The Washington times., 1912-05-14
HOUSE CONCURS IN
DIRECT ELECTIONS
BILL AF TER DEBATE
Southern Democrats Try
Vainly to Block
Measure.

Congress has taken the final legis-
lative step to submit to the States for
ratification a constitutional amend
ment providing for the election of
Senators by direct vote of the people.
over the protest of thirty nine
Southern Democrats the House late
yesterday, by a vote of 237 to 80. con-
Cured in the conference report and
the Senate amendment to the joint
resolution providing for a change in
the manner of electing members of
the upper chamber.
The resolution, having passed both
houses by two-thirds vote, now
goes to the States for ratification. II
three-fourths of the States ratify, the
Constitution will be so amended
The vote in the House, which was
tantamount to an acceptance of the
Bristow amendment to the direct cleo
tlons bills, was preceded by several
hours of bitter debate. The Bristow
amendment was fought to the last by a
number of Southern Democrats.
Cries of sectionalism, political motives,
ana white supremacy were banded
back and forth, and, while the Repub-
nlent. the Democrats engaged in an old
fashioned verbal battle over the oues-
ton of State rights and Southern dis
reimbursement laws.
Bartlett Amendment.
Prior to the final adoption of the con-
ference report Representative Bartlett
proposed to concur in the Senate amend
nent by adding an ironclad proviso
that the Federal Government should not
assume to dictate the qualifications of
electors for United States Senators, nor
seek by force of arms or otherwise to
supervise elections in the several States.
The Bartlett amendment. which pre-
cipitated the wrangle, would have mad
the erect of multiplying the Bristow
amendment which preserves to the Fed
eral Government supervision of the
time, manner and place of holding Sem
atOrial elections
Representative Underwood tho ma iori
~ leader and Presidential candidate,
got lin bad with his fellow-Southern
ers by MS refusal to support the Bart
lett amendment. Instead, he made a
the Bristow amendment, on the ground
that the Bartlett amendment would new
er receive the approval of the Senate
representative RuCker of Missouri n
rouse conferees came in for drub-
nG at the hands of Mr.. Bartlett and
other critics of the manner in which
MI Fucker had yielded to the Senate.
lmpassioned speech in which he de-
clared he would be recreant to his trust
We're he to vote for anything like the
5ristow amendment. Representative
faison of North Carolina demanded to
know today if Mr.. Rucker was any the
less recreant.
Saw a Light.
Since then | have seen a light" said
Mr. Rucker on the defensive. This re-
ply was greeted with jeers from the
iratc Southerners
While Mr. Rucker was defending his
surrender, Representative Henry, a
Bryan admirer asked:
Isn't It true that you and I talked
thought We had better take the StnatG
bill If It was impossible to get the
House bill?"
Sure, agreed Mr.. Rucker. I'VE con-
VinCed him
The Bartlett amendment was defeated
by vote of 1S9 to SO. Two Republicans
Representatives Kahn and Knowland of
California, voted with the Bartlett con-
tlngent, but voted with the rank and
file of the House on the final roll call to
concur In the Senate amendment.
The announcement by Speaker Clark
that two-thirds had voted to concur
was greeted with prolonged applause.
Representative Sisson made a last stand
templated that two-t thirds of the entire
membership and not two-t thirds of those
present should determine a constitu-
tional question of this kind. He was
promptly oYerIuiCA by the Chair.