Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1913 — DIRECT ELECTION OF U. S. SENATORS [ARTICLE]

DIRECT ELECTION OF U. S. SENATORS

States to Prescribe Method of Electing—Constitutional Amendment Has Been Ratified. :- 7-L Direct election of United States Senators by the people was authorized and made compulsory Tuesday, when the Connecticut legislature ratified the constitutional amendment submitted by congress less than a year ago. Ratification bad been given by 35 states. The situation that results throughout the country, where many legislatures have adjourned until 1915 is such as to leave confusion in the minds of members of the senate as to how the early steps toward direct election of senators would be carried out. - While the proclamation of the secretary of state, announcing final ratification of the amendment by 36 states is required by law. Senators Bristow and Borah, leaders in the direct election fights in congress, evpressed the opinion Tuesday that the amendment is for all practical purposes now a part of the constitution. “,Any man who may be elected to the senate hereafter must be elected directly,” said Senator Borah. The new amendment gives to the stats legislatures, however, the right to prescribe the methods for electing senators. Many legislatures have adjourned, and will not reconvene until early in 1915, a few weeks before the terms of over thirty Senators expire. It is expected that in many states, the legislatures will adopt the plan authorized in the new amendment and direct the governors to appoint senators temporarily until the-people can elect men at regularly called elections. Special sessions of the legislatures will be urged in, many states, so that ( the necessary law? can be passed before the general elections of 1914. In some states action has already been taken, or will be before the legislatures end their present sessions, authorizing the people to vote for senatprs at next year’s election.