Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-08
. Ratification by COnneCti-
cut Puts Amendment
Into Effect.
36 STATES APPROVED
Change in Method of Choosing
Representatives to Become
Operative in 1914.

Washington, D. c., April s.-Direct
election OF United States senators be-
came one of the provisions Of the con-
sututi0n today by Connecticut's rati-
f,ation OF the amendment to that ef-
feet Thrty-six states, the requisite
tlree-fourths Of all in the union, have
approved the change.
The new amendment TO the consti-
tuition. for the popular election Of
United states senators, Is the 18th to
be- adopted. Il reads:
"TFe senator's of the United States
shall be- composed Of two senators
from each state, elected by the people
thereof, for six years; and each sena-
tor shal have one vote. The electors
in each state shall have the qualih-
CHi0us requisite for electors Of the
most numerous branch OF the state
leg, Iutures.
When vacancies happen in the rep
rcsen'-tion Of any state in the senate.
t1n executive authority of such state
rhel issue writs OF election TO fill
such vacancies, provided that the legis-
lE'uro O. any state may empower the
'.pCutive thereof TO make temporary
appointments until the people fill the
vacancies by election as the legisla-
ture may direct"
The amendment primarily transfers
The power Of electing senators from
o.. agfe legislatures 70 the people at
.u. polls. To effect this change II was
necessary TO alter the machinery for
lHo filing OF vacancies in the senate.
FIGHT OF 90 YEARS.
For more than go years proposals
have been made TO change the consti-
tuition so as to provide for the direct
election OF senators. Il was not. how
ever. until June "A, 1911, that the sen-
ole was induced for the first time In
i-s history 10 give its consent TO the
change. on that day il voted TO sub
mtt TO the states the proposed amend
m,ll The resolution 20 submit had
already passed the house in some
hat different form. Before adjourn
meut Of the session, both houses
ar-eed TO the language 20 be employed,
and the resolution was deposited with
the secretary Of state May lG, 1912, for
distribution among the states
The original theory in establishing
the choice Of senators was that they
represented the states, whereas the
members OF the house represented the
people in their districts. 1t was be
cause Of this theory of the state as
uni. that all states. large and small,
were given equal representation in the
senate. Rhode Island having the same
number as New York or Pennsylvania.
In the theory OF the constitution fran
ers this entity OF the state was thus
made more distinct under the federal
system. and the state Legislature was
regarded as the suitable medium for
expressing this state entity. Later II
was Contended that state entity would
stil be preserved il the people Of the
entire state. instead OF the legislature.
chose the senators. and this view has
row been accepted as the basis Of the
new system.
In 1926 the first action was taken in
congress looking TO change. In that
year Representative Storrs, Of New
York. introduced a resolution making
senators elective by the people. An
other resolution Of similar import was
introduced by Representative Wright
of Ohio. in 1929. In 1850 Senator Glenn
ems OF Alabama introduced the first
senatorial direct election resolution in
the senate. Nothing resulted from
these movements.
REVIVED ny JOHNSON.
Il was Andrew Johnson who revived
congressional agitation for the direct
election OF senators. As a member OF
the house OF representatives, he intro.
duced two resolutions for the change,
and in 1860 renewed the agitation as a
member OF the senate. In 1865, as
president, he sent a special message
10 congress advocating the measure,
and then repeated his recommends
tons In his annual message.
The subject was revived in 1873
1876. 1856 and 1SSS. but without sue
cess. In 1898 the house agreed 20 the
proposition. as il did in the succeed
ing congress. and still again in 1898
1900 aud 1902 The proposed change
On none Of these occasions won a
favorable report from committees in
the senate.
With the house thus aTrayed year az
ter year IN favor Of the change, the
senate became the battle ground. Sen
a.c~ E-stow q Kansas took the lead
iu advocacy Of amending the constitu
ton along his line. In December
1909. he introduced his first resolu
JOn. A year lac. he obtained q re.