New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-24
ROOT OPPOSES CHANGE
Senate May Vote on Direct Elec-
tions To- day.
From The Tribune Bureau. J


Washington Nav 23-Earlv action on the
constitutional amendment providing for the
direct election Of Senators was FORE
Swallowed to-day IN a lively debate in which
Senators Root. Sutherland and Brstow on
the Republican side. and Williams and
Raynor. Of the minority. took part IN
order to press consideration Of the House
resolution the Senate decided to meet at
= O'Clock Tomorrow. on motion of Senator
Brah despite the hot weather A vote
may he reached before adjournment unless
the Lorimer case takes the right Of way.
The more conservative Senators, even
those in favor Of direct elections. are con-
Centrating their efforts on the adoption Of
the Bristow amendment 10 the resolution,
Substantially the same as the Sutherland
amendment. which eliminates the question
Of federal control over the state elections.
Senator Root announced that he would
favor the Bristcw amendment and. whether
that should be adopted not. would op-
pose the resolution as whole.
The second question, relating 20 federal
control" said he lis wholly unnecessary
10 tho amendment relating 70 the election
Of Senators by the people There is no &C.
casion 70 destroy the powers Of the United
States government in this respect and il
has no place in the deliberations of this
body. We ought not 70 be compelled to
vote for the main question by paving the
Price Of surrendering the valuable requisite
OF federal supervision
To amend section ". giving Congress
control over the elections, would be a re-
versal Of the theory of the Constitution. II
strikes a blow at the Independent self-sup-
| pert necessary 10 the rerpetuity Of the
government and is an abandonment 81 the
theory Of the Constitution that the govern
ment of The United states should stand
erect and selfsustainine, above ali states.
II shall oppose the proposed amendmen emf
70 tho Constitution for the direct election
of Senators on the ground that il is in
expedient and unnecessary. The same Ell
feet can be obtained b. simply amending
the statutes. | fully realize that there is
going on throughout large part Of the
country a process Of change and expert
ment with regard 70 governmental insti-
buttons ! have great sympathy with the
feeling, and take interest in the expert
ments that are being tried But IL is a pro-
cess Of experiment We cannot change the
Institutions move tnan q century old without
long trial and consideration Experiments
will fail and experiments viii succeed All
of US may see opportunity for change and
| improvement. The real test. however. is
in the practical application. The system
under which We live has produced the best
results that have ever come from mankind
in the experiment OF government We
have wrought out. with the providence of
God. under these institutions results which
make for the advancement of liberty and
the good OF all mankind With human
nature still unchanged, I should hesitate
/ long 70 believe that my judgment. or the
/ judgment Of all Of US. can improve TINS
system OF government | DO not ike 10
see experiments begin or proceed I'm their
early stages by being tiled out in amend
ments 20 the Constitution. They should be
the result Of long consideration and Trial.
and not 80 initiate consideration and trial.
| Senator Williams. taking exception 10
Senator Roots statements. said II was
Necessary to change the amendment relat-
ing 10 the control Of Congress over the
election TO preserve the spirit of the Con
stitution To this Senator Sutherland re-
! Piled al length