The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-12

state. instead OF the legislature, chose
the senator's. and this view has now
been accepted as the basis OF the new
system.
In 1926 the first action was taken
In congress looking to n change. In
that year Representative Storrs of
New York introduced resolution
making senators elective by the peo-
pie. Another resolution Of similar
import was introduced by Representa-
tive Wright Of Ohio, in 1929. In 1850
Senator Clemens Of Alabama intro
duced the first senatorial direct cleo
ton resolution in the senate. Moth.
ins resulted from these movements.
1t was Andrew Johnson who revived
congressional agitation for the direct
election of senators. AS a member of
the house of representatives, he in
troduced two resolutions for the
change, and in 1860 renewed the
agitation as a member Of the senate.
In 1858, as president. he sent a spe-
cial message to congress advocating
the measure, and then repeated his
recommendations in his annual mes.
sage.
The subject was revived in 1873,
1876, 1886 and 1888, but without sue
cess. In 1893 the bouse agreed to the
proposition, as it did in the succeed
ing congress, and still again in 1898,
1900 and 1902. The proposed change
on none of these occasions won
favorable report from committees in
the senate.
With the house thus arrayed year
after year in favor of the change, the
senate became the battle-ground. SEN
ator Bristow Of Kansas took the lead
in advocacy Of amending the consti-
tuition along this line. In December,
1909, he introduced his first resolu-
tion. A year later he obtained a re-
port from the committee. but fea-
ture had been tackled onto his pro-
posal which brought on a fight in the
senate, threatened TO kill the entire
proposition. This interposed feature
was to amend other provisions of the
constitution SO as to deprive the fed
eral government Of power 70 super
wise the State regulations as to the
time and manner OF election. The
votes OF Southern senator's threatened
to defeat the main proposition IL the
federal government was given this
power. Senator Root made O speech.
In which he criticised the method
employed by Southern States in de-
priving negroes Of the right OF suf-
frage. Senator Bacon replied that
the federal government was being
given the power once more to enact
force bills" and send armies and
marshals into Southern States to
intimidate voters. On February %,
juts before the end Of tho session.
the resolution was defeated by four
votes.
Senator Bristow reintroduced the
resolution in the special session i'm
mediately following. The fight of the
preceding session was refought, hut
this time the friends of the resolu-
ton won by vote Of "a to "a, or
five more thin the required two
thirds.
The house had passed q resolution
which made 1t clear the federal gov
ernment was not to interfere with SEN
atorial elections in the States. For
weeks the measure was in conference.
Finally the house conferees receded
and the house agreed to the senate
measure by vote OF 237 to 80.
Previous to this time. the several
States had taken the bit in their
teeth by enacting laws which in effect
did not wait for constitutional
amendment on the subject. Probably
the most successful OF these was
adopted in Oregon. 1t virtually di-
rected the members of the legisla-
ture to elect the person who received
the majority vote at the regular cleo
tion, when the placing Of the name
OF candidate for United States sem
ator upon the ticket was authorized
The control OF legislatures by great
corporations was assigned by Sena-
tor Bristow as one of the main rea-
sons for the demanded change. with
the development during recent times
OF the great corporate interests of the
country" said he, "and the increased
importance OF legislation relating to
their affairs. they have tenaciously
sought To control tho election of sem
ators friendly to their interests. The
power of these great financial and in
dustrial institutions can be very eff
fectiValy nse1 In tho olcctin, of s,apo