In 1911, the House of Representatives approved the Joint Resolution of Assembly 39 (House Joint Resolution 39), proposing a constitutional amendment for the direct election of the senators. However, it included a race provision (Race Rider) created to block federal intervention in cases of racial discrimination among voters. A substitute amendment created by Senator Joseph L. Bristow (R-KS) eliminated that race provision. The amendment, Joint Resolution, was adopted by the Senate, in a close vote on May 1911. More than a year later, the House accepted this change, and the amendment was sent to the states for ratification. On April 8, 1913, three-quarters of the states had ratified the proposed amendment, and it was officially included as the 17th amendment.
Bolivar hated the fact that political appointees who exercised power were appointed directly by the royalty without taking into consideration the views, or the agenda of the local population, and without involving their vote and voice at all.
