The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-09
Connecticut Is Thirty
Sixth State to Ratify
Reform.
EGG M ES PART
OF CONSTITUTION
Will Become Effective as Soon as
Action of the States Is Certi-
fed to State Department ard
Secretary Bryan Issues His
Proclamation-Wilson
Is Pleased.

Washington, April s-After a twelve
year fight by those fevoring the inno-
vat;on, in which the aid OF many
newspapers throughout all sections Of
the country was much in evidence. the
election OF United States Senators by
the direct vote Of the people was as
sured to-day, when the Connecticut
legislature ratified the proposed
amendment to the Constitution.
Connecticut makes thirty-six. or
hrce-fourths. Of the States which have
given their approval Of the reform
The ne" constitutional law will hc
known as the seventeenth amendment
II VIII become effective as soon as the
action of the States shall have been
certified Ia the State Department and
Secretary Bryan shall have issued his
proclamation.
Comment by Borah.
Senator William Il: Borah. who in
iroduced the resolution by which the
amendment was submitted to the States
made the following comment:
III viii do away with deadlocks and
scandals In State Legislatures and will
remove the corrupting influences tina,
lave done so much to destroy the con
hdence OF the people in their Legisla-
lures II is safe to say that nine
tenths of the corruption cngendercd in
state Legislatures has its source in
"It will enable the people to elect
state Legislatures on wcil-dencd State
issues. disentansled from senatorial
elections, and enable the people 10
elect United States Senators on we'll
defined national issues. disentaugled
from matters of local legislation In
other words, 1t viii give a free scope
in this feature of the government to
the representative principles of our
government"
Await Official Notincatiop.
Secretary OF state William !. Bryan
said:
we are wr Ing TO all the states re
ported 70 have ratified the amendrnent.
but which have not officially notified
the state Department. We hope TO
have official notification from all of
them al an early date.
II am very much gratified 10 learn
;hat the amendment has been ratified.
/ had no doubt that It would be, but
a TACT is better than a prediction. even
when the prediction rests upon such
a sure foundation as this one. be
lIevc massachusetts was the first State
10 vote for the amendment. and since
Connecticut was the last State whose
vote was necessary, then New England
can claim 10 have been the Alpha and
Omega OF the ratification, although il
was not al the labcrlns oar during all
the years of struggle for this great
reform
Effect Of Ncw Law.
Ihc first effecs OF the new amend
ment Will he that every man 10 be
chosen as United states Senator for
the term commencing March 4, 1915
must DC passed upon by the voters In
campaign and al the polls Many Leg.
islatures have adjourned until 1918, and
in these states some confusion NAV
result, but Senator Rorah said to-
night that all subsequent elections now
must come under this amendment Spe-
ciai sessions OF the legislature will be
urged in many States TO prepare the
machinery for senatorial elections
Among the more prominent Senators
whose terms VIII expire two years
hence and whose return VIII be depen-
dent upon the direct votes OF the peo-
pie are Senators Root, of New York
BrandeEee OF Connecticut: Bristow, OF
Kansas; Cummins, OF Iowa: Dilling-
ham, OF Vermont: Gallingcr. Of New
Hampshire: Gore. OF Oklahoma; Pen
rose. OF pennsylvania: Perkins. OF Cali
fornis: Smith. of Georgia: John Walter
Smith. OF Maryland: Smoot. OF Utah
Stephenson, of Wisconsin. and stone
OF Missouri
MnryIaad First 10 Elect.
Maryland probably will be the FIRST
State TO elect Senator Jackson is now
filling the uneNpired term Of Senator
Rayner by appointment OF a Repuhli.
can Governor. Tn Legislature will
meet next winter in regular session
and then will make provision for the
election OF a Senator to succeed Mr.
jackson. 1t is not probable that a
Republican Governor will call a spe-
cial session OF the Legislature
This proposed change in the orsanic
law was first approved by Massachu-
setts. May %, 1912. Other States fol-
lowed in rapid order. until within half
o dozen OF the required three fourths
when progress was much slower. The
states that have ratified the amendment
CONTINUED on Eighth Page)