The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-05-17
DIRECT ELECTION
OF SENATORS NOW
UP TO THE STATES
CONGRESS PASSES MEASURE
PROVIDING FOR SUCH AN
AMENDMENT.
The SOUTH IS OPPOSED TO IT
Because OF the Provision That Gives
The Federal Government Control
OF Such ElectIon.-For Six Year
Term for President.

tNe FeoeIdI government NontrOI
OF Such ElectIon.-For Six Year
Term for President.
WASHINGTON, May 14.-The
house today adopted, 237 to 80. a
Joint esolution providing for an
amendment to the constitution to
permit the election of United States
senators by direct vote of the peo-
pie. 1t already had passed the sen-
ate and now goes to the states for
ratification All that remains to be
done Is the formal signing of the
instrument and the issuance of a
I proclamation to the states to signify
thei' wishes on the proposed change.
The vote was preceded by bitter
fight in which the southern members
joiued in common cause against the
Bartlett, of Georgia, the Georgia,
Mississippi and Louisiana delega.
Ition fought to prevent its passage be-
cause Of the senate amendment
which gave the federal government
supervision of the elections. They
based their opposition almost en-
tirely on the danger of negro domi-
nation
The first vote taken was on an
amendment by Representative Bart
lett. which took from the federal
government all supervisionary pow
ers. It was defeated, 1S9 to 49,. On
the vote for the adoption of the reso-
luton two thirds of the house being
necee sary, fifty democrats deserted.
There was not a republican vote
cast against the resolution which
was adopted to the accompaniment
of thunderous applause. .
| Direct election Of senators was
first taken up by congress in 1926.
From time to time recurring at
tempts have been made to make the
senate a popular body and have its
member elected as are the members
of the house. Numbers Of these re-
solutions have died in committee
while others were passed at the last
moments of congress never to re-
ce1ve the Presidents signature.
| Senator Bristow, of Kansas, intro
duced in 1911 the one that passed to-
day Amended by the house, 1t has
been in conference since July 5, last
year, and If the house had not re-
ceded from it's opposition to granting
federal control of senatorial cleo
tons, it might have met the fate Of
the others.
/: was this danger that led the
house to agree not to press its
views.
The senate judiciary committee to.
day decided to report favorably the
Works resolution restricting the
presidential tenure of Office to the
single term of six years. A minor
ity report, favoring a single term of
four years, also will be made from
the committee. The reports are ex-
pected in a day or two.
There was no formal adoption OF
the measure as it's phraseology has
not been worked out, but this will be
undertaken Immediately by sub
committee
1; may be finally acted upon at a
special meeting of the judiciary COM
mittee this week. In any event 1t
10 expected to be reported i'm
me1iately following the committees
regular meeting next Monday.
The committee is practically I'M
anirlous to make a president inelig-
ible for a second term, but four
members of the committee favor
making the siggle term four years
instead Of six.
The house committee on judiciary
has pending a joint resolution Of the
same purport introduced by Repre-
sentative Clayton of Alabama, chair
man of that committee.
II congress adopts the change an
amendment to the constitution will
have to be ratified by three-fourths
of the states.