The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-10-16
Senators Want Extra Session.

senators want Extra session.
jefferson City.--if Senator william
J. Stone WAS assured that nobody
would bob up with an injunction
against the secretary of state to pre-.
vent that official from putting the
names of candidates for United States
senator upon the official ballot. he
would not be In favor Of an extra SEES
sion of the legislature to amend the
primary and general election laws.
81 am not laundering after an extra
session of the legislature to amend
these laws IL II is not necessary. ]
would dislike TO impose this burden
Of expense upon the people. But sup.
pose at the last minute some fellow
should bob up with an Injunction
against the secretary of state to pre-
vent the names of senatorial candl-
dates going on the ballot. That would
throw the whole matter into a tanGle.
Il do not believe there would be
any Question about the seating of
United States senator elected under
the laws as they now stand. The
United States senate would not quib-
bic over a matter of that kind. The
only thing ! fear Is an attempt to en-
join the secretary of state. II see
the governor intend to have talk
with him about the laws, but did
not come here for that purpose
Senator Stone spent a day at JEFF
ferson City end later left for st. Louis
and Washington,
Are you disturbed about the ru-
mors of oppositionT he was asked.
"Of course | am. I had hoped to
get n nomination without opposition
for once in my life"
Senator Stone says he has Endorsed
nobody for United States district at
torney at st. Louis. which is sought
by Frank w. McAlllster Of Monroe
county, Joe Davis and George T.
Moore of St. Louis.
There is no necessity for an extra
session of the legislature to make the
general primary law applicable TO
United States senators as well as 9TH
or elective officers, according to Cor
nclius Roach, secretary Of state.
Gov Major sticks to his assertion
that an extra session is not necessary.
He does not believe any amendments
to the primary act are necessary, but
| SAYS there may be some 10 minor
amendments to be made TO the gen
| t,,t lpptulatnFn
Attorney General Barker comedies
In the absence of any legal proceed
| inas that the nomination and election
OF United States senators could be
accomplished under the terms Of the
primary and general election laws as
they now stand, yet he Is inclined to
agree with Senator Stone that the
laws should be amended before any
| attempt Is made to nominate or elect
n United States senator.
Senator James A. Reed in a letter
| TO Attorney General Barker takes the
view that an extra session of the leg
| lslature is necessary for the amend
ment of the general primary act and
the regular election laws to make
them applicable to the new method
OF electing senator's.
| Following is formal statement
prepared by Secretary of State Roach
upon the question;
"In my opinion the primary cleo
ton laws of this state are IN such
general terms that there is no occa'
sion whatever to have an extra SEES
sion of the Legislature In order tc
make these laws properly apply to
the nomination and election Of United
States senator. There is no one who
will dispute that wherever state law
is in conflict with a provision OF the
United States constitution the latter
only is effective. The federal consti
tuition, having been amended to re
auire the election of United States
senator by direct vote OF the people
repeats the Missouri law for nominal
ing United States senator at n pri
mary election. The first section o
the Missouri United States senator
primary election law says: AT eacl
general election held in the state o
Missouri at which legislature II
chosen. whose duty 1t shall be t.
elect United States senator etc
Under the provisions now of the fed
eral constitution, there will be no leg
islature elected having the duty o
electing United States senators.