Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-14
BR|STOW IS HOPEFUL.
Thinks Next Senator'S viii Be
Chosen by People.
BUT FIVE STATES NEEDED
Thirty-0ne Of the Necessary Thirty
Six Have Ratified Constitutional
Amendment.

Il believe that the proposed constitu-
tional amendment providing for the
direct election of United States senators
by the people will become a part of the
Constitution this year." said Senator Bris-
tow of Kansas today. 1T is certain that
sufhcient states will have ratified the
amendment by the end Of next year. even
should the necessary thirty-six have failed
to act during the present year." he con-
tinued. However. I feel confident that
two years from now. when the next cleo
ton Of United States senators takes place,
it will be a direct election.
"Thirty-one states have already ratified
the amendment. The houses of repre-
sentatives Of the legislatures of five more
have passed favorably upon the amend
ment These states are Utah. New Mex
leo. Pennsylvania. Delaware and New
Jersey. The amendment passed the New
Jersey house February 13, and see no
good reason why there should be delay in
President Wilson's state on the part of
the state senate. 1t passed the Delaware
house February 3, and believe that the
Delaware senate will not delay action.
The New Mexico house acted favorably
upon the amendment February A.
Rejected by Utah Senate.
I'm Utah the house passed the amend
ment by q vote of 40 to 2 But Feb
ruary Is the state senate rejected it, A
motion is now pending to reconsider this
vote in the state senate. Five state sena-
tors were absent when the vote was
taken. Under the state constitution it
requires a majority of all the members
OF the senate to pass constitutional
amendment. Although a majority Of the
senators present voted for the amend
ment. they did not constitute majority
OF the senate. l understand, however.
tha1 when the vote is reconsidered the
amendment probably will receive the ap-
prevail of the Utah state senate.
Senator Penrose has come out in favor
Of the direct election of senator's, and 1t
is expected that this will bring about
speedy action by the Pennsylvania state
senate on the amendment.
1.-THE state legislatures Of several other
states are scheduled to meet this year,
and even If some OF the legislatures OF
the five states l have mentioned fail to
act favOrably upon the amendment this
year. l believe that q sufficient number
Of other states will take favorable ac-
ton to give US the thirty-six states
necessary for the constitutional amend
ment. The legislature of Tennessee meets
March Is. and have been informed that
1t will take favorable action promptly.
The legislature Of Florida win meet in
April, and / have been told that senti-
ment in that state is favorable TO the
amendment.
1.-The legislatures of Connecticut and
Rhode Island are in session at present
but SO far they have taken no action on
the amendment.
States Which Have Not Acted.
''The states which so far have not
acted upon the proposed amendment, in
addition to the five which I have men,
toned as having given approval in their
lower houses. are Alabama, Connecticut
Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland
Missouri, Rhode Island. South Carolina,
Tennessee and virginia. Georgia has re-
fused to ratify the amendment. and all
the other states have ratified it.
las soon as thirty-six states have rati-
fled the amendment 1t becomes part of
the Constitution OF the United States
When the Secretary Of State has been
notified by that number Of states he will
notify the President, and a proclamation
will be issued stating that the constitution
has been amended"