The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-04-22
POPULAR ELECTION OF sENA-
TORS.

The popular demand for a constitu.
tlonal change in the n of elect
ing United States Senators is gathering
such momentum that it cannot be
much longer denied. In Kansas and
some other States the Farmers ALI.
ice have made the election of Sena,
tors by a vote of the people part of
their programme. This movement of
the farmers is meeting with strong
encouragement from public men, who
recognize that seats is the Senate have
largely become objects of traffic, and
are sought because of the opportunities
which they afford for serving the in
terests of great corporations and mo-
nopolies.
When the Constitution was framed
the assumption was that the State
Legislatures, consisting of select bodies
of men, would exercise more care and
wisdom in the choice of United States
Senators than would the people at the
ballot box. The present method of
electing Senators had it's inception in
a profound distrust of the intelligence
and patriotism of the people. Alex
ander Hamilton carried this sentiment
of distrust so far as to propose that
Senators be appointed for life or dur
ing good behavior by the Governors
of the several States. But experience
has demonstrated that State Legis
latures are anything but safe deposi-
tories of so important a trust as the
selection of members of the Federal
Senate. Since seats in the Senate are
in great demand because of their
purchasable value to the great corpora
tons and monopolies in transportation
and trade, there is an eager quest for
seats in the State Legislatures, on &C.
count of the pecuniary opportunities
they afford in a Senatorial barter.
From the first step to the last from
the local county or ward caucus that
nominates the candidate for the Legis-
Iature to the Legislative caucus that
raff1es off the Senatorial honor-the
people have only the most indirect,
remote and shadowy influence upon
the proceedings.
The change in the mode of election
would cause a great revolution in the
body. It is not disputed
that there are many men now sitting
in the Senate who, by reason of their
ability and experience, would
be the choice of the people in a popu-
lar election. But how many more are
there whom the Senatorial Club would
know no more forever if the choice
should be taken from the State Legis-
latures ? 1t is necessary only to scan
the array of seats in the Senate to
form a reply. While some would not
risk a popular contest, others, with the
certainty Of defeat at the ballot-box,
could not obtain a party nomination.
The influence of corruption in popular
elections is grave enough; but it is
small compared with what is brought
to bear successfully upon a legislative
caucus of a hundred men, or less,
many of whom seek election for the
purpose of selling their votes to the
highest bidder.
In the meantime, while the move
ment for the popular choice of Sena-
tors is progressing, the people may do
much to elevate the character of the
Senate by the exercise of vigilance and
care in the election of members of the
Legislature in the several States. In
stead of trusting to the intrigues of
caucus, it has been the custom in
Illinois and some other Western States
to make a canvass before the people
for United States Senator, as in the
famous contest bet ween Lincoln and
Douglas in 1858. The choice of
United States Senator in both parties
was thus designated in advance of the
meeting of the Legislature. But the
safe rule would be to elect Senators
directly by a vote of the people, and
thus leave nothing to corruption or
chance in legislative caucus. -PhiZ&-
delphto Record.