The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1913-04-17
RADICAL CHANGES
IN STATE POLITICS.
Direct Election of Senators will
Affect Political Conditions.
Senatorial Candidates and the Gerryman'
der DiVOrCed.-k Special Session Of
the Legislature Must Be Held to
Amend Election Laws.

Jefferson City, April 12.-William
Joel Stone must face the music" next
year il he wishes another term in the
senate. His last election, like his first,
was made by Legislature made dem
ocratic on Joint ballot through an in
famous democratic geuymander Of
senatorial districts. He was never the
choice Of majority Of his own party.
When he ran for the democratic nom
ination for senator against Joseph w.
Folk in 1908 he got it by the vote Of
the most notoriously corrupt precincts
in St. Louis, and it has never been
conceded by well informed democrats
that he was entitled to the party nomi-
nation. His election in 1909 was due
to the fact that a large majority Of the
thirty-iour senators were democrats
elected from districts so gerrymandered
as to deprive republicans Of fair repre-
sentation in the state senate. Other
wise John c. KcKinley, the republican
nominee. would have been elected
United States senator.
But the gerrymander Of senatorial
districts will no longer insure the cleo
ton to the senate OF Stone or any other
democrat. The seventeenth amend
ment TO the national constitution, rat
fled BY more than thirtysix states, is
now effective. 1t provides for the
election OF United States senators by
direct vote Of the qualified electors in
each state. Legislatures can no longer
select senators. Names of senatorial
candidates will be placed on party
ballots-iike the names OF candidates
for state ofices-at general state cleo
tions and the man who gets the most
votes will get seat in the senate.
As the Missouri general primary cleo
ton law does not provide for senatorial
nominations prior to a general election,
and as the general election laws do
not provide for voting for senatorial
nominees, a special session Of the
legislature must be held to amend the
election laws to conform TO the new
amendment to the federal constitution.
Senator Stone will be a candidate
for the democratic nomination and will
probably be opposed by former Gov
ernor Folk. Former Governor Hadley
may be a candidate for the republican
nomination. There may be other can
didates in each party but these three
men are at this time most con
spicuously in the public eye. II Had
ley runs he will go after Stone vigor
ously. II Folk runs he too will make
a direct fight on Stone. So the will
and resoutceIul old Senator will face
conditions he has never heretofore
confronted.
With no senatorial prize at stalk
there will not be the usual incentiv,
for hard party struggle in the election
Of senators and members Of the legis
lature. Party leaders will be NOR
concerned about the senatorial contest
Political conditions will be change
by the new method Of choosing sen
ator. Candidates for the legislator
will not be supported because OF tn
senatorial brand they may bear but be
cause Of Legislative propositions the
may represent; or because Of persona
merits. This will undoubtedly have
wholesome effect on the personnel
the next general assembly and upo
legislation.
The general election next year vi
not be like an off year" contest.
will involve the political complexion
the general assembly, and Of the enti
congressional delegation, the choi'
Of a senator, besides the election
one state officer and two members
the supreme court. It will be u