New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-07
LODGE WARNS SENATE
Sees Danger in Proposed Consti,
tionaI Amendment.
STATE CONTROL WEAKNESS
Congress, He Says, Should Con.
tinue to Supervise Elections of
United States Senators.
Iron Tho Tribune Bureau.1

washington, Feb San impressive warn
IN 10 the Senate not TO tamper with the
,-ndsuental principles OF the Constitution
~ taking away from the federal govern
-ent all supervisory power over the cleo
ZION OF Senator's such as is proposed In the
resolution providing for direct elections,
rov under consideration, was delivered to-
dsv BY Senator Lodge
This question is of the greatest moment
6. the coalition of insurgent and Demo
cratic forces is gathering strength to put
,ir.reh the adoption of the resolution be-
,-e the end OF the week. Because Of its
,-,rc-tarce and the authority OF the Sen
.tor from Massachusetts, on the subject OF
constitutional history he was followed with
The closest attention. both by his colleagues
y, the floor and the crowded galleries.
The real night IS not over the direct cleo
zion. but the repeal Of the clause giving
congress the authority to fix the time and
rlsce Of holding the elections. The latter
prorosal was characterized by Senator
Lodge as putting the United States az the
mercy Of tbs states.
TO call such q scheme as this progress
,ire" he added. lis a mockery. II is retro
.sssion and reaction Of an extreme kind
Mr. Lodge began his speech by restating
rs attitude on the question OF direct cleo
ron Of Senator's and quoting from his
speech at Chicago in 1e0S He continued.
believed then. as I believe now, that
vs have met the new questions with fresh
solutions and the new dangers by new
laws sane. intelligent progress is, in
government ike ours. the first law of its
feing. Il that government is 70 prosper and
endure 7 am far from thinking that there
& not more work 70 do. work which must
Re done now. There must. for example. be
,rl-ther protection against food adultera-
ions and the sale OF unit and spoiled ar
,iclss OF food We must deal with the
question Of child labor. Above all, we must
protect the natural resources Of the coun-
~ from reckless ana destructive con-
sumption for the sake OF immediate per-
sorsi profit We must see 10 II that our
srear Inheritance IS not further dissipated
bv this generation, which, like a spend
thrift heir, careless Of his children's fu-
TIRE seems ready 10 throw 10 the winds
vast and noble estate. But all these ques-
,ions 70 which I have referred, and that
ubi,h was more formidable than any of
them human slavery, have been dealt with
nader the Constitution of the United States.
The Constitution has shown itself capable
~ adaptation to the new demands as 1t
rss adapted itself 20 those Of the past, and
have houed and believed that the new
he people desire could all be brought
ABOUT as they have hitherto been accom-
rjsssd under the Constitution. 7 see no
reason O. Yet 10 suppose that this belief
Is not well founded.
Bur new prophets have arisen VINO are not
content with the reforms which have been
and which will be effected by law and they
demand that the Constitution itself shall
be changed Its success in the past which
has challenged the admiration Of the world.
IS nor 20 be considered as any plea In its
behalf II needs Improvement, We arc
tod and the Improvements must be made.
Thoughtful writer's in the monthly maya
zines and weekly journals; grave thinkers
and serious students of government in pub
lie life on the platform and in the lecture
hall. are urging that the Constitution must
be changed and improved in many direc-
ifons Their purpose. as / understand them
10 express o.. Is 10 restore popular govern
ment. Lincoln, who IS, OF course, as an
authority on this particular point. quite
antiauated. thought when he spoke at
Gettysburg that popular government exist
Cd and would be preserved II the Union
was saved. I suppose we may admit that
he was probably right OF that period, but
that was a long time ago, and the loss Of
popular government, TO the restoration or
which so many able minds are now de
voted has occurred since the dedica ton OF
The burial ground on the greatest battle
fed Of the war.