The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-02
PUTS IT up TO THE STATES
legislatures Would Act Instead
of the People.
Republicans See Little Chance
Of Regsining House Control.

-
. new method Of proposing and ratify-
ing amendments. It leaves congress
out Of consideration with a sort of
chain letter plan.
This resolution provides that the
constitution may be amended when
ever the legislature of any state shall
propose an amendment and the legis-
1atu1es OF three-fourths Of the states
have ratified 1t.
If this amendment should be adopt
ed congress would have no part in
proposing amendments or in calling
convention to change or amend the
constitution.
The other joint resolution presented
by the young Kansas congressman II
one which proposes to amend Article
" of the federal constitution a. fol-
lows:
whenever any law Of the United
States shall become invalid through
the ruling; Judgment or decree OF any
feet that said law Is not in conform
4ty with the constitution. then the val
ldity OF said law shall be submitted by
the secretary of state OF the United
States to the governors OF the several
thereof for their approval or rejection.
together with a proposed amendment
to the constitution making such law
constitutional.
1.-THE said amendment shall be framed
nv the judiciary committee Of each
house of congress and attorney general.
~ the said law and the proposed
amendment to the constitution shall be
approved by the legislatures OF three
fourths Of the states, the law shall %
and remain in force. the same as
the court, and the amendment pro-
posed shall be valid as a part Of the
constitution but If the amendment snail
be approved and the law rejected the
amendment shall be valid as a part OF
the constitution from the time OF Its
approval as herein provided.
This is a method for the really OF
judicial decisions by referendum to the
state legislatures and not to the people.
Politicians at the capital who have
analysed the figures and actual .condi-
ttors do not greet with much enthusi-
asm the suggestion that the Demo-
cratic party Is likely to be ousted from
cuntrol of the house in the forthcom-
ing congressional eIections.
iikeiihood Of 4 number OF Democrats
failing denomination, and to that ex-
tent changing the personnel of the
house, but they do not admit Repub-
lican preponderance in the next house.
house to 12s Republicans, five pro-
gressive Republicans, 15 Progress
sives," one Independent and one seat
vacant.
In that smashing Democratic ma
jcrity there are 166 Democrats who
were elected by a clear majority over
all. and by figures so, large as to be
exceedingly discourae9ng to political
opponents. ltiT.E
Fifty-one Of the seats gained by a
clear majority are held outside Of the
solid south, in territory reasonably de-
batable, but not promising for a land
slide the other way. In these districts
the Bull Moose party will probably
nominate candidates, and repeat next
ocrats in power.
Analysis Of the figures shows that In
the districts which elected by q plural
1ty there were not many where the sit
uation holds out glittering prospects Of
change. In only six districts was the
plurality less than 500; in three 1t was
below 1000; in eleven it was between
1000 and 1000; in four 1t was between
1000 and 5000. and in eleven between
5000 and 5000. "a. ss,.sss ssssssssss- -. ..
II the Republicans should win back
each of these districts. they would still
have a long distance to travel before
sighting q majority in the house.
CONGRESSMAN Phil p. Campbell, of
Kansas, evidently has no fond recol-
lection Of the plum buildings of his boy
fish days on the old farm back in the
Sunhower state.
When the tariff on raisins was low
cred the members from California pre-
.dicted every disaster the human race
could know from measles to earth
quakes. The raisin was a sacred in
stitution, the temple of liberty, the fire
upon the family altar.
In fact, no one Of the raisin breed
would have recognized himself in the
glowing picture painted by the orators
from the Golden state. The raisin, like
g. tI,n fnk a,.1Av Fol uo6
the constitution, and only the lowest
poltroons would dare cast a shadow on
its time-honored name.
Genial Phil, of Kansas, rose in his
seat in the house and unbosomed him.
SELF
his tremblini; voice, 'if the raisins OF
today are like those I used to eat in
plum pudding in my bare-legged youth.
back in my state vote raisins be ex-
cluded altogether"
The Democrats Of the Kansas con-
gressional delegation are doing their
durndest to land the Hon. John L
: Caldwell of Fort Scott as United
States minister to Persia They have
held several pow-wows with President
Wilson in behalf of Caldwell. The
delegation was made one day this
week. when the president said he
would ''be glad to consider the rec
ommendatiOn."
Kansas has always had a hard time
breaking into the diplomatic corps.
Tho senate has confirmed the fol-
lowing presidential postmaster ap.
pointments for Kansas: George H
Burlkhalter, Troy; J. H. Parkinson
Pomona: Fred Powell, Thayer: Thorn.
as Leach. Randolph; Adelaide Bran.
denburg. Frankfort: Joseph H. Plum.
mer. Westmoreland.
Fourth class postmasters appoint.
ed: Rose Anderson. Jericho: William
I. Finley. Pollard. Kan.