Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-21
VACANCIES IN SENATE
FEARED BY DEMOCRATS
Failure of States to Provide
Election Machinery Might
Upset Their Majority.

The machinery for the direct election
of senators In the various states is now
beng given serious consideration by the
politicians. who realize that early action
must be taken in order to prevent COM
plications. Thirty-two senatorial terms
expire March 3, 1915. and there are like
ly to be several other senatorial elections
in the meantime. The new law for the
direct election of senators gives the re-
publicans an opportunity to upset the
small democratic majority in the Senate
at present and to change 1t to a republi-
can majority, particularly should the
new tariff prove unwelcome to the coun-
try.
Some OF the states affected already
have provided a method of popular cleo
ton Of senator's. but great number OF
them have not. and vacancies caused
by death or resignation may call at any
time for popular select on from states
which have not yet acted.
Democratic members of the committee
on privileges and elections have consid-
cred the ACCESSIBILITY of having a ma
tional law prescribing method and ap-
plying to all states alike. To do this,
Congress should exercise It's power. I'M
der the Constitution, to revise state reg
ulations as to the time and manner OF
selecting senator's, step which never
has appealed to southern senator's. NO
sooner had the suggestion of federal leg
islation been made than they entered a
protest and the Idea has been abandoned.
First Election in Georgia.
The legislature Of Georgia recently en-
acted legislation in regard to the placing
of the names of senators on the ballots
~ a.,
method The Florida legislature decided
1t already had sufficient laws for this
purpose The Texas legislature has been
called to meet In a special session to
consider. with other things. the passing
of laws for election machinery in accord
ance with the amendment. The Governor
of Maryland has decided he Is empowered
under existing laws to issue a writ OF
election to fill the unexpired term Of the
is now serving by designation of the
governor. Such constitutional lawyers
of the Senate as Senators Root and Sutl-
erland are said to entertain doubt as TO
the power of the governor to issue the
writ, and the appearance of a new SEN
ator from Maryland to take the oath OF
Office may mark the initial fight In the
Senate over the senatorial election ma
chinery.
Filling of Vacancies.
The situation Is complicated by the
amendment further limiting the gov
ernments power to fill vacancies In
the Senate. In the past governor has
filled vacancies occurring when the
legislature was not In session. Here
after governor may not fill vacancy
unless the legislature Of his state has
empowered him to make temporary ap-
pointments until the people may fill
the vacancies by election as the legis-
lature may direct.
The democratic congressional commit
tee has had the matter called to its
attention, and 1t may take steps to
urge the states to pass legislation as
quickly as possible.
1t will see to it that all the states
that elect senators for the terms be-
ginning in 1915 act before that time.
Should vacancies occur during the
tendency of the tariff act In states
where suitable machinery Is not now
provided 1t is understood the commit
tee would at once urge the converting
OF the state legislatures to authorize
the governors to appoint and to pro-
vide for the placing Of candidates for
senator on the ballots in future cleo
tons