Manchester Democrat., 1911-01-18
SPECIAL WASHINGTON coRREs-
PoNDENcE.
BY CLYDE H. Tavenner.

of Illinois from the United States SEN
ate promises to be one of the histor
ic fights of the upper chamber.
If the Lorimer scandal does nothing
more than to educate the people to
the wisdom of election of senators by
direct vote, it Will have been well
worth while.
The standpattersi in the senate hav
up to this time successfully chloro-
formed every bill or resolution which
would have tended to pave the way
for the election of senator's by direct
vote. In 1903 Senator Owen of Okla
homa introduced senate resolution No
81, for the submission OF conlstitu-
tional amendment providing for direct
elections. Senator Owen showed that
q states had at that time sought re-
lief in the mater. Resolution No. 81,
however, was never reported from
the Committee on Privileges and Eleo.
tions, but was, chloroformed there.
This is the committee, by the way,
which found that Lorimer's election
was without taint of amy kind.
On May 81, 1910, Senator Owen
again urged this reform ON the atten-
ton of the senate, and was even pre-
vented the privilege of a vote. Yet
the House of Representative on four
different occasions had passed a bill
providing for the reform-July 81,
1894; May II, 1898; April 13, 1900,
and February 13, 1902, the last vote
unanimously, no one opposing.
Most of the states in the union
have acted favorbly to the election OF
senators by direct vote, the exception
being the New England states, New
York, Delaware and West Virginia
The national democratic party, the nj
tional prohibition party, the nationtl
peoples party, the American Fedora
tom of labor, the NationalI Grange, tn
Society of Equity, the Farmers Edu
cational Cooperation Union, and othel
great organizations Of the country
have declared for the reform.
Senator Owen points out these ad
Wamtages of the direct vote on sena
tors:
1. That it would prevent deadlock.
in state legislatures.
2. 1t would compel candidates t.
be subjected to the severe scrutin!
of a campaign before the people ant
promote the selection of the best qua
flied men.
8. 1t would prevent interference.
with state legislation by violent con
tests over the senatorships.
A. 1t would prevent improper us4
of money and the corruption of legis
latures.
So far the senate has refused to pa
the slightest heed to these reasons
The senate committee on privileges any
elections, now practically discreditet
because of having indorsed Lorimer
ism, refused to even report resolution
a, - .o, on.ta p,,. !. do,,a,tf,,,, i,
the senate can suppress the matter
much longer. Public sentiment on th
question is getting too hot. The peo
Pile are getting interested.
1,,,,,;, ,,,,1, h, ~
sasta, ,,,,,,,a,. ~ Az 1,n;tof
ist.tas sanato beca,,sa bis a1ectio,
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, oanvi ct;on +hot dc oainine e,,o,,md
nv au,danoa tha. ..co,,.,,,,t nr,c
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and nos ,tiya tbat h,,t few senators
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hors ~ tho,@ san,ts w,o nod intand.d
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aort ,,on,,.,,, ,,o. ,oouo ~ ,os. oon,.
rl,ootad .,., 4hat n wo,,,a ha !. mat,
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