The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-02-11

plurality election uf u United states S"n-
ator Ivy II state Legislature after - reason.
ahle time had been d"N rt"d To- an attempt
To MAX" Il "hutCe hv u majority rule
Such legislation. IN his opinion. would
absolutely do away with t"adiu"ks.
senate" Root cnnt"ud"i that VA" prop
oSltIOn involved in the pending r'so-
luton H. ha ,od on th" theory ui the in
capacity 1T tn" people ot III" nited
~ It"s to elect faithful and honest lcEls-
/ ldtors lie said that IN" resolution should
road something hk" th.~'
"Nh"rrIs th" pcojI" of tn" l'n!t"l
/ St'ic~ are lu'nlnp"t"u' :" "l"'' tu'hiu!
/ aai honest logl-ld'Dr- therefore h" 1t
{ R'soir'G, h,u tn" Constitution Of
! the United states o." amended bv taking
tn" power uf clc'tlnE United States sen
dtrr- from IT," legislatures and investing
II IA th" sam" Incompetent hands,
If the state government is 10 II" aban-
douod. said senator Root. III W" rccog
nis. the tact thai We cannot hay" honest
legislatures. IN" t!dr that now sct. tpward
tn" Federal Government vii. swell IN
NUldnI, and IN power. Her, j. n power
that can answer tn" demands OF life. Let
/ rae tell the gentlemen who ar" suiCi'iOuS
/ 70" the Preservation of the sovereignty
| oi their states thai thcr" is but one way
/ III which they can pres"rv" that SOW
crelEntv. and that Is 10y rcpudidtIug alb
soiut"lv and forever the fundamental
( uoctTin" on which this resolution rcs's
: Let them go HON" to their states when
/ TINS session ends and invoke the patriot
| ism OF their PEOPLE to- make the govern
! ment of their States worthy oi the great
! dutles Thar reS' urOn them and com
petent To preserve the aut Onomv Of their
states against that inCurslon of the f"i
eril power which is being continually
urged. urged. urged 10y those who fail 10
Gv,.i g..,
! OF their States
I Senator Root referred to the Growing =
concentration o; power in committees
OF Congress while the great body Of mem
bcrs of Congress know little of what l.
I going on. of the oyarburicn.d executive
officers and th" "!ocg"d calendars
Let ~ continue" said he. upon "A
I h"ury that stdtr governments are
Corrdpt and in"ompe'"nt and tn" time
, Will como when the Government of the
+ United States Will h" driven To IN" "Ner-
Ci'' ri NOR" arbitrary and nn"onsid"red
power and VIII ne CriNh IN To greater con-
I ""u;ra'lon, viii be- driven To extending
it, functions into the Internal Affairs
OF tn. states; and then. sooner or later.
tn" p"opl" ot the country Will reject
the Government that has subjected their
personal ana intlrndt" n"lghborhood
ahalr~ to tn" control ot the central power
IN Washing ON Then III the place OF
competent States governing their own
affair "" shall 20 through In" Cv"l"
of concentration of lower whll" TIA"
states dwindl" INTO lnsignihcanc" and
thor" wili ultimately h. a breaking Vp
ot th" grca' republic upon new ilne- of
separation
senator Root as he Issued thi~ warning
moved out into the Ccutre aisle of the
-enl'. and spoke earnestly and impress
siv"iv. He expressed grave concern over
tn" growing distrlst of representative
to tn. initiative and referendum. In"
most mod"rn state constitutions, h-.
declared. ar. expressions of this dis
trust and in UarH"d contrast 10 III"
simple tonstltution OF tn" United states.
IN. initiative and relerendum. ,a.d
he. are nothing bNt expressions p' d.
| trust. and tins resolution l. similar III
| character
If this di-tr!St continues senator
| Root perceived IT, efl,'.t upon the state
legislatures somewhat Ink" hat upon
| the Boards of Aldermen IA IN" cities oi
'hl- country
"Originllly." -" said he. "the Aldermen
represented thc highest tvpe Df citizen
Shln Now the Aldermen ha," d~in-
He'd and shl1Ini 10 in~lguI'!,ancr and
WOrihi..~n">S as power after hover
h2> been ttk"u away from tn"'n Nhk"
the first -te', wth.the Legislatures and
vOu VIII witness the members become
less oomuct"ut and less worthy ".
c.nuoi lmprore the Leg ~latur"s hv taxing
away power from them and holding the
members NJ ls unworthy of rout!d"nC. %
IA" Senator from New Work. declared
further that tE' proposed resolution
Wa, not even an expression of confidence
n lhc American l"opl" III. wanted
I to know how the tn"rlcan I'"opl" If they
tai. 30 eject huHc"' me'ubrr- I'll then
Legislatures from AMONG their NEIGH
! bnrs can hs expected to elect Comu.t"ut
and trustworthy senators
Senator Root said IN conclusion that
/ tn. proposed change ~ the election oi
/ senators was inconsistent with tn" funda
mental designs Of tn" trainers of the Con
! stitution. They wished to make tn"
senate as much unlike the House AZ
possible. more deliberntve and conser-
vative and more secure IN MS tenure.
The Senate, said Mr.. Root, "is con
stituted 10 protect the American demoC.
racy against itself. The trainers Of the
Constitution realized that there should be
guardian of The sober second thought
Of the people The proposed change only
! tends to make both branches Of Congress
more alike"
| Senator Root admitted that some men
! have slipped into the Senate who were
| not the choice Of their people at home
Bat these men" he added soon find
/ thor level They fall into innoouous
! naUtivltv.'
The Sclat. has furnished To- tho hi-
! tory ut tn" United States some uf its most
/ lhIsirio'lS names. said senator Root,
/ and tn" results If its achievements are
! the most convincing proof that popular
government Is not failure Let Is pause
bofOr" We abandon body that has
! proved itself and been proved.
senator B"N"rldGe replied To Senator
| Root,