Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-12
Senate to Vote Today on d.
rect Election Issue.
CHOICE OF u. S. SENATORS
Test on Bristow Amendment, Which
Assures Federal Control.
CRITICISM OF THE MEASURE
Senator McCumber Says It Is Not q
Panacea for All Existing
Ills

Before adjournment today the Senate
will vote on the proposed constitutional
amendment providing for the direct cleo
tion OF senator's. 1t is believed the res
olution will be adopted. but whether as
It came from the House is another mat
ter The test will come on the Bristow
amendment. which aims to keep In the
hands of the federal government the
power to control the elections Of sena-
tors by prescribing the time. place and
manner OF holding such elections, when
ever Congress may deem II necessary to
exercise this power.
Prediction was made today that this
amendment would prevail by narrow
majority. and it has even been suggested
that the Vice President would have to
cast the deciding vote.
Friends of Measure Worried.
Friends of the proposed measure are
disturbed at the prospect of the Bristow
amendment being adopted. For should
the resolution with this amendment also
he agreed to by the House. 1t is feared
that many of the states, including a num-
ber OF the southern states. would refuse
10 ratify an amendment taking away
from the states the absolute control OF
the elections of senators.
While supporting the general PROPOSE
ton for the election of senators by direct
vote, In a speech made today. Senator
McCumber of North Dakota contended
that its enactment into Law would not
prove a panacea for all the ills of the
flesh. He predicted that the man who
thinks it is such will awake to the faei
corruption he has entered into a field OF
equally insidious danger and broader op-
Portunities for the corruptionist.
Same Plan Available.
That which has sometimes been
brought into use TO convert the individual
legislator under the present system" said
he. will be used to convert the public
under the new system, not so much by
direct dealing with the public as by
controlling and getting the source of pub
lie political instruction"
Mr. McCumber feared danger In popu-
lar primaries Involving two campaigns.
as he said they would, he added that
an election under such conditions would
cause such great expense that only the
millionaire or the demagogue could at
ford to be a candidate.
ourselves to the fact that with the pri-
mary election system has grown the
practice on the part Of candidates OF es-
tablishing and purchasing papers by
wholesale and retail. with no loftier mo-
tive in view than that of destroying their
opponents by political libel and false
hoods. Dailies and weeklies are estab-
lished for no other purpose than that OF
meeting political exigences.'
Objectionable Methods Alleged.
These papers often carry on libelous
campaign for years. and editorial writers
are employed more upon their ability in
c!oaking truth. difusing error and Gre
ating unfound prejudice than upon their
knowledge of public questions"
Mr.. McCumber charged that II is a
practice with a portion of the press to
seek to destroy those who do not con-
form TO its own views. He announced
his intention TO vote against the entire
proposition in case of the removal of
government supervision OF senator's.