Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-01-30
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
Popular Elections of United states
Senators.

The disclosures made in the investiga-
ton in reference to the election OF an
United States Senator from Kansas, the
charges made against Bogy, the Senator
from Missouri, and the fact tnat other
men of wealth are being elevated 10
seats in that body, have suggested, IN
certain quarters, the demand for pro-
vision for the election of United States
Senators by the people. The newspapers,
that join in this demand, seem to be I'M
mindful Of the fact that their columns
TEEN, day after day, with charges, ac-
companied by detailed statements, of
alleged bribery and corruption by the
representatives directly elected by the
people, both in the national and State
Houses of Representative. The cry of
elections by the people, however, is sup
posed to be popular, as if the people
were unwilling, as rule, to trust their
representatives The tendency of late
years, has been to extend more and
more the number of officers elected by
the people. The experiment has been
made in reference to elections of judicial
officers and, perhaps, from the working
of the system as applied to them, the
beneficial or pernicious results of elect
ing United States Senators may be antici-
pated. 1t must be understood, however,
that there is great distinction between
the two, one being entirely political in
its character, and the other far removed
therefrom In Vermont, where the
Judges in our higher courts are elected
by the Legislature, political considera-
tons have never entered into the selec-
ton. Rarely, and but for short periods,
have the minority party been without
its representatives on the bench, and, at
times, they even have had a majority Of
the Supreme Court Judges. This is as
it should be, but in States where the
elections have been by the people, the
judiciary has been nominated and elected
almost solely on political grounds. The
Office of judge has been intrigued for,
the primary meetings have been attend
ed in the interast of certain candidates,
nominations have been made out of re-
gard for locality and party services, and
the party lines, in the election, strictly
drawn. No matter how pure, up
right and able a jurist may be, it
cannot secure him a reelection I'M
less he belongs to the dominant
political party, and not always
then unless he or his friends have packed
the caucus and convention. This has
been notably the case in New York and
Pennsylvania, not to mention other
States. If improper motives enter into
the election of q non-political officer by
the people, can we reasonably hope for
anything better in purely political Of
fee? Again, have popular elections
secured upright, incorruptible, intelli-
gent jurists? The history of the past
three years in New York are suffici
ent answer. Can the legislative judicial
elections of the whole country added to
those appointed by State Executives,
produce such or so many similar 0rna-
nae'ats to the judiciary as New York,
of her McCunn, Barnard and Cardozo.
Will the people be more careful in the
election of her Senators than they have
shown themselves to be in selecting their
Judges? We fear not. Another reason
urged for the change is to keep rail
road men" out of the Senate. The rea-
son is as senseless as the proposed RENE
dy. Is a man TO be ostracised because,
forsooth, he is or has been a railroad
president, director, treasurer, contractor
or attorney? We have as good and as
upright and intelligent men who are or
have been prominently connected with
railway construction and management
as in any other business or profession
This country owes debt of gratitude to
these men which she will, at some day,
not fail TO recognize But admitting,
for the sake Of the argument, that they
should not be Senators, will popular
elections prevent it? Cannot primaries
and conventions be controlled with even
greater facility than legislatures? Are
Legislators more easily influenced by I'M
due considerations than delegates to par
ty conventions? The current political
history of the country furnishes the an
swer. Would the people left to their
own instincts, uncontrolled by cliques or
combinations, reject this class of men
from senatorial honors? Our gubena-
torial, judicial and congressional cleo
tions show that they would not 1t is
said that the instincts of the people are
generally right. Granted. But does it
not rresistably follow that their repre-
sentatives must, also, be generally right
We should prefer to trust the honor and
dignity of the State, as represented by
her judges and United States Senators,
in the hands of the representatives Of
the people in the Legislature, rather
than to the tender mercies of political
convention.