The Alaska citizen., 1911-05-15
DIRECT ELECTION
 BILL SCORED
EFFORT TO KILL TOGA RESO- LUTON IS PRE-
 VENTED.

WASHINGTON. D. C.. April 19.- The first battle in the senate on the question of the direct cleo ton of United States senators hy thc people wa~ fought yesterday and the victory was won by the friends of the measure.
 They defeated an attempt by Sen aror Galliuger. Vice President Sher- man and other members of the old guard ro refer he res lHfiou 10 ! the privileges and elections commit .ea. sNhcrc it might he cblorofOrmcd. instead of to the judicary commit- tee. which acted fayorahlE upon i' l in the last congress.
 1 The clash came when rhe senate formally received the resolution as passed by the house last week Sen i ator Culborson of Texas al once moved 'ha- the resolution be refer red 10 the judiciary committee. to which all resolutions bearing on 1 the direct election of s'n"t" r. h'E' been referred in the past. Senator Gallinger of New lamp shire argued in favor of a change of policy and the reference of this particular resolution to the c.m- mfttee on privileges and elections. although four similar measures in froduccd hy senator's in this session have been sent 10 the judiciary com mittee
 Vice President sherman acquies- 1 ced in inc suggestion of Senator ] Gallingcr. who is one of the floor ] leaders of the old guard. and or | ,a 1,IiN ! Ieges and elections committee.
 This ended the matter for the time being. but the friends of di- rect election were angefed. They scented a plot 10 kill off this pro posed legislation without hear ing The committees of the sen ate have not been organized, but Gallmgcr and other guard leaders are -laring the assignments and know already what senators are to go ou he TWO committees in QEcs- fion This fact led the advocates of direct elections 10 conclude that | the committee cn privileges and clec- tionS is t0 he loaded against the resolution
 or the h0ldovers on privileges and elections Dillingham;, Fletcher, John sen and Hoyhurn voted against inc resolution few weeks ago. and Bailey. Camille and Raynor voted for il.
 Scna.or Borah iS uor d member of this committee. and probably vii! not he. lie is. however. a mcmhcr Iaf rho judiciary committee. and il WaS due aImOsr entirely to his mas |lerly argument that the resolution wa, reported favorahly by that com
 mittcc in the last congress. plac
 el before the senate. and hep' there until a vote was forced. He i% ready
 fg undertake the task again and
 Wi,h brighter prospects of success
 but if rhe res lution goes to the
 committee of which he is mol a member he will be cheated of this
 leadership. This the old guard hop
 ed to accomplish by the move made
 today.
 Arer he disposition of routine
 business, Culbersou moved 10 re
 consider the reference 10 the resom
 committee The Democratl ana twelve progressive Republicans voted
 in the affirmative and the refer
 euce was recalled. II then was moved 10 send the measure to the
 judiciary committee. but objection
 was made. and. under the rules
 tho final disposition of the matter
 went over until Thursday. But the Democrats and the proercssives have demonstrated that they have enough votes to send he resolu tion lo the friendly committee.