The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-07
Massachusetts Man Says That Constitution Would
 Suffer BySuch Law
MOVEMENT IS CALLED
 DANGEROUS 10 NATION
Senator Lodge Argues That Constitu.. tion Should Not Be Tempered With and That States should Not
 Be Given such Power

Washington February 6.-Resistance to the uttermost to the attempts to trans fer from Congress to the various state legislatures the control of the time and manner of electing United States sena- tors, as proposed by the resolution pro- viding for their election by direct vote of the people was advised by senator Lodge of Massachusetts in speech in the Senate today.
 Mir. Lodge was speaking in opposition 10 the proposed new amendment to the constitution as whole, but he found an especial mark in the portion placing the direct management of the detail of senatorial elections In the various state legislatures. Declaring that the proposed change In that respect strikes at the very foundation of the national govern ment,r MT. Lodge said that the plan vio- lated the plans of the framers of the con- stitution.
 "It is now proposed" continued MT. Lodge. ito put the United States govern ment so far as the election of :enators is concerned at the mercy of the states. II is proposed to take from the united States any power to protect it's own Cit izens in the exercise of their rights, no matter how great the need might be TOT such protection If this amendment should become a law. 23 states, including nerhaps only a minority of the popula- tion, could at any moment arrest tho movement of the government and stop all of It's operations
 The senator denounced as 'mockery the 'pretense" that the proposed legis- lation is progression. Not only was IL 2 rnockerv but 1t was "retrogression and reaction of an extreme kind,' he said.
 If adopted,'' he went on. it would carry the government back to the con troversies and the struggles out Of wnicn .he constitution was born ana wnicn pc set an endangered the infancy Of the United States
 Danger in the Change
 Enlarging upon the danger of the proposed change. MT. Lodge said: Self nreseryation Is the first law of govern ment, as it is of nature, and 1t seems to me that no matter how we may de- eide the question of methods by which senators should be elected. the reser- yation of the power of the United States fo control those elections. If need De, is essential to the governments safe and continued existence. Any attempt of this sort to break down or weaken ! fhe authority of the United states ought to be resisted to the last. It is amazing that 1t should be suggested at a time like this. when the govern ment of the United States is Of neces- sity taking up new duties ana new obligations as demanded by the condl- tions of the time. at 4 moment when the national government requires all its strength. And yet 1t is proposed here to weaken 1t. to take from 1t the one power which in the time of stress will assure its existence.
 q cannot believe that such propo- sition as this will be accepted by Con- Rress: I cannot believe that the coun- try would tolerate it if it were once understood. Too much has been sac rificed to preserve the union of the states and to maintain the national government to, permit any tampering with those clauses which guaranteed its very life"
 sacredness of Constitution
 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. Tt has, he said, shown itself capable of adaptation to the new demands as IL mas duapteu ltSelI tO tIOSc of the past, and I have hoped and be- lieved that the new policies and the nec- essary reforms which the people desire could all be brought about as they have Hitherto been accomplished under the constitution. But new prophets have arisen who are not content with the re- forms which have been and which will be effected by law and they demand that the constitution itself shall be changed. Its success in the past, which has chal- lenged the admiration of the world, Is not to be considered as any plea in It's behalf"
 That there is @ menace in the control of state legislatures l'y corrupt means, MT. Lodge denied. Amy danger of the Ynoneyed interests getting even partial control of the government or acquiring undue political 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 aid breathe, than in seeking to control anybody in politics or out of politics. v
 Closing his address with an appeal for the preservation of the constitution, MT. Lodge said:
 I've shall do well to hesitate before we mar a constitution crowned by the triumphs of century and to which the sad word .failure' Is still stranger" --.s.----------- 'r tb AIlered Ngurderer sA rrested