The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-04-24
SENATORS WILL Be ELECTED BY
DIRECT VOTE IN AND AFTER 1915
Views of Those Who DISAGREE
as to the Wisdom of the
New Method.

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many weeks Of inactivity the house
cOnfereeS agreed to it.
Speaker Clark and William Jennings
Bryan threw their influence for it on
the ground that an amendment to the
constitution in this form was better
than none at all.
Effective In 1915.
Although senators agree that the
amendment will determine the choice
of senators for terms beginning in
1915, several legislatures have adjourn
ed until that year and in such states
some confusion may result. Senator
Borah of Idaho. who is regarded as
one of the best constitutional lawyers
in the senate, says, however, that all
the amendment
Special sessions of the legislature
will be urged in many states in order
that the machinery for senatorial elec-
tons under the new system may be
prepared
Among the prominent senators whose
terms will expire two years hence
and whose return will be dependent
upon the direct votes Of the people are
Senators Brandegee Of Connecticut.
Bristow Of Kansas, Cummins Of Iowa.
Dillingham; of Vermont, Gallinger of
New Hampshire. Gore of Oklahoma.
Penrose Of Pennsylvania. Perkins of
California. Root of New York, Smith
Of Georgia. John Walter Smith of
Maryland, Smoot of Utah. Stephenson
of Wisconsin and Stone Of Missouri
Maryland May Elect First.
Maryland probably will be the first
filing the unexpired term of Senator
Rayner by appointment Of a Repub-
lican governor. The 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 Re-
publican governor will call a special
oCSSlOu VI Tic leSlSldluIe.
Senator Borah, who for three years
conducted the fight for the amendment
and through his insistence brought the
house cOnfereeS to terms and obtained
the final agreement to the resolution
submitting the question to the states,
of the action of Connecticut.
Discussing the Importance of the
amendment. he said:
1T will do away with deadlocks and
scandals in state legislatures and will
remove the corrupting influences that
have done SO much to destroy the con-
fidence of the people in their legisla-
lures It is safe to say that nine-tenths
of the corruption engendered in state
legislatures has it's source in senate
rial elections.
1T will enable the people to elect
state legislatures on we'll defined state
issues. disentangled from senatorial
elections. and enable the people to
elect United States senators on we'll
defined national issues disentangleG
from matters of local legislation. In
other words. it will give a free scope
in this feature of the government to
the representative principles Of our
government.
1.-THE ratification of this amendment
demonstrates. after all, it is not so diff
cult to amend the constitution When
the people are thoroughly aroused and
are thoroughly interested they can
make congress conform to their desires
promptly and rapidly"
New State Laws Necessary.
The new amendment gives to the
state legislatures the right to prescribe
the methods of electing senator's Many
legislatures which have adjourned will
not reconvene until a few weeks be-
fore the terms of more than thirty
senators expire.
1t is expected that in many states
the legislatures will adopt the plan
authorized in the new amendment and
direct the governors to appoint sena-
tors temporarily. until the people can
elect men at regularly. sailed elections.
Special sessions ofsthe legislatures
will be urged in many states. so that
the necessary laws can be passed be-
fore the general elections of 1914. In
some states action has already been
taken or will be before the legislat lures
end their present sessions authorizing
the people to vote for senators at next
years election.
Senator Joseph L. Bristow of Kan
sas. author of the joint resolution
adopted by congress, by which ratif-
cation was set in motion, expressed
great delight whel, Informed of Con-
necticut's action. 1t was his firm con-
viction. he said. that the direct elec-
ton of senators would prevent cor
rupt practices and make it possible for
man of moderate means to enter the
senate.
In his opinion. it will be impossible
for a man of wealth to purchase the
electorate of an entire state an en-
tirely different matter from buying a
sufficient number of legislators to Sc
cure an election. A repetition of the
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