Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-06-23
ELECTIONS
PASSES THE SENATE
With Bristow Amendment At.
tached, Upper House at Last
Yields to Public Will.

last night by GA TO "a passed the reso-
luton for an amendment to the consti-
tuition to provide for election OF sena-
tors b: direct popular vote. The Brfs-
tow amendment giving to the federal
government supervision Of such cleo
tions vas adopted, A TO "A, the vice
president casting the deciding ballot.
The House already has passed the res
olution.
Senator Reed, OF Missouri, protested
against the vice president casting his
deciding vote. An amendment by Sem
ator Bacon qualifying the Bristow
amendment to prohibit federal super
vision OF elections unless the state
legislature refused or failed to act, was
defeated. as to 43.
Having determined to vote on the
resolution looking to the election OF
United States senator's by direct vote
OF the people. the Senate devoted its
undivided attention to that subject
throughout the day and when night
fell was In such a maze of speech
making that there was a prospect for
the indefinite prolongation of the ses-
sion. The debate began shortly after
noon. 1t soon drifted into a political
affair. Democratic senators criticised
Senator Bristow's change OF attitude.
Bristow Changes Mind.
Mr.. Bristow framed the principal
amendment in the nature Of a supsti-
tute to the main proposition, and he
sought TO continue h supervision of
senatorial elections In congress instead
of delegating Ii to the states, as pro-
posed by the House resolution. In the
last session the Kansas senator voted
against an amendment offered by Sen
ator Sutherland, of Utah, which would
have had the same effect as his own
proposition OF this session.
Gntnofnr IQrlatnxx, ~otl chat 10 both tn
stances his attitude had been dictat-
ed by his desire to do that which
most certainly would insure the sue
cess OF the popular election resolution.
Mr.. Borah, In charge OF the resolu-
ton, spoke in support Of 1t, and Mr..
Bacon opposed the Bristow amendment.
jeff Davis Rampant.
Mr.. Davis, OF Arkansas, arraigned
Mr.. Bristow. Referring by name to
Senators Cummins, Clapp and La Fol-
lette, he declared 1.-The insurgent crowd
never have been sincere on any SUBJ
ject they have brought before the
country" The chair called Mr.. Davia
to order.
Mr.. Cummins denied Mr.. Davis
statement OF an alleged instance rs
untrue. Mr.. Bristow refuted the charge,
saying that only under great provoca-
ton would he q any attention to
7" NAAN SNti@NcA AI'@Ai Eft AAo SeAsN
Mr.. Bacon aroused feeling by oeclar-
ing that great intrests had been bring
Ing enormous pressure to bear to de-
feat the resolution, and Senator'S
Works. Guggenheim and Cummins
arose to refute the allegation. Mr.. Ba-
con explained that he was %imputing
no improperly to any member.
The alleged detection Of the progress
sives was scored by Senator Reed, OF
Missouri. who declared the conversion
Of Mr.. Bristow to Senator Sutlerland's
viewpoint was because of the negro
vote in Kansas"
CIark's Vote Causes Tie.
The adoption OF the Bristow amend
ment, which omitted the House pro-
vision transferring supervision OF sen
storial elections from congress to the
state legislature. was a possible by
Mr.. Clarke, Of Arkansas, casting the
only democratic vote for the PROPOSE
ton. The tie on that ballot would
have been prevented IL his vote had
been cast with his party, with whom
he later voted on adoption Of the res
olution. On this first ballot five re-
publicans. Messrs. Borah, Gronna, La
Toilette. Poindexter and Works, all in
Eurgents, voted against the provision.
ON the resolution as amended the
vote. GA to "a. was six more than the
, aCessary two-thirds majority. OF the
%. - Gative votes. eight were cast by
den. its and 16 by republicans, as
follow
RepuL. 9ns-Brandcgee, Burnham.
crane, Dill ham, Gallinger, Hepburn,
Lippitt, Log Lorirner, Oliver. Page,
Penrose, Rich son, Root, Smoot and
Wetmore.
Democrats-Bacoa. Bankhead. Fos-
Ter, Fletcher, Johnston. Percy. Terrill
and Williams.
The Amended Resclu+ion.
The resolution as amended and
rassed is as follows:
That in lieu OF the first paragraph
Of section 3, of article /, of the con
stitution Of the United States and I'm
lieu of so much Of paragraph l of the
section as relates to the filing OF
vacancies, the following be proposed as
amendment to the constitution,
which shall be valid to all intents and
as part OF the constitution
when ratified 5v the legislatures OF
hr~ee-fourths OF the states.
THE senate OF the United States
b. composed of two senators from
each state. elected by the people there
Of, for six years and each senator
have one vote.
THE electors in each state shall have
the qualifications requisite for cleo
tors of the most numerous branch of
the state legislature.
when vacancies happen in the rep
RESERVATION OF any state In the Senate
Me executive authority OF such state
issue writs OF election to fill such
vacancies; provided that the Legislature
IF any state may empower the execu-
tive thereof TO make temporary APP
continents until the people fll the va
by election as the legislature
may direct.
This amendment shall not be so con
strued as to effect the election or term
of any senator chosen before IL becomes
valid as part of the constitution"
The amended resolution will now go
nto conference between the Senate
and House and some senators predict
the House will refuse to accept IL
lorimer Ready to Testify.
Senator Lorimer, OF Illinois, who
to Washington TO vote on the
popular election of senators resolution,
will return TO Chicago Immediately. He
announced his willingness to appear be.
fore the Lorimer investigating COM
in his own behalf whenever tho
fixes a date. The Senate Is
preparing to fight the case vigorously
He said today he had retained Judge
Elbridge Hanecy, who looked after his
in the previous Senate investi.
cation.