The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-07-22
ELECTION COMPLICATIONS
AS RESULT OF DIRECT BALLOT
Most Trouble Expected From Failure
OF Legislatures to Provide
Appropriate Plans

Washington, July 21.-Complica-
tions are predicted as certain to
arise over installation of the direct
election method for selection of Unit
ed Safes Senators. Most of the trouble
Is expected to result from the failure
or State Legislature to promptly
provided appropriate methods for car
rying out the recent amendment OF
the Constitution for direct Senatorial
election.
Leaders of the Senate majority are
more anious about the situation than
the Republicans two or moreya-
cancies on the Democratic side of the
chamber occur, the Democrates' mar
row margin of power in the body
would be gone. Thirty-two Sentatorial
terms will expire March 8, 1917.
Some of the States already have provi
ded method Of popular election OF
Senators, but many OF them have not
and vacancies caused by death or
resignation, may call at any time for
a popular election from Safes whiih
have not yet acted.
A UNIFORM METHOD.
Democratic members of the COM
mittee on privileges and elections
have considered the adtisability of
having national law prescribing a
method applicable to all States alike
TO do this Congress would exercise
It's power under the Constitution, to
revise Safe regulation as to the time
and manner of selecting Senator's, a
step which never has appealed to
Southern Senators. No sooner had
the suggestion of Federal legislation
been made than they entered a nro-
stet and the ides has been abandon
ed.
The Legislature of Georgia recent
ly enacted legislation in regard to
placing the names of Senators on the
ballots and has elected the first
Senator by this method The Florida
Legislature decided this purpose. The
Texas Legislature has been called to
meet in special session to consider.
among others things the passing of
laws fro election machinery in accor-
dance with the amendment.
/ SITUATION IN MARYLAND.
The Governor of Maryland has de-
cided he is empowered under exist
ing laws, TO issue a writ of election
TO NIL the uneXpired term of the late
Senator Rayner. Senator jackson
is now serving by designation of the
Governor.
Such constitutional lawyers of the
senate as senators Root and South
erland are saaid to doubt the power
10 the Governor to issue the writ and
the appearance of a new Senate from
Maryland to take the oath of office
may mark the initial fight in the
Senate over the senatorial cleo
tion machinery.
The situation is complicated by the
amendment futher limiting the Gov
ernor's power to fill vacancies in the
Senate. In the past a Governor has
hlled vacancies occurring when the
Legislature was not in session. Here
after Governor may not fill a va
cancy, unless the Legislature of his
state has empowered him to make
temporary appointments until the
people may fill the vacancy by cleo
ton, as the Legislature NAV direct
The matter has been called to the
attention of the Democratic Congress
sonaI committee and it may take
steps to urge the safe to pass legisla-
ton as quickly as possible. 1t will see
TO II that the terms beginning in 1915
act before that time. Should vacan-
cles occur, during pendancy of the
Tar1f Act in states where suitable
machinery is not now provided, IL is
understood the committee would at
once urge the convening of the state
Legislature to autorize the Cover
nors to appoint and to provide for
the placing of candidates for Senator
on the ballots in future elections.