The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-04-08
IS
NOW EFFECTIVE
Continued from Page ~

resolution in the special session ini-
mediately following. The fight of the
preceding session was refouEht, but
this time the friends of the resolution
wn by a vote Of 64.to 25. or five more
than the required %two-thirds.
The house had passed a resolution
which made 1t clear the federal gov
senatorial elections in the states. For
weeks the measure was in conference.
Finally the house conferees receded
and the house agreed to the senate
measure by a vote Of 237 to 80.
Previous to this time. the several
states had taken the bit in their teeth
by: enacting laws which in effect did
ment on the subject. Probably the
most successful of these was adopted
in Oregon. 1t virtually directed the
members of the legislature to elect
the person who received the majority
vote at the regular election. when the
placing Of the name Of a candidate
for United States senator upon the
tickets was authorized.
h control Of Legislatures by great
corporations was assigned by Senator
Bristow as one of the main reasons
for the demanded change. with the
development during recent times of
the great corporate interests OF the
country" said he. land the increased
importance Of legislation relating to
their affairs. they have tenaciously
sought to control the election of SEN
power of these great financial and
industrial institutions car be very eff
fectively used in the election of SEN
ators by legislators, n they have
many times during recent years used
that power in a most reprehensible
and .s%candalous manner. They have
spent enormous amounts Of money in
senate men of their own choosing"
The One BlemisI.
One of the first speeches made in
crusade for the change in favor of
the direct election was by Senator
Turpie of Indiana. In that speech
he declared hat the election of SEN
ators by legislatures was the one
blemish on the democracy which was
embodied in the American govern
ment.
One of the most notable speeches
ever made in opposition to the change
was that of Senator Hoar of Massa-
ject Of the electioni" 81 senate by leg
lslatures instead Of by the people had
been to remove one Of the two bodies
Of legislation" from the operation Of
the feeting passions Of the hour. to
and to remove the appointment OF
the men who are to compose 1t. as
far as may be. from the temporary
excitements which so often move the
people to their own harm"
II am not afraid to say to the
American people that 1t is dangerous
to trust any great power Of govern
I.-.>- - k1~l. Nt.~~k ~ ~1~~-SI>.1k
CONTROL" he added. 81 am not afraid
to tell them not only that their sober
second thought is better than their
hasty action. hut that a government
which is exposed to the hasty action
of n people is the worst n not tho
best government on earth"
Up To the states.
No legislation by congress will he
necessary to put the change into ef-
feet. 1t will be incumbent upon the
various states to see to It that proper
provision il made by the names of
senator's going on the regular ballots.
Should any state fail to do SO, 1t has
been suggested that congress might
exercise its power Of supervising that
state voting regulations so as to re-
quire the name to be placed on the
ballots.
The first senator's to he elected by
the new method will he those who
take their seats for the term begin.
ming March 4. 1915. They will be
elected at the November elections OF
1914.
The first thirty-three states to ratify
the amendment were Arizona. Ar
kansas. California. Colorado. Idaho,
Illinois. Indiana. Iowa, Kansas, Maine,
Massachusetts. Michigan. Minnesota.
Missouri. Montana. Nebraska, Nevada,
New Hampshire. New jersey. New
York. New Mexico. North Carolina,
North Dakota, Ohio. oklahoma. Ore.
gon. South Dakota. Texas. Vermont
Washington. West Virginia, Wisconsin
and Wyoming. ~,