The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-12-09
COMPLETING THE CONQUEST.

is made, the couquoet OF tho federal aystoul
over state Sovereignty NI. bo complete. party
government as have known 80 in America
aiuce the days Of jefferson Wal he found oulY
In tho annals Of our history and the great COM
monwenth viii have arrived
The amendment It's face merely contem-
plates doing thing which # IL perfectly logical
to do. and takes no account Of the consequences
OF that thing. who viii oppose tho election OF
of tho chief executive by direct vote OF the
peoploS or inaugurating him and oonvenlng tho
new national Legislature January /, follow
Ing such election, instead OF Mnrch T. as at
present. And where shall such a one find ac-
ceptablo argument for opposing so logical and
simple changer
There Is much 10 be said in is favor In fact
all actual experience and all superficial reason
Ing runs to the support OF such a proposition
We have needed moro instant response on
the part OF government to the expressed VIII
OF the people We have delighted in pointing
out In what respect the English system OF gov
ernment overtopa ours In such respect Well
this idea OF having the existing national govern
merit die with the election and the new immedi
etely convened. remedies the defect COM
plained Of
AS to tho election OF the president ny popular
such practice IN tho election OF senator's? And
were not senators formerly elected by the legs.
lative bodies OF their respective states such
pra@ice being designed TO maintain the dual
system of government between state and fed
eral structure quite much "a tho System OF
eiectng the president by a college OF electors
made up by state representatives in proportion
to the actual voting power OF such states?
II is considered certain that II the amendment
proposed should be submitted to tho various
states as their legislatures ara now constituted
" would be approved just fast the various
legislatures assembled, with even greater rapid
ty than was either the Eighteenth or tho Nine
teenth.
fSlt what OF the consequences? We are not
prepared to cay that they VIII be disastrous but
prepared to say that they viii he grave
even revolutionary. It is clear that II we elect
the chief ma Eistrate OF the republic by direct
vgtes shall not nominate the candidates by
a convention, For there is nothing more OBJ
jectionabe 10 the gentlemen now moving this
revolutionary change than the cbnvention sys-
tenn FOR making nominations with the direct
vote in election win come the direct vote In
nominating. Thus we Will have the extension
o. the primary system into the federal struc-
ture and the consequent abolishment Of that
wisely exerted In recent times has contributed
more than any other thing 70 the revolution
impending.
Mayhap we are working out a national saliva
ton in ways that past comprehendlng hut
that Will terminate IN more just. a more secure
and more lasting benefit TO all Concerning
that ono can but speculate. However one IA
m!lar with the wisdom exempufed by the
trainers of the constitution and the designers OF
our government, in setting up such a structure
as they dd--one who is profound believer in
that form as the best the human mind is cap
able Of designing where the objective Is a last
ing government no less than a JUS; government
cannot shake Off apprehension as tho signs in
dIcate unmisakahly the complete subycrion Of
tins republic ana the swift approach OF the great
commonwealth
The state and its Sovereignty was 10 constitute
check upon the agRresslons or tho federal gov
erument which the designers forcsaw would be
attempted quite clearly as we now know
has actually been accomplished. Il was relt
that the states Jealous defense OF rs rights in
police matters. IN local self government ana in
the conduct OF an government business not spo-
ciacaIly delegated 20 the federal structure
would serve 20 hold the federal Leycthian within
acceptable bounds But what has been tho
fact? State pride such as the founders OF our
government depended on FOR the maintenance
Of the system with ts checks and balances has
all but disappeared through lust for political
distinction in the larger sphere. So much So
that of late years have actually discovered
state dignitaries conyeniug for the purpose of
connlvIng at bringing about srlll moro exteu-
sve abdlcation OF state Sovereignty by the states
a SIN greater peaceful aggression by the fed
eral structure,
At the moment there Is left nothing but a
pltful. had almost said hateful slloeto on
OF that state sovereignty which clearly one
OF the hulwarks against federal aggressions
which the trainers OF our government set up,
Even the police powers Of the state have been