The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-21

Is due to their large numbers
and the fact that corporations cannot afford
to undertake to carry their measures
through by the use of money. No doubt
some scandals have occurred in the New
England states, but they are nothing com
pared with other states where the number
Of legislators in the assembly is much
smaller"
what keeps conscientious men out Of the
legislaturef
lone Of the causes " hich has been very
efficient in keeping independent and con-
scientious men out of our legislative bodies
is our present machine methods. Measures
Of all kinds have been forced through
state legislature; and congress by calling
them party measures and cracking the
party whip and telling honest men 70 vote
for them when there are no politics in the
measure at all, but simply business bills
for corrupt purposes. | believe in
the old method Of holding members
to party accountability for their votes on
purely political questions ana allowing them
absolute freedom of action on all other
matters coming before the legislature l
believe that many men would have taken
these positions who would have done honor
and credit to the state and party, but who
have been kept out by a knowledge of the
fact that they would be called upon to vote
for many measure which they could not APP
prove.n
"Is there not demand for reformF'
Undoubtedly there is q pressing demand
for reform in legislative methods, and re-
form IN everything that pertains to govern
ment by legislation. have no doubt at all
that it will come in the very near future.
While the people are very willing to
give great powers to governors, to
mayors of cities and to all executive
officers, still 1t remains true that the source
of power must be found in the people, and
that caa only be given expression through
their repre- Sentatives in legislative bodies.
Therefore, while the tendency may have
been downward for the last half of the cen
fury VIC can rest assured that we shall soon
reach the bottom on the down grade and
begin to go UP again.
"The press can be Of great help in this
matter; perhaps more than any other
power. The press is often unjust in its
criticism upon members of the legislature,
and too often makes the mistake of con-
founding honest men with those who are
onrolled by the amount of money that
can be found in a bill. 1t is very COM
mon thing for the newspapers Of one
party to condemn every measure
that is passed or attempted to be
passed by the opposing party, and to
attribute the worst possible motives
to everyone supporting it. The press can
lot be too careful, or scrutlnlZe too closely
the characters of these mon, and should
never make an attack upon man in a
legislative position without being entirely
sure Of its ground. believe there is at
present very strong sentiment among the
people that they are not, as rule, properly
represented, and that their representatives
should more completely and thoroughly
carry out the views of their constituents in
their acts as legislators and representatives.
1t is because OF this general belief that we
see organizations like the farmers alliance,
and oven labor organizations coming into
politics and attempting to elect their own
mon to the legislature. If they Rad been
properly represented by the men whom
they send they would in all probability leave
politics alone. Certainly the posi-
ton of the representative of the
people ought to be the most important
in the country, and the honor of holding
such a position ought to be the highest that
could be conferred upon anyone. II the
people will only insist upon being properly
| represented. and see to it that only men who
| represent their wishes are allowed to re-
main, and the press be just and fearless in
its criticisms, think that in a very few
years we will see great change in the
legislatures OF the various states, and one
| that will be for the benefit of ALL"