The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-30
POPULAR ELECTION OF SENA-
TORS.

The senate and house have agreed
upon a resolution submitting for the
ratification of the states an amend
ment to the federal constitution pro-
viding for the election of United
States senators by direct vote. 1t is
public regret that the resolution was
not SO worded as to secure unani-
nous support on the democratic
side. Some of the southern demo-
Gratis are so much afraid Of a force
bill that they prefer to leave the
method of election of senators un-
changed rather than risk interfer-
ence with local laws. Then too,
there being no republican party in
the south, senators are selected at
the primaries and the people do not,
therefore, feel the need of popular
election as much as the need is felt
In the north. These two reasons,
taken together. account for the OPP
position of a number of southern
members in the house upon the final
passage of the resolution.
Mr.. Bryan. while he regards the
possibility of force bill as exceed
ingly remote, recognizes that the
fear is honestly entertained by great
many southern democrats, and tried
when in congress to secure such
wording of the amendment as would
permit any state to protect itself
against a force bill, if one was ever
passed, by returning to the present
method, and he renewed the effort to
secure such an amendment when the
house and senate disagreed as to the
phraseology of the amendment. Mr..
Bfyan's plan. however, was not ac-
cebted by the southern representa-
tives! in the house-at least not
enough of them to bring it before
either body-so the issue was finally
joined between the house plan which
specifically reserved to the states
control over senatorial elections and
the senate plan which did not. At
ter year had been spent in efforts
at!reconciling the difference between
the senate and house the democrats
OF the senate tried to change the
Bfistow amendment by adding a
clause proposed by Senator Bacon.
The failure of this amendment
alarmed the democrats of the house
and rather than risk possible failure
to submit the amendement, after the
senate had at last been forced to
consent to the reform, they decided
to accept the senate resolution and
thus put the amendment before the
states for ratification without fur
/. ther action on the part of the sen.
ate.
The house acted wisely in so doing
and Congressman Rucker, of Mis-.
souri,, who has led the fight, is to be
congratulated upon his success in
securing to the people an opportunity
to accomplish this far-reaching re-
form. If the democrats retain theil
majority in the next congress and
secure control of the senate they may
be able to add the provision desired
by the southern statesmen who fear
a force bill. But it would have been
difficult to make successful cam.
paign this year if the democratic
party had permitted defeat or delay
III the submission of the amendment
Now let the matter of ratification be
taken up and pressed in every state
as soon as the legislature convenes.
In every convention democrats and
republicans should endorse this
amendment and demand its ratifica.
ton. Mr.. Bryan has been advocat-
ing the popular election of senators
for twenty-five years, and he rejoices
that with the senate responsive to
the peoples will remedial legislation
will be made easier.-The Com
mOner.