The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-21
Leaders of Senate Majority
More Anxious Over Situa-
tion Than Republicans
LAW FOR ALL STATES
is BEING CONSIDERED
Most of Trouble Expected to Result
From Legislatures Failing to Pro-
vide Methods for Carrying
Out Amendment

washington. July 2o.--Complications are
nredicted as certain to arise over the
installation of the direct election method
for selection of United States senators.
Most of the trouble is expected to re-
suit from the failure of state legislatures
to promptly provide appropriate methods
for carrying out the recent amendment
to the constitution for direct senatorial
elections.
Leaders of the Senate majority are
more anxious about the situation than
the republicans Should two or more
vacancies on the democratic side of the
chamber occur, the democrats narrow
margin of power in the body would be
gone Thirty-two senatorial terms VIII
expire March 3, 1915. Some of the states
already have provided method of pop
ular election of senators, but many OF
them have not, and vacancies, caused
by death or resignation, may call at any
time for a popular election from states
which have not yet acted.
Law for All States Considered
Democratic members of the committee
on privileges and elections have consid-
cred the advisability of having national
law prescribing method applicable to
all states alike. To do this Congress
would exercise its power under the con-
stitution, to revise state regulations as
to the time and manner of selecting sem
ators, step which never has appealed
q
suggestion of federal legislation been
made than they entered a protest and
the idea has been abandoned.
The legislature of Georgia recently en-
acted legislation in regard TO placing the
names of senators on the ballots and has
elected the first senator by this method
The Florida legislature decided 1t al
ready had sufficient laws for this pur-
pose. The Texas legislature has beer
called to meet in special session to con
slider among other things, the passing
of laws for election machiaery in ac
cordance with The amendment.
! The governor Of Maryland has dseide'
| he is empowered under existing laws z
| issue a writ of election to fill the unex
pired term of the late Senator RayneT
senator Jackson is now serving by desig
nation of the governor.
Such constitutional lawyers OF tne ser
ate as Senators Root and Sutherland arr
said to doubt the power of the governor
to issue the writ and the appearance o
a new senator from Maryland TO take th'
oath of office may mark the initial figh
in the Senate over the senatorial election
machinery.
Situation Complicated
The situation is complicated by the
amendment further limiting the governor :
power to fill vacancies in the Senate. II
the past a governor has filed vacancies
occurring when the legislature was not il
session. Hereafter a go~rnof may mol
fill a vacancy unless the legislature OF his
state has empowered him to make tenn
porary appointments until the people may
fill the vacancy by election, as the legis-
lature may direct.
The matter has been called to the at
tention OF the democratic congressional
committee and it may take steps to urge
the states to pass legislation as quickly
as possible. II will see to 1t that all the
states that elect senators for the term be-
ginning in 1915 act before that time. Should
vacancies occur during pendency of the
tariff act, in states where suitable ma-
chinery is not now provided, it is under
stood the committee would at once urge
the convening of the state legislatures to
authorize the governors to appoint and
to provide for the placing of candidates
for senator on the ballots in future cleo
tions.