The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-11
THE SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENr

THE SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT.
Seventeen States have ratified the
proposed seventeenth amendment to
the Federal Constitution, which pro-
vidcs for the direct election OF United
States Senators by the people. Mas
sachusetts and New York, in the East:
North Carolina and Texas In the South:
West Virginia. Michigan. Ohio. Iowa
and Minnesota. in the Middle West:
California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho.
Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and New
Mexico, in the Far West. have, through
their Legislatures. sanctioned the pro.
posal.
Utah and Georgia are the only States
winch so Tar have refused ratification.
Georgia. not content with declining
even to consider the question. memo
rallied Congress in protest that the
submission OF the amendment was ir
regular. In Utah, the State Senate
has voted down the suggested change
The movement for the seventeenth
amendment is weakest in the South
although the favorable action of North
Carolina and Texas indicates that there
may be decided division in this sec
ton. The negative action of thirteen
states is required for the defeat of
the amendment. Reports declare that
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama. Flor
ida. Mississippi and Louisiana will
ei"phaucaliy oppose the propositions
The course Of Virginia, Tennessee and
Arkansas cannot he forctold. but nc
the maintenance of State sovcreipntv
was the controlling consideration
which caused the House of Delegates
of Virginia in 1910 TO vote down tba
proposed Federal income tax om,rJ-
ment, there is some ground to SIM
pose that the same body might adopt
a similar attitude in reference to the
amendment providing for the direct
election of United States Senators. since
the objection of other Southern Sta1es
To the latter change is that Federa,
regulation of such elections is an in
Easioh OF domestic power of the
state. Such regulation is understood
TO mean that the Federal government
could divcst the States OF the powor
10 regulate the electorate Vernon,
connecticut and Rhode Island arc
counted against the seventeenth
amendment. If Utah, Virginia, Geor-
gia, South Carolina. Alabama. Florido
mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Ten
nessee, Vermont, Rhode Island and
Connecticut decide to Oppose Tho
amendment, they can prevent its adop.
zion.
The strongest reason for belief that
me seventeenth amendment will be
added 10 the national organic law is
that the Democratic party is uneouiy-
ocaliy committed 10 it's ratification. and
the Democratic strength in all the State
Legislatures is unusually great The
national platform OF the Democratic
party OF 1905 declared. we favor the
election Of United states Senators nv
direct vote OF the people and regard
This reform as the gateway to other
national reforms and the national
platform OF the Democratic party in
1917 followed up that position by say
ing: We congratulate the country
upon the triumph OF two important re-
forms demanded in our last national
platform, namely, the amendment OF
the Federal Constitution authorizing
an income tax, and the amendment
providing for this popular election or
Senators, and ue call upon the people
OF all The States 10 rally to the sup
port Of the pending proposals and Sc
cure their ratification"