The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-29
DIRECT ELECTION
 OF J. 5. SENATOR'S
May be Favored by the Present
 Senators
OLD WASHINGTON HOME
stored by Civic Organizations of the .Capital-Sanders Talks
 About Louisiana
By RALPH NJ. wHITEsIDE

E ny M. I Washington. January s.-(special J. It really looks as though the sUnted States senate may consent to let the states vote 1 on the question of the election of the United States senators by the people. If the Senate was like any other legislative body in the world there would be little doubt of 1t.
 j, But when it Is considered that a very small minority of the Senate can talk any measure to death. especially at the short 1 session, the fact that a measure has been reported favoraby by almost unanimous vote of committee and that perhaps two thirds of the Senate fovors it, while both parties may have declared for it in their platforms, it by no means follows that the measure will be permitted to come to vote.
 l There is no doubt as to public senti- ment on the proposition for the popular election of senators. In a majority of the states this is practically done now, I through primary election laws and the number is increasing with every election. | There are, however, two elements in the Senate opposed to this nomination. One of them consists of the ultra a-conserva- tives, who are opposed on principle to a change in the fundamental law of the land; the other is composed of men who know they would have no possible chance of election by the people, while they may be able ot manipulate legislature.
 However, Senator Borah, who has the
 matter in charge, is a very able and per sistent citizen and it is possible he may succeed in forcing rule. If he does 1t is dollars to doughnuts the resolution passes by an overwhelming majority. l The ladies who have charge of Mount Vernon are very confident they will com pei the District of Columbia to abandon the plan of establishing a reformatory In the near neighborhood of Washington home.
 l The patriotic men and women of the country, particularly the women. are talk ing up the fight in earnest and when the women of the United States get behind proposition in dead earnest, something | is more than likely to happen. | It does seem that the district com | missioners could have found a more suitable place to house their convicts, and I am inclined to believe that they will find another place before they get | through with this fight
 The restoration of the old building at Wakefield, Va, where George Washing ton was born and spent the early days of 1 his life, is being considered by several l Washington civic associations, and likely 1 will be brought about through the ef- forts of the Washington board of trade. l A special committee from that organiza- l tion Is to be appointed to consider the advisability of such a scheme At the
 last meeting of the board of commits sioners, introduced by pr. William Tin | dall, was this resolution. | In discussing the matter Dr. Tindall | said; At present the birthplace of George l Washington, at Wakefield, on Pope's creek, a few miles southwest of Colonial | Beach, is marked by a shaft erected by the United States government in a soli- tary and neglected locality. It seems al- most unbelievable that the patriotic sen timent of the state of Virginia and the United States generally was not alive to the importance of preserving from de- struction the house in which Washing ton was born that attempt to evoke | a sentiment for it's restoration has not earlier been made. In any other country on the earth spot hallowed by such pa
 
 subject of the utmost solicitude and care and its accessibility been correspondingly | furthered. To get to this spot at present | 1t is necessary to go to Colonial Beach | by steamer and then proceed by wheel conveyance through a desolate, round about course for many miles or to take a small steam or sailing craft from Col onial Beach to the wharf on the Potomac river and then walk the few miles that l intervene between that point and the | Wakefield tract.
 large proportion of the visitors who come to Washington, especially during l the milder months, would doubtless re- gard a trip to this point as much a rev erential duty as they now look upon their | visit to Mount Vernon.
 l John Sharp Williams tells the following:
 "One of the negroes on my place did me | quite a valuable service once. and I wished to show my appreciation. After | paying him I asked:
 ".Now. uncle. which shall l. give you, a ton of coal or big bottle of whisky?'
 "'Fo' de Lawd, Massa John,' he re- piled. 'yo shorely knows An on'y buhns wood
 i"I suppose all of us have our little van ities.'' said James Hamilton Lewis of l Chicago, he of the 'luxuriant sunset-col- | ored whiskers.
 When I was a member of Congress | was called out into the corridor by stranger. who asked: Is this Col. James Hamilton Lewis?
 "'Plain MT. Lewis, at your service replied.
 "'Well, MT. Lewis he said I was so struck with speech you made in the House last week that went to the doc ument room to get copy for myself and another for a friend. They charge 5 cents for copy. and haven't cent OF change Can you let me have the money to buy two copies
 Now. I had not'made any speech, and they do not charge 5 cents for copy, and I haven't a cent of change, for gave my last dime to him and reproached myself afterwards for my stinglness.