Evening star., 1925-07-05
DIRECT PR|MAR|E 5
WORRY PARTY men
ReStIeSsneSS Seen Over
Manner in Which Laws Are
Working Out.
BY ROBERT T. SMALL.

There is growing restlessness among
political leaders In many sections Of
the country over the manner in which
the direct primary laws are working
out. Within the next year or so efforts
are likely to be made in several
States to bring about repeals Colo
rado led the way this year with
repeater passed by both branches of
the legislature, but vetoed by the
governor. The fight there Is not ended.
1t will be renewed when conditions
are more favorable.
Change I'm Senate Foreseen.
The announced retirement of Sena-
tor Oscar w. Underwood OF Alabama,
at the end OF his present term, March
4, 1927. has once more called attention
to the fact that the primary laws and
the election of Senators by the people,
brought about by the seventeenth
amendment to the Constitution, has
charged. and is likely still further to
change the chara cter of the Senate. 1t
is generally believed here in Wash
ington that Senator Underwood did
not care to go through the strife and
turmoil of a primary battle. OF course
in Alabama the primary is the only
fight necessary-the election being
merely formality to ratify the Demo
cratic selection. The ''drys" had prom
ised to make things as disagreebale as
they could for the Senator and the
growing radical wing of the party was
not at all satisfied with the Senator's
conservative leanings. Rather than TO
be forced to defend views which he
has no intention whatever of chang
ing, Senator Underwood steps aside
after notable career in public life.
Law Hits Underwood.
Under the old system Of electing
Senators by the legislature Senator
Underwood might have remained in
the upper chamber Indefinitely. Ala
bama never did ratify the direct elec-
tion amendment. That amendment
was declared in effect, however, May
81, 1913, and only il Senators who
were In the Senate prior to 1913 are
there today. There are only four men,
bers Of the Senate with 20 or
more years Of service to their credit.
They are Senators Warren of Wy
oming, Simmons and Overman of
North Carolina, and Smoot OF Utah.
Senator Borah Of Idaho. who took his
seat as late as 1907. is now fifth on
the list of Senators in service.
Oddly enough, the direct election
amendment did not seriously affect
the so-called political bosses" who
were serving in the Senate. Boies
Penrose OF Pennsylvania, for instance,
had Just as easy q time getting elect
ed under the new system as ne did
under the old. Only death terminated
his service. Senators Warren and
Smoot may be said TO be of the old
political leader school, while Senators
Overman and Simmons are just natu-
raj fixtures in the Senate.
Twelve States Fan to Ratify.
Altogether IL States failed to ratify
the direct election clause to the Con-
stitution. In addition to Alabama
they were Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky. Louisiana, Maryland. Mis-
sissippi, Rhode Island, South Carolina
Utah and Virginia Although 1t has
been felt that the amendment robbed
the Senate of some of its best minds
men who would not go out and fight
for the Office at the polls-there is no
serious talk heard of an attempt ever
to go back to the old order.
But there has been an outcry
against the direct primary system,
which also has taken its toll OF bril-.
liant men, who lacked the means Of
meeting the heavy primary expenses
and who would not permit their
friends to put up for them. Efforts
have been made from time to time by
State and national legislation to limit
primary and election expenses, but It
has been found almost impossible to
do so.
Prominent Senator's View.
One former Senator from a big
Northern State confided to the writer
that his unsuccessful fight at the last
primary in which he participated cost
him $4,000. Even with the recent
increase the salary of a Senator for
term of six years totals only $50, 600
At the time the former Senator spent
the $4,000 the salary total amounted
only to $45 900.
No one ever has known just what
the total expenditures amounted in
the famous Newberry senatorial cam
] paign in Michigan. 1t was sufficient
, however, to cause am public scandal
! unnoticed.