The Detroit times., 1911-06-13
PASSES DIRECT
ELECTION BILL
Senate Puts Through Resolution
Providing for Popular Selection
of U. s. Senators.

WASHINGTON, June lathe SEN
ate last night by "a to "a passed the
resolution amending the constitution
to provide for election of senator's
by. direct popular vote. The Bristow
amendment giving to the federal gov.
eminent supervision of such elections
was adopted, "A to A, the vice-presi-
dent casting the deciding ballot. The
house already has passed the resolu-
ton.
Senator Reed. OF Missouri. pro-
tested against the vice president
casting his deciding vote. An amend
ment by Senator Bacon Qualifying
the Bristow amendment to prohibit
federal supervision or election unless
the state legislature refuse or fail
to act was defeated, 46 TO 43. The
resolution as amended was then fin
ally adopted, GA to "a.
Adoption OF the Bristow amendment,
which omitted the house provision
transferring supervision OF senator
ial elections from congress to the
state legislature, was made possible
by Mr.. Clark 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, Messers. Borah, Gronna, La
Toilette, Poindexter and Works, all
insurgents, voted against the provis-
ion. On the resolution as amended the
vote, "a to "A, was six more than the
necessary two-thirds majority. or the
"a negative votes, 8 were cast by
Democrats and 16 by Republicans as
follows:
Republican - Brandegee, Burnham,
Crane, Dillingham;, Gallinger, Hey
burn, Lppitt, Lodge, Lorimer, Oil
yer, Page, Penrose, Richardson, Root,
Smoot and Wetmore.
Democrats - Bacon. Bankhead,
Fletcher, Foster, Johnston, Percy,
Terrell and Williams.
The resolution as amended and
passed follows
THAT in lieu of the first paragraph
of section three of article /, OF the
constitution of the United States, and
in lieu OF SO much of paragraph two
OF the same section as relates to the
filling Of vacancies, the following be
proposed as an amendment to the
constitution, which shall be valid to
all intents and purposes as part OF the
constitution when ratified by the leg
islatures OF three-fourths of the states:
THE senate of the United. States
shall be composed of two senators
from each state, elected by the peo-
pie thereof, for six years: and each
senator shall have one vote. The cleo
tors In each state shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors
of the most numerous branch Of the
state legislatures.
When vacancies happen In the rep
resentation of any state In the senate,
the executive authority Of such
state shall issue writs of election to
fill such vacancies; Provided, that the
legislature OF any state may empow-
er the executive thereof to make tenn
porary appointments until the people
fill the vacancies by election as the
legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so
construed as to affect the election
or term OF any senator chosen be-
fore II becomes valid as part Of the
constitution"
The amended resolution now goes
into conference between the senate
and house. Some senators predicted
that the house will refuse to accept II.