The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-21
THINNING HACK.

" 4SdVNi OF uHWiSuom OF the proposed
seventeenth amendment to the Cons;i-
tuition, providing for direct election OF
United states Senator, the Pittsburgh
lGazette-T Times suggests that the small.
ier States might as wen make up their
minds that if il is adopted II VIII
mark the beginning of Il movement
10 change the basis OF representation
in the Senate-that Is To say. move
Inent to base senatorial representation
-on population. The Gazette Times
could have more accurately suggested
lihe revival OF movement TO that end.
for there was such movement. led
Iby the larger States and fought by the
,smaller In the convention that franz
led the Constitution. and It came very
linear causing a dissolution Of the body.
Virginia. Massachusetts and Penn VI
lvGnla. the foremost states in popula-
stion, We're especially welded to the
principle of majority rule. and Mr.
lMad!son was particularly tenacious in
advocacy OF It.
During the heated debate on the sub
sect. and when the convention was
practically at deadlock. way out
loYas pointed by Roger Sherman, of
rconnecticut we are now he ex-
lrlaimed. lat fun stop. Nobody, /
suppose. means that We shall break
lur without doing something. y COM
7nittee IS likely to hit upon some en-
pcdient" Clason. in his Seven Con
MENTIONS says:
"A committee was appointed; it re-
ported July compromise. that in
the second branch each State shall
have an equal vote ON the 18TH that
part OF the report was carried by 4
vote OF five states 10 four Massachus-
.cttS. being divided, did not count. New
y ork, not present, was sure to be adj
.ded 10 the majority, anc New Hainp-
shire, not yet represented, WAS equal
]. to be relied upon. Next day Gou-
verneur Morris moved a ycconsidera-
lion, which was not seconded, and the
lice question of an equitable division OF
The political powers among the states.
which had so long hampercd the con-
vcntion. was ut rest. The wisdom OF
the decision became every day more
apparent, until the equal vote OF the
states in the Senate was spontaneous
y excepted from the power or amend
nent."
The use OF the word compromise has
more comprehensive meaning in this
connection than appears on its immedi-
ate face. since. apart from the conten-
lion over basis Of representation, there
was great difference OF opinion as to
the mode OF electinG Senators, their
terms OF service and tne rule Of suf-
1rage. Some We're in FAVOR OF nomina-
lion by the State Legislatures and an
election by the United States House OF
Representatives,; others would have
the President appoint crcm those nom
4uated by the state Legislatures. 9TH
ers would have the Senator's chosen
by the House of Representatives., and
others still urged election by the peo-
ple The first proposition was tn,
Virginia pla,S:.' TIC phraseology OF
the resolution IN the rlan being THAT
tthe members OF the second branch o.
,the national Legislature ought 10 b,
elected by those OF the first, out of a
proper number of persons nominated
by the individual Leg 'slatures." 1t
will thus be seen that the father.
,hras,ad az, VIZ. co,,r,o,o,,. ,n. ,,.,.,,.
Eeha'olAal P'opie'"' 'hCIuulhs oiftc'
election; that they weighed and pass
Cd iudrmcn, upon the uroposed sever,
80, a,,,,,,-,,.,., -. .,,,,t,,,
Coming back to the ISSUE of repre-
Icntatlon IN the Senate and its basis
~, quote Andrews on tn. constitu,{o,
.t.,.,.. ...,
10 '''' -"e +"' as"
upon the critical situation in the con
yentlon one of his expository note
,.ada.
inc question OF voting was tn,
most H!hcuh. rs IN Inc ContIncnta
No"s '"c 9ta'cs were on q" cqu"l
aH as 70 thelr votes the smalc
states wished tne same ruic TO hol'
81, eiatns c,ai, n,"' III, Wn''y 'nI AR
,,,., q, tn