The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-06
Says Plan Is Retrogressive In
stead of Progressive.
ENDANGERS REPUBLIC
Puts Power for Ruin i'm Hands
of 23 States.
Declares Danger From Organ
ized Wealth Is a Myth.

washington, Feb. 6.-Resistance to
the uttermost to the attempts to trans
Ter from congress to the various state
legislatures the control of time and
manner Of election of United States
senators as proposed by the resolution
providing for their election by direct
vote OF the people was advised by Sena-
tor Lodge of Massachusetts in a speech
IN the senate today.
Mr. Lodge was speaking in opposition
10 the proposed amendment to the con-
sututlon as whole but he found an
especial mark in the portion placing the
dlrect management of the detail of SEN
atorlai elections in the various state
legislatures. Declaring that the pro-
posed change in that. respect strikes
at the very foundation of the national
government Mr.. Lodge said that the
plan violates the plans of the trainers
of the constitution.
It IS now proposed" continued Mr..
LOdge, Ito put the United States gov
ernment so far as the election of sena-
tors Is concerned at the mercy of the
states It is proposed to take from the
United States any power to protect its
own citizens in the exercise of their
rights, no matter how great the need
might be for such protection If this
amendment should become law %
states, including perhaps only a minor
lty or the population could at any mo-
ernment and stop all its operation
The senator denounced as a mock
cry the pretense" that the proposed
legislation is progression. Not only
was it a mockery, but it was retro
gression and reaction of an extreme
kind.
IF adopted he went on, cit would
carry the government back to the con-
troversies and struggles out of which
the constitution was born and which
beset and endangered the infancy of the
United States
Danger of the Change
| Enlarging upon the danger of the
| proposed change, M Lodge said, "Self
| preservation is the first law of gov
ernments as it is of nature and it
seems to me that no matter how we
may decide the question of methods
by which senetors should be elected
| the reservation of the power of the
| United States to control those elec-
| tions If need be, is essential to the
| governments safe and continued ex-
istence. Any attempt of this sort TO
break do n. or weaken the authority
| of the United States ought to be re-
sisted to the last. It is amazing that
it should be suggested at time like
this, when the government of the
United States is of necessity taking up
new duties and new obligations as de-
manded by the conditions of the time;
| at moment when the national gov
ernment requires all its strength. And
yet it is proposed here to weaken it,
to take from it the one power which in
| the time of stress will assure its ex-
istence. 1 cannot believe that such
proposition as this will be accepted by
congress, L cannot believe that the
country would tolerate it if it were
once understood. Too much has been
sacrificed % preserve the union of the
states and to maintain the nationai
| cyry 1arlf Z f2 inc
with those clauses which guard its
very life"
The Massachusetts, senator reiterated
! his opposition to the election of sena-
tors by the people and contended for
! the maintenance of the constitution in
its integrity 1T has," he said, shown
itself to those of the past and 1 have
hoped and believed that the new poll
cies and the necessary reforms which
the people desire could all be brought
about as they have hitherto been ac-
| complished. under the constitution,
but new prophets have arisen who are
not content with the reforms which
have been and which will be effected
by law and they demand that the con-
stitution itself shall be changed.
No Danger From Corporations.
Its success in the past which has
challenged the admiration of the world
is not to be considered as any plea in
/ of the control of the state legislatures
by corrupt means Mr.. Lodge denied.
ANY danger of the moneyed inter-
ests getting even partial control of the
government or acquiring undue po-
litical influence has been brought to
an end in the last ten years. he said.
'.Just now the financial business and
corporate interests of the country seem
far more concerned in trying to find
out whether they are to be allowed to
live and breathe than in seeking to
control anybody in politics or out OF
politics.
incidentally the speaker paid lis
respects to the portion of the Arizona
constitution providing for the recall
of Judges which he pronounced g
fragrant interference with the liberty
of the bench. His pronouncement or
this subject indicated an intention tc
oppose the acceptance of the docu-
ment by congress. Closing his address
with an appeal for the preservation o1
the constitution, Mr.. Lodge said:
1--WE shall do well to hesitate before
We mar a constitution crowned by the
triumphs of a century and to which
the sad word failure is still {
| cfr