The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-05-16
POPULAR VOTE
FOR Senators
House Concurs in the Senate Meas
urc Providing for Election Of
L. 5. Senators by Direct Vote
Up to the States Now.

Washington, May ii-Ihe long
| fight for an amendment to the con-
stitution providing for the popular
election OF United States senator's
has been won. The house of repre-
sentatives accepted late yesterday
afternoon the direct elections
joint resolution as adopted by the
senate with the Brstow constitu-
tional amendment.
The Bfistow amendment was in
tended to maintain the status quo
of the federal government as to
supervision over these elections
and was the snag upon which the
direct elections resolution has been
hung in congress, since last June.
Twice since then, the house by de-
cisive vote, has refused to accept
the Bristow amendment on the
theory that it would interfere with
the control of senatorial elections
by the states. Some southern
members have been bitter and de-
termined in their opposition to the
Bristow amendment.
Then The House Gave in.
But today the house, by vote of
237 to 80, receded from its dis
agreement to the senate amend
ment and concurred in the action
OF the senate. This was the final
legislative step in proposing this
new constitutional amendment to
the states and the joint resolution
Will go at once to President Taft
for his signature. Then it will be
submitted to the states.
There are forty-eight states and
ratification of the amendment by
the legislatures of thirty-six of
them is necessary to make it valid
part Of the constitution. One leg
islature, that of Louisiana, will
meet this month, and thirty-fou
other legislatures will meet in
1913. 1t is evident that unless
some other state among those
whose legislatures do not meet un-
til 1914 calls special session the
direct election amendment cannot
become part OF the constitution
before 1914.
The surrender of the house to
The senate in the Bristow PROPOSE
tion for the maintenance Of the
status quo of federal supervision
over congressional elections fol-
lowed conference last week be-
tween Speaker Clark, Chairman
Henry of the rules committee,
Chairman Rucker Of the committee
in charge of the bill. and Col. Will
liam ]. Bryan, in which it was
agreed that while the joint resolu-
ton as amended by the senate is
not all that the Democrats desired
1T would be better to accept what
they could get than sacrifice the
whole movement.
Southern Delegates Objected.
This agreement was not satisfae-
tory to many OF the southern Dem
ocrats, particularly Bartlett of
Georgia and Sisson Of Mississippi,
and when Judge Rucker arose with
his motion to concur in the senate
amendment Representative Bartlett
jumped in with a preferential mo-
ton to concur with an amendment
and precipitated a three hours or
at0rical battle in which he and
Judge Rucker were the principal
contestants. In an impassioned APP
peal to the southern members, Rep
Pesentative Bartl EFT criticised
Speaker Clark and Judge Rueker
for joining with Bryan in urging "a
reversal of the position of the
house. condemned them for maxi
ing his surrender" and character
lied Judge Rucker as a modern Don
Quixote running amuck Of "the
senatorial windmill" Judge Ruck-
er retorted in vigorous style.
The Bartlett amendment sought
to provide, among other things,
that federal marshals or troops
should not be sent to the polling
places, and in other ways was in
tended To vest the states with ple-
nary power over these elections.
Judge Barlett's motion to concur
in the action of the senate with
this change was defeated by a vote
OF 80 to iS9. Only two Republicans.
Messrs. Kahn and Ixnowland OF
California. voted for the Bartlett
idea. Eighty-seven Democrats.
mostly from the south. voted for Il.
There were i0i Republicans and 50
Democrats. including Speaker
Clark and Representative Under
wood, in opposition to the Bartlett
plan. But for the solid support by
ihe Republican side, The Democrat
ic leaders would not have been able
Is concur ia ifle action Of the SEN
ate. The Democrats were divided
almost evenly 0n ifs acceptance
whats ia a nance The word
bitlefs does mol always indicate