the various States
vote petitions to this effect. And, at
the present time. twenty-nine States
IN the Union have petitioned Congress
to bring about this amendment, and
only two more are necessary to In
sure action. Should the Senate pass
the measure tomorrow. however, the
fight will be won.