New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-12
70 TINE TO DTSARn.

In his speech in the Senate OH the
Borah amendment to the federal COnsti-
tuition Mr.. Root laid timely stress on the
fact that that amendment. besides sane
toning q change In the method OF nam
ing Senators. from which little good can
he expected. strikes down one Of the es-
sential powers Of the national govern
ment-that of regulating, when need be,
the manner I'm which members of the
federal Congress are chosen. When the
Constitution was framed the necessity
of federal control was self-apparent.
Under the Articles Of Confederation each
state chose its representatives In Con-
gress as 1t pleased, and those repre-
sentatives considered themselves state
agents rather than federal officers. Inc
federation had fallen to pieces OF us
own weakness, and the trainers OF the
Constitution wanted TO create a legs
lative body responsible to the federai
government as well as to the states. IL
therefore gave Congress the necessary
power to supervise the manner in when
Senators and Representatives were to be
elected, thus subordinating state sover-
eighty to federal sovereignty.
Why should that status be disturbed
now and the federal government ne
asked to part with right, surrenderins
which, as Mr. Root justly says, 1t sur
renders the power of its own preser'a-
"tion"? That would be an excessive
price to pay to secure Trivial chaiise
in the method of naming Senators--a
change which any state can make TO-
dav on It's own responsibility by ADOPT
ing the Oregon plan of direct lnstruc'
lions at the polls or the alternate plah
Of direct nominations in a party pri
mary. Mr. Borah has spoken sllghtlhsiy
Of the safeguard to national sovereignty
contained In the grant OF power 10 ooh-
gross to regulate the elections OF Sena-
TORS and Representatives. lie has salu
on the floor Of the Senate that the states
are entirely competent 10 manage tnelr
own elections. and has expressed the
hone that the time will soon come when
they will be freed entirely from federai
control in choosing members OF Congress-
That view is lighthearted and super
fetal II is based on fallacious inter-
pretation of the relations established oy
the Constitution between the nation ana
tho states. We prefer-and we THINK
that the country will prefer-to accept
the Judgment in this matter Of Justice
Samuel F. Miller. one of the greatest OF
the many great Judges who have SAT
unon the Supreme Court bench. In the
oninion in the Marlborough case Justice
Miller said
n this government is anything more
than mere aggregation OF delegateo
agents of other states and governments,
each of which Is superior to the general
government. II must have the power 10
protect the elections on which IT'S exist
ence depends from violence and corrup.
RON II II has not this power. 1t 10 lett
helpless before the two great naturai
and historical enemies Of all repupics-
omen violence and insidious corruption.
There are to-day, as ever, dangers 10
which the federal government would be
eynosed If il should renounce It's right
10 supervise the elections of members or
Congress. and it would be folly for the
nation to think of disarming Itself be-
fore such peril.