Show T TO ELECT SEHATOBS I i Palmer Favors Their Election by Direct Vote of the People A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT One Jflll Probably be AUoptea Bland Accuses Ac-cuses hurler Trying to Divide the G A R on Silver WASHINGTON Feb ISIf the amendment amend-ment to the constitution which I propose is adopted members of the Senate of the United States will be chosen by direct vote of the free people of the several states and it will be what It never yet has beenthe popular branch of the Congress of the United States These were the words used by Senator almer of Illinois in his speech in the Senate Sen-ate today urging the election of United States Senators by popular vote and his arraignment of the upper house of Congress Con-gress as A NONFOPDLAU BODY was in his language not often heard by the venerable members of that dignified assembly as-sembly Senator Palmer opened his speech by saying in urging the amendment he only obeyed the instructions given him in the most impressive manner by the people of Illinois The Senator reviewed briefly the Douglas and Lincoln senatorial contest in Illinois and then detailed the successive steps and declarations made by the Democracy De-mocracy of Illinois in regard to this sub ject which finally led to the Democratic triumph tri-umph in that state and the election tr himself as the representative of that principle prin-ciple to the United States senate The Senator insisted the constitutional congtitutonal mode of the election of Senators by the legislatures of the states was NO LONGER SATISFACTORY to the American people Bo did not mean to make himself responsible for the charges of bribery and unuue influence that at tended nearly every senatorial election by endorsing or repeating any of them Ho referred to them in that slight manner only to emphasize the statement that the people no longer confided in but were profoundly distrustlul of the methods of electing bena enl tors by the state legislatures None of the reasons which led the trainers of the constitution con-stitution to deprive the people of direct control of the executive department or the Senate now existed Experience had long ago demonstrated the uselessness of electors for the selection of Presi dent and VicePresident The wealth invested in commerce in manu factures in railways forests and mines demanded legislation for its protection or its benefit and Us political power whether employed in Congress or the state legislature legisla-ture rarely failed of success All that the people could gain by the proposed amendment amend-ment would be ENLARGED POWERS OF SELFDEFENSE Senators would be the true and exact rep resentatives of the people and defend their homes and property from unequal and excessive ex-cessive burdens They would dignify the states for the people were the states Elections for the choice of presi dential electors the election of mem bers of the legislature who elect Senators the election of members of the House of Representatives in Congress said the Senator are disc influenced and often controlled by an unfair arrangement of districts I the amendment to the constitution con-stitution which I propose is adopted mem hers of the Senate will be chosen by a direct di-rect vote ot tho free people of the several states and the Senate will be what it has never yet been the popular branch of the Congress of the United States Senator Mitchell of Oregon said he listened with pleasure to the able remarks of the Senator from Illinois Ha Mitch Michel Mich-el had had the honor of introducing 1 similar proposition in IfcbS and one at the present session Similar amendments were also introduced by Senators from In diana and New Hampshire Turpie and Chandler All these propositions were referred to the committee on privileges and elections and by that committee to a subcommittee composed of Senators Chandler Turpie and himself and he was gratified to be able to state after consultation a majority of that subcommittee agreed to REPORT IN FAVOR OF SUCH AMENDMENT to the constitution I was their hope and belief that at a very early day the full committee on privileges and elections would be able to report favorably an amendment similar to the one introduced by the Senator from Illinois The subject then went over Dolph moved to take from the calendar and pass the bill extending for ten years the laws preventing the introduction of Chinese but Hanley objected I was he said a bill of extraordinary severity and he wished at least time to read it Dolph gave notice he would call it up at an early day Peiter Perkins Merrill Allison Hale Daniel Dolph and Turpie delivered eulogies on tho late Senator Plumb andthe Senate adjourned |