Evening times-Republican., 1911-02-07
MANY WHO DO NOT OR WILL NOT
uNpERSrAND WORKINGS OF
PROPOSED LAW.
IS POPULAR ELECTION OF
UNITED STATES SENATORS
Would Not Affect Present Primary
Law-Non,inations Would Be Made
at Regular Primary and Senator
Elected at Regular 7aiIotins in Mo-
vembsr-Pian Being Misrepresented.
10 Times Republican.

SDeClaI
Des Mo.nes, Feb In view OF the
discussion which has gone on and the
publicity given the bills to effect the
"Oregon plan OF electing senators, it
is amazing how many there are who
refuse 10 understand the plan.
Tt Is not primary law, said one
senator in talking Of it 1t has noth-
ing to do with primary laws or prl-
maries. 1t is simply and solely a
method of electing United States SEN
ators in exactly the same way that
we now elect governors and other
state officers. AL there is about the
plan that is novel is the manner IN
which it gets around the constitutional
provision for election of senators by
the legislature and virtually secures
Just that which is contem plated oy
the much advocated amendment TO the
United States constitution IN regard
to popular election of senator's
One of the senators yesterday showed
two clippings from weekly papers pub
Ished in counties adjoining Polk TO
illustrate the widespread ignorance in
regard to the Oregon plan. one was
in a paper at Indianola which inter
preted the plan as that all party
lines are thrown aside and in time
this will eliminate all party organiza-
tons" A RedfieId paper in discus
sing it stated that under its workings
it would not be safe for the dominant
party to have more than one candidate
in the field for nomination. for with
anything like an even division OF
strength between the candidates Of the
RI ne
able to name their own man.
Both of these criticisms were based
on a fundamental error and members
of the senate believe that there has
been some systematic plot to have
disseminated an entirely wrong idea
of what the Oregon plan really is.
Under the Oregon plan. as explained
by Senator Smith. who introduced
senator file No. l to provide for elect
ing senators that wav. the party nom
nations will be made in exactly the
same way as now, and ir fact there is
no change in the primary law as re-
CARDS the party nom nation OF can
ddates for the senate. But it goes
further and provides. in brief. that
"a the November polling the people of
the state will have right to choose
as between the republican and DEM
ocraric nominees Just as they now have
the right 20 choose as between the
republican and democratic nomine ees
for state offices. republican candi-
date for the senate. nominated in the
regular way by 2 majority of the re-
publican ballots. or plurality, will be
pitted in the political arena against
democratic candidate nominated by the
democrats. The one who meets with
the favor of the largest number Of the
T.,
ate That is ali there is 20 the Oregon
plan.
Everything else n the bill has -e.a-
ton TO making certain that the Will Of
the voters is carried our regard less
OF the present constitutional obliga-
ton on the general assembly to exer-
else its free judgn en-. in selection %
q United States senator
There is not an objection" said
Senator Smith. that can he urged
against election Of senators that can
not be urged against election Of gov
arnors''
The state Of Iowa :s going to try out
some Of its OWL remedies for the pro-
lection of it's herds OF livestock The
swine plague broke out in a big herd
OF hogs a. the Independence hospital,
forwarded enough cholera serum from
the state laboratory here % inoculate
40 hogs. The state has already lost
quite a number The board o. control
tdesires TO make here a thorough test Of
the serum preventa tive
The state board Of education hopes 70
settle the troubles Of the state college
at session to be held on the 23d
Members have Indicated their belief
that the whole matter is go dangerous
and is such a menace 70 the prosperity
OF the college that It should De settled
at once and not be permitted to dra z
/ along. Time has been given for the
nling Of affGavi.s affecting certain
matters.
The state board Of the Order Of Rail
1 way Conductors is In session here to-
day, with other labor organizations, and
the matter Of considering legisla ton
will be brought up. The railway orders
have not maintained representatives al
the general assembly this winter, be-
cause there seems to be very littIe for
them to do and they are willing to trust
the matter entirely to legislators
III. w. Byers. former attorney gen
efal, has Just returned from attending
court out in the state for over a week.
He says that he has become so busy in
thought about the senatorshfp nor will
he give it any attention. The matter
Is all up to the legislature
cUMMINs IN NEW YORK.