The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-06-23
REFUSED TO CONCUR
BY A PARTY VOTE
House Refuses to Accept Bristow
Amendment Providing For Federal
Control of Election Of Senators.

Washington, d. G., June 22-The
house yesterday, by vote of 172 to
11S-practically strict party vote
refused u concur in the Bristow
amendmeh adopted by the senate to
the house resolution providing for the
direct election OF senators.
The Bristow amendment leaves with
congress the power to regulate the
time and manner of holding these elec-
tions, while the resolution passed by
the house during the early days Of the
session would change the constitution
SO that the times, places and manner
of holding elections for senator's shall
be as prescribed in each state by the
Legislature thereof"
Representative Sells republican, Of
Tennessee voted against the amend
ment, while burke (democrat) of Wis
Iconsin voted for it. Berger, Wiseon-
sin, socialis) voted for it.
The resolution, therefore, is return
ed to the senate for reconsideration
by that body as to whether it will re-
verse its former action.
Just before the house registered it's
emphatic refusal to accept the amend
ment the democratic members gave
! the presidential boom OF Speaker
Champ Clark the best ovation it has
yet received here.
Representative Rucker of Missouri
was responsible for the incident. The
outburst was the result of an appar-
emily innocent remark, and because
of it he was cut off in the middle of a
speech which he was never allowed to
finish
Rucker was in charge of tie debate.
He spoke of the many republicans who,
failed to be returned to this congress,
and said:
IF they come back here again afterI
Champ Clark is elected president"
The rest of the sentence was not
heard. It was drowned by the cheers
and applause When the speaker fin
ally got order Fuckers time had ex-l
pired.
The demonstration put the house in
good humor again. 1t had INDUCED in
bitter debate during the day, through
out which the question of sectionaIism
was raised many times.
The motion that the house concur in
the Bristow amendment was made by
olmstead frepublican) of Pennsylvania
Those who spoke in favor of it were:
Olmstead, Young of Michigan, Norris,
Moon of Pennsylvania; Cannon, Prou-
ty, Jackson, Madden and Mann, all re-
publicans. Those against it: Rucker,
Cullop, Hardy Clark of Florida. sher-
ley, Witherspoon, sisson, Hughes of
New Jersey, Ransdell, Richardson and
Helfin, all democrats.
The democrats protested that the
people of the states could be safely in
trusted with the power of controlling
the elections of their representatives
in the upper house. while. the republi-
cans contended that such delegation Of
authority would take from congress
power which it should retain.
Rucker declared it was the com
mand of the American people that the
election Of United States senators be
taken out of the market"
T have no fear of the people," he
said, but of the combinations behind
closed doors, which trample on the
most sacred rights of the people. Give
the states just little more power, and
we'll take the lumber trust, the sugar,
and all other trusts out of politics.
Mann, on the other side, intimated
that this was an attempt of the demo-
Gratis to accomplish indirect what they
had been unable to DID directly.
! The resolution, whom II is returned
to the senate, is expected to precipi-
tate lively discussion. but it is ex-
pected it win go to conference soon.