Evening star., 1924-03-21

Is Senator James W. Wadsworth,
jr, emulating his great federaiist
predecessor of New York, Alexan-
der Hamilton, in his effort to correct
the orientation Of the United States
Constitution away from the legis-
latures of the sovereign states di-
rectly to the people? y
The age-long difference. of view
point as to whether this nation is
confederation Of. forty-eight sover-
eighties all acting through their
own legislative bodies and jealousy
guarding their dtixens from inter-
ference or control by a centralized
government, has not yet been wholly
settled, in spite Of Daniel Webster.
It awaits Senator wadsworth and his
twentieth amendment.
History relates that when Congress
met in Annapolis, December 23,. 1888.
to thank the commxnder-in-ch chief OF
its victorious army, all members OF
Congress. retained their hats uDon
resented the sovereign states OF the
Union. Today the members do well
II they succeed in retaining their
heads-not merely their hats. How
much else has grown up to distort
democracy?
There were years OF weakness and
confusion while the thirteen states
were held together with. the rope of
sand called the confederation, where
by each state remained Independent.
In 1887 there assembled a convention
%4 h4 Arffo ~
tion. Tho Virginia plan, offered by
Gov. Edmund Randolph, still dealt
with the states only through their
legislatures. 1t proposed that in case
any state refused to obey the man
dates of Congress the central gov
eminent should make war upon it to
compel obedience.
: Alexander Hamilton presented his
plan, which based no branch of gov.
eminent upon authority of the states,
but, being more national than the
Virginia plan, derived all power di-
reotly from tho people The Hamil-
idea Of Randolph, though Hamilton
was an aristocrat in his statesman
ship. When, safter long debate, James
Madison drew the basis Of the final
Constitution its opening expression
~ AS II1AL Ok G1AuulIOu. rslA5F
I'VE, the people Of the United
States, in order to form a more per-
feet union, do ordain and es-
tablish this Constitution for the
United States OF America"
It was thus declared an act Of the
their legislatures. The Con-
stitutton strangely provided that
when 1t was to be amended not the
people. but the state legislatures
should be clothed with the power de-
MED to the. legislatures in the origi-
~ NJ
3. Now, after more than a century and
q third Of experience, it is proposed
by this modern descendant of the
great federalist Of New York to cor
rect that. faulty method Of. amend
mant, and get back to the sovereign
people, from whom not merely the
federal government derives all of its,
constitutional powers but who are
the source Of whatever power the
state legislatures exercise.
Tho Wadsworth amendment does
not 60 the ywAols way. but. proposes
that after lCoagress shall have SUBJ
mitted amendments to be ratified by
of the states through
their legislatures, no legislature shall
Be Qua1ffied to vote thereon until at
least one. OF. its branches shall have
been efscted after the amendment has.
been Aefpre the people for considera-,
ton by this. provision he expects
that the voice; Of the people,i in select-l
ting the meHbers OF the legislatures
WIN reflect the will Of the electors as
to the pending constitutional amend
ment,
= + ~5
Senator Thomas J.~walsh OF Mon
tana, member Of the judiciary COM
mittee, tn4 SyhieA the sW$dswoftf1,