Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-01-26
DEPEW OPPOSES POPULAR
ELECTION OF SENATORS

Washington. Jan. A.-Opposition to the
resolution now pending in the Senate
calling for the popular election OF mem
bers OF that body in the several States
was voiced to-day by Senator Depew of
New York Mr.. Depew while opposing
the proposition to SO choose the senators
yet offered an amendment which would
enttle all OF the male citizens of the
United States 10 cast their ballots in
such elections. To tho New York eena-
tor the proposed amendment to the CON
stitution, as reported from the judiciary
committee, seemed but an effort. under
the gulse OF popularizing the election
81 United States senators, to permit the
States % dsfranchise under the con-
stitution large classes of their electors
Instead OF providing that senator's
shall be elected by the people OF the
several States. said the senator, 'it
virtually denies the people the right 70
elect senators by impairinG the 18th and
18th amendments to the constitution
which We're Intended 20 secure the
elective franchise to all citizens of the
United States
The speaker betrayed some apprehen-
sion that the passage OF such a resou-
ton would call forth an expression OF
determined disapproval from the coored
voters OF the North. East and West, and
that protest would De registered IN SO
effective way at the polls as TO be felt
all over the country
THE title Of this proposition" said
the senator, us to allow the people
to vote. The purpose and object OF
the resolution is permanently TO pre-
vent tho people from voting in any
state where dominant power or
oligarchy. wishes To disfra0chise :
certain portion OF tho citizens"
OLD SENATOR'S ARE REST
Mr.. Depew endeavored to show
number Of the objections which would
the proposition to choose senators hy
proposition to choose senators by
popular vote. lie dwelt upon the ad
vantage that Is claimed to lie In the
experience that senator gains
through long retention Of his scat.
taking the governors of the States as
an example and showing the compar
atively brief tenure OF their Offices he
drew what he considered would prove
an analogy IN the case OF senators.
rfe could forsee nauEht save rapid
succession in office Of men who would
hoat in upon the tide Of popular favor
and out again as that tide might ehb
me sway Of the demagogic orator
would hold menace, in the mind of
the Now York senator should the svs-
tenn of popular elections prevail He
recited the several appeals nv issues
THAI have prevailed during the last
the war speech and the bloody shirt
TO show that the passion of tho bour
hould not crystalline into legislation
without plenty OF time for delibera-
ton and calm judgment
Parties are always seeking paramount
issues. The great leader OF Tho Do,,o
cratic party made this question of chang
ing the method of the election of Irni,ed
States senators, as he thought. n nara
mount issue.
1T failed TO nateriaize as he imagined
II would because there was no populor
response and there is none to-day.
Most OF the so-called radical legisIa
tion of the last 10 years has been really
conservative legislation. 1t has been the
correction Of admitted evils the enacting
into law OF measures for things unknown
by previous generations but vital for the
present and the future in the development
of the country, But here In this PROPOSE
ton we are called upon to disregard the
overwhelming lessons of the past and to
enter upon an untried experiment, to
adopt a theory which opens the door for
innumerable possibilities Of danger to the
sovereignty of the States and wise con-
seryatisn I'm the administration of gov
ernment"