The Washington herald., 1911-01-21
RAYNBR SUPPORTS
PRIMARY MEASURE
Speaks Against Amendments
to Election Bill.
CALLS THEM SUBTERFUGES
Mary land Senator. in Supporting
Bill Reported by His Com mmittee on
Issue with DePew and Suther-
land, Who Offer Anne ndments.

Senator Isador Rayner addressed the
Senate yesterday in support of the reso-
luton which he, as member OF the
Senate Committee on Judiciary. voted TO
report to the Senate. submitting to the
States for ratification an amendment to
the Federal Constitution providing for
the popular election of Senators.
The Senator from Maryland said that
he was opposed to both the Depew and
the Sutherland amendments. because
they sought to give the Federal govern
mcnt control over senatorial elections.
OF the Depew amendment, the Senator
from Maryland said it destroyed the
whole idea of state sovereignty by TAX
ing away from the States the right to
prescribe the qualifications of voters. and
to place that power in the hands OF
Congress.
The amendment of the Senator from
Utah" declared the Maryland Senator.
does everything that the amendment of
the Senator from New York contem-
plates. except take away the right of
suffrage in the States and transferring
it to the Federal government. THE
Senator from Maryland declared that the
legislation covered by the two amend
ments was suggestive Of tfH force bill.
Opposes Two AmendM ents.
Speaking for myself, l am utterly
unwilling to attach to this resolution
any amendment that could by any pos
siDlity embrace any such power. These
amendments, therefor, tend to defeat the
resolution, although that is not the in
tention of the Senator from Utah. be-
cause he has so stated upon this floor.
and we all know that every statement
made here by him carries with it upon
its face the proof of its own accuracy.
1t is my judgment that those of us who
are in favor of submitting this PROPOSE
ton to the people ought unquestionably
to vote against both of the amendments"
The ghost of the force bill'' was
brought out yesterday in the Senate to
alright Southern Senators away from
support of the Sutherland amendment to
the resolution for election of Senators by
popular vote. Senator Bacon, of Geor-
gia. asked Senator Sutherland. Of Utah.
who is author of the amendment, whether
the effect of his amendment. which per-
mitsi the government to supervise the
election of Senators and prescribe the
rules, whenever. in it's judgment. it may
appear necessary, would have the effect
Of placing marshals and supervisors of
elections at every polling place in the
States where Senators are to be elected
Senator Sutherland replied that the
government had that power now over the
election Of Representatives.
Bacon Draws Line.
Senator Bacon replied that there was a
distinction between Senators, who repre-
sent their States, and Representatives.
who represent the people direct.
The Senator from Utah reminded his
colleague from Georgia that the Senators
were Senators Of the United States from
the States :,
What earthly reason is there for max
ing the distinction between Senators
elected by the people and Representatives
so elected?'
Mr.. Sutherland declared that the fact
that a power might be abused was no
argument against intrusting 1t to the gov
ernment He read from the reports of
ex Representative Sunset Cox and of
former Representative Lawrence. in an
effort to prove that Federal regulation of
elections was necessary at the time 1t was
exercised.
Tt was not only necessary, but the
solemn duty Of Congress to control elec-
tions of Representatives under conditions
that existed at the time"