The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-02-04

Frank p. Glass OF Alabama as success
sor 10 the late Senator Joseph z.
Johnston we're taken up for consi dsFa-
ton IN the senate today. The long
pending controversy reached general
debate when Senator Walsh called the
majority report Of the elections COM
Gnittee, which recommended that Mr..
Glass be denied a seat On the ground
that Gov. O'1-eai had no authority to
appoint him under the terms of the
Seventeenth amendment without spe-
cia1 authorization of the state legis~
Iature. The report also contendsd that
the governor should have called a spe-
cial election.
Senators Bankhead. Bradley and
CIapp oE the elections committee, and
others were prepared to urge that Mr
Glass be seated; that technicalities
should be waived and that the state of
Alabama should not be deprived OF it's
share of representa- ton IN the senate
until the November election,
Senator Walsh said he had heard in
timatio73s that Democratic senators
we're inclined 70 reject the committee
recoul1ne endatton, feeling that TO ex-
clude Mr.. Glass would be to deny Ala
barna full representation in the sem
ate. He wished, he said, to present
complets view Of the legal aspect OF
the case before any action was taken.
The theory of law argued in behalf Of
Mr.. Glass, he declared, was that the
amendment to the constitution could
become operative in any state only
upon supplementary action by congress
or by the state Legislature.
IF you seat Mr Glass;" he said, s'you
affirm that theory. You declare that
the old system still is in force in Ala
bama and will remain in force, despite
the amendment until further action is
taken. The situation next November
when the legislature meets will be the
same as il now IS and a senator might
then be elected in the old way
A POINTED QUESTION,
why were not the people of Ala
bar1a given an opportunity to elect
their senator as was contemplated
when the Seventeenth amendment be-
came valid?'' inquired Senator Walsh.
TT was just such subterEuges oper-
ating to defeat the viii Of the people
or TO prevent them from expressing
their will that gave strength TO the
public demand for a change IN the me-
thod OF electing senator's. We did
well to commend the people Of Mary
land for their patriotism in recogniz-
Ing the Seventeenth amendment and
we ought to say to Alabama go thou
and do likewise.
Senator Robinson declared he was
unwilling that Alabama should not be
fully represented because Of an ambiE
uity in the amendment, which was due
to "the stupidity Of congress" He in
sisted that a United States senator
was a state officer and that Alabama
statutes gave ample warrant for the
Glass appointment. No inconsistency
with the senate's action in the Mary
land case would result from seating
Mr.. Glass he said. Senator Robinson
offered a substitute for the committee
report. which would declare Mr.. Glass
entitled to his seat.
Throughout the debate Mr.. Glass sat
with Senator Banknead-
Senator Williams declared che scorn-
mon senseA Of the amendment de-
manded that no state be denied any
part Of its representation
Senator Thompson Of Kansas con-
tended that If Alabama was denied
equal representation IN the senate, it
was because the governor OF Alabama
had failed to call q special election.
cIared Senator Thompson.
Senator Bradley argued there would
be no Inconsistency shown by sena-
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