The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-15
SENATORS WILL Be
CHOSEN BY PEOPLE
Bristow Thinks Amendment Will
Become Part of Consti-
tuition This Year.

Washington, March 14-"I believe
that the proposed constitutional
amendment providing for the direct
election of United States Senator'S by
the people will became part of tho
constitution this year" said Senator
Bristow, OF Kansas. to-day at is
certain that sufficient States will have
ratified the amendment by the end OF
next year. even should the necessary
thirty-s six have failed to act during
the present year" he continued
However. feel confident that two
years from now, when the next cleo
tion OF United States Senators takes
place. 1t will be a direct election.
Thirty-one States have already
ratified the amendment. The houses
of representatives of the Legislatures
or hve moro have passed favorably
upon the amendment. These states
Delaware and New Jersey. The
amendment passed the New Jersey
House February 13, and 1 see no good
reason why there should be delay in
President Wilson's State on the part
or the State Senate. II passed the
peiaware House February 5. and 1
believe that the Delaware Senate will
not delay action. The New Mexico
House acted favnrabl, upon the
amendment February A.
Rejected by Utah senate.
In Utah the House passed the
amendment by vote OF 40 to > But
February is the State senate rejected
IL y motion is now pending 10 re-
consider this vote in the state Senate
rive state Senators were absent when
the vote was taken Under the State
constitution 1t requires a majority OF
all the members or the Senate to pass
constitutional amendment. Although
majority of the Senators present
voted for the amendment, they did not
constitute majority of the Senate /
understand, however. that when the
vote Is rcconsidered the amendment
probably Will receive the approval OF
the Utah State Senate.
Senator Penrose has come out in
favor OF the direct election OF Senators.
and II Is expected that this will bring
about speedy action by the Pennsyl-
wanna State Senate on the amendment
The state Legislature Of several
other States are scheduled to meet this
year. and even If some OF the Legis-
iatures or the five States have men
toned fall to act favorably upon the
amendment this year. ] believe that a
sufficient number OF other States will
take favorable action to give us the
thirty-siN states necessary for the con-
stltutional amendment The I.egisIa-
ture OF Tennessee meets March Is, ana
l have been informed that it Will take
favorable action promptly
The Legislature Of Florida will
meet meet In April. and l have been told
mat sentiment in that State is favor
able TO the amendment.
The Legislatures OF Connecticut and
Rhode Island are in session at present
but so far they have taken no action
on the amendment.
.. states Which Have Not Acted.
Thc states which so far have not
acted upon the proposed amendment,
IN ADDITION To the five which I have
mentioned as having given approval in
their lower houses are Alabama, Con
necticut. FloriGo, Kentucky. Louisiana
Maryland, Missouri Rhode Island,
south Carolina. Tennessee and VIr-
ginia. Georgia has refused to ratifv
me amendment. and ali the other
states have ratified IL.
AS soon as thirty-six States have
ratified the amendment it becomes part
OF the Constitution of the United
States. When the Secretary of state
has been notified by that number of
states he Will notify the President and
a. proclamation will be issued stating
that the Constitution has been amend
cd"