The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-07-25
DIRECT ELECTIONS is
SOURCE OF WORRY
Fear States Will Fail to Provide
Funds for Selecting Senators Be-
fore Election.

fore Election.
Complications are predicted as
certain to arise over the installation
of the direct election method for
the selection of United States Sena-
tors. Most of the trouble is expect
ed to result from the failure of State
Legislatures to provide promptly, ap-
propriate methods for carrying out
the recent amendment to the con-
stitution for the direct senatorial
election.
Leaders of the Senate majority
are more anxious about the situation
than the Republicans. Should two
or more vacancies on the Democratic
side of the chamber occur the narrow
margin of power in the body would
be gone.
There are thirty-two senatorial
terms which will expire on March
1915. Some of the States affected
already have provided a method of
popular election of Senators, but a
great number of them have not, and
vacancies caused by death or resigna-
tion may call at any time for a popu-
lar election.
Democratic members of the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections
have considered the advisability of
having a national law prescribing a
method applying to all States alike.
To do this Congress would exercise
it's power under the constitution to
revise State regulation as to the
time and manner of selecting Sena-
tors, a step which never has ap-
pealed to Southern Senators. No
sooner had the suggestion of FEEDER
al Legislation been made than they
entered protest and the idea has
been abandoned.
The Legislature, of Georgia, re-
Gently enacted legislation in regard
to the placing of the names of Sena-
tors on the ballots and has elected
the first Senator by this method.
The Florida Legislature decided it
already had sufficient laws for this
purpose. The Texas Legislature has
been called to meet in a special ses-
sion to consider, among other things
the passing of laws for election ma
chinery in accordance with the
amendment.
The Governor of Maryland has de-
cided he is empowered under exist
ing laws to issue writ of election
to fill the uneXpired term of the late
Senator Rayner. Senator Jackson
is now serving by designation of the
Governor. Such constitutional law
yers of the Senate as Senator Root
and Sutherland are said to enter
tain doubt as to the power of the
Governor to issue the writ, and the
appearance of a new Senator from
Maryland to take the oath of office
may mark the initial fight in the
Senate over the Senatorial election
machinery.
The situation is complicated by the
amendment further limiting the Gov
ernor's power to fill vacancies in the
Senate. In the past a Governor has
filled vacancies occurring when the
legislature was not in session.
Hereafter a Governor may not fill
a vacancy unless the legislature of
his State has empowered him to make
temporary appointments until the
people may fill the vacancies by cleo
ton as the legislature may direct.
The Democratic Congressional
Committee has had the matter called
to its attention, and it may take
steps to urge the States to pass leg
islation 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 pendency of the tariff act, in
States where suitable machinery is
not now provided, it is understood
the committee would at once urge
the convening of the State legisla-
lures to authorize the Governors to
appoint and to provide for the plac-
ing of candidates for Senator on the
ballots in future elections.