The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-12
SENATORS DIRECT ELECTION.
SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT no
THE CONSTITUTION Is
ADOPTED.
Takes 10 Out OF Power OF Legislatures
OF states-Passage MARKS End OF
Long Agitation for Change In Meth
OIL.

ton OF United States senator's by the
people was authorized and made COM
pulsor5 today when the Connecticut
legislature ratified the constitutional
amendment submitted by congress
more .nan q year ago. Ratification
already has been given by 35 States
The situation that results through
out the county where legislatures
have adjou, ned until 1915 is such as
To leave confusion in the minds of
members of the senate as to how
the early sters towards direct elec-
tion OF senators will be carried out.
While the proclamation of the sec
retary of state announcing final rati-
hcation OF the amendment by 63
States Ia required by law, Senators
Bristow and Borah, leaders in the di-
rect elections fight in congress, ex-
pressed the opinion today that the
amendment Is for all practical pur-
poses now a part OF the constitu-
ton.
Any man who may be elected to
the Senate hereafter must be elected
directly" said Senator Borah.
The new amendment gives TO the
State legislature. however. the right
to'prescribe the methods for electing
senator's. Many legislatures have ad-
tourned and will not reconvene until
early In 1916, n few weeks before
the terms OF over 80 senator's expire.
IL In expected that In many States the
legislatures will adopt the plan au-
thorized I'm the new amendment and
direct the governors TO appoint sena-
tors temporarily. until the people can
elect men at regularly called elections
Special sessions OF the legislatures will
be urged in many States. so that the
necessary laws can be passed before
the general elections OF 1914. In
some States action has air. ady been
taken or will be before the legislatures
end their present sessions. authorizing
the people to vote Tor senator's at next
years election.
The choice OF senator In Maryland
for the place now held by Senator
jackson would have been made by
the legislature next year under the
old uysten. A special session OF the
Maryland legislature would be neces-
sary TO provide laws by which a pop
ul1r election could occur next year.
In the opinion OF members OF the
senate no successor can be appointed
by the governor under the new provi-
sion when Senator Jackson's term ex-
pires unless the legislature shall have
especially directed such action.
The new amendment to the consti-
tuition. for tie popular election of
United States senator's. is the 18th to
be adopted IL reads:
The senate OF the United States
shall be composed OF two senator's
from each state. elected by the peo-
pie thereof, for six years: and each
senator shall have one vote. The
electors In each state shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors OF
the most numerous branch OF the
State legislature. ..
when vacancies happen 10 Soe
representation OF any State % cha
senate. the executive authority Of sucr
State shall issue writs OF election 60
nh such vacancies. provided that the
legislature OF any State may en-
power the executive thereof to make
temporary appointments until the peo-
pie fill the vacancies by election as
the legislature may direct"
The amendment primarily transfers
the power OF electing senators from
the state legislature TO the people
at the polls To effect this change 1t
was necessary to alter the machinery
for the filling OF vacancies in the SEN
ate.
For morethan 60 years proposals
have been made TO change the con-
stitutlon so as to provide for the di-
rect election OF senators. II was not.
however. until June "a. 1911, that
the senate was induced for the first
time In It's history To- give it's con-
sent Co the change. On that day II
voted To submit to the States the pro-
posed amendment. Tho resolution To
submit had already passed the house
IN n somewhat different form. Before
adjournment OF the session, both
houses agreed TO the language to be
employed. and the resolution was
deposited with tho secretary OF State
May l6. 1912. for distribution among
the States
The original theory In establishing
the choice of senator's was that they
represented the States whereas the