OCR Text |
Show BY POPULAR VOTE. Evory two years with added force there comes to tho peoplo who caro-fully caro-fully watch tho course of political events the belief that a chango Is necessary In our system of electing United States Senator. Ilov many cases can bo cited where tho cholco of Senator mado by a etuto legislature is thu true choice of th.) majority of tho peopic of that state? We believe wo itro su f ii In saying that thoy aro comparatively com-paratively fow. The result of tho last election is probably destined to show this fact moro clearly than most yours. For Instance, tho Democratic party has gained In tho IIouso of Representatives, Representa-tives, whoro tho members are olocted direct by tho people, while tho complexion com-plexion of tho state legislatures olearly Indicates that thoro will bo a gain of Republicans in tho Semtto. Such a result would not be possible wore tho Senators chosen In each statu by popular pop-ular vote. Therefore no ono can challenge chal-lenge tho statement that a Sonata so elected will moro clearly oxpruss tho will of tho people. Under tho present system It Is a notorious fact that many a seat In tho United States Senuto Is held by a man who secured It by flagrant flag-rant bribery cither In the war of money or patronago and who Is not tho real choice of ono tenth of his constituents. Legislatures uro easier bought than tho peoplo, and many legislators after onco securing tho otllce consider thorn-selves thorn-selves perfectly freo to Ignore the wlshis ot thojr constituents. We do not consider this a criticism of tho founders of our country, for things have changed slnco their day and conditions con-ditions havo arisen which they could not foresee, Resides, the Ideas of legislation leg-islation hold by our founders wore naturally derived from tho mother country where the upper Huuso Is distinctly dis-tinctly removed from tho peoplo and their control. Coupled with theso facts Is tholr consideration that the Senate should represent only tho states, alt ot whom were jealoits of tholr rights. At that day the system worked as Intended In-tended and tho states woro represented In the Senato by men of foremost worth and ability, but as wo ally abovo conditions have changed since thon, and matters have come to such a pass that In moil Senatorial contests it Is n atamllrg guess as to ho much tho seat cost the successful caudldato and what legislators he had to buy. This should le changed. The United States Senate should represent tint only the several states hut also the people of those states, Tim United KtHtiw Senato . Is how .frequently 1"JHB of hi he r i ' ii "Millionaires Club," aud with n great deal or justice Thu fact that under the present sjtm the Senators aru not directly responsible to the people frf qiiently gives rise to vicious legls- ' lallon in that body not possible Under other circumstances, and makes It the favorlto plnce for Iho lobbying of mensurcs of doubtful beuellt. Such a condition is to a curtain extent a disgrace dis-grace to Congress and thu Nation. We do nut believe in the abolition of the United States Senato foi wo bollovo that whh the two Houses ono must naturally act us a check upon thu other and be the catiso of much moro consideration of measures, thut preventing pre-venting hasty legislation, liusldos llilu tho Bemi'to Iihs many duties to perform which If put upon one tlouso alone would hiivu the effect of cumbering and teiardlng legislation. What wc do bollcvc, however, Is that the United States Senato should bo elected by itnd made tllrccily responsible to thn people. This can be done by an amemlmunt to tho Constitution or tho United States taking the power and duty of Senatorial Senator-ial elections away from the state legislatures leg-islatures aud placing It In the hands of thu people, the samo as tho election of Congressional representatives. An agitation agi-tation to this end has been on foot lor a long llmo and It should bo continued by tho people until tho needed reform Is brought about. |