Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-17
SATURDAY, MAY II, 1890.
THE APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.

Every independent newspaper that
has come to this office has a word of
encouragement of the new departure of
the democracy to popularize the choice
of United States senator. The wide
spread demand that has arisen to so
amend the constitution as to make the
office of United States senator elective
directly by the people has its origin in
the fact that the senate has gradually
become another house of lords, in which
only the plutocratic class can aspire to
seats. The election tu that body of
representative men is now a rarity, and
there is hardly state in the union that
is not complaining of the corrupt means
that are successfully used in its legis-
lature to elect United States senators
who would not stand ghost of show
before a vote of the people. Until such
time as the constitution has been
amended, we may popularize. senatorial
elections by the plan which the democ-
racy of this state proposes to adopt, by
placing one of it's foremost men in the
field as a candidate to canvass the state
for the office. This will compel candi-
dates on the other side to show their
hands, for the people will insist upon
their choice when the question of selec-
ton is thus placed before them. The
plan will have the effect of breaking up
the fagitious practice of electing United
States senators by the sack. When the
members of the legislature shall have
been named and elected with view to
the selection of a particular candidate
for the United States senate, the sack
would become a dangerous instrument
to use in the legislature.
We have received from Hon. J. J.
Tobin, state labor commissioner, the
following emphatic endorsement of the
plan and merited eulogium of the gentle
man the democracy will put forward to
carry it into practical effect:
SAN Francisco, May IA, 1890.
EDITORS HERALD-I have read with
much interest and qualification the in
terviews with the public men of Los An
geles, of all parties, regarding Stephen
M. Whites candidacy before the people
for United States senator, published in
your issue of the 18th instant, and your
encouraging comments thereon. The
idea is capital. Push it on. The issue
will be proletariat VS.. plutocrat-the
masses against the classes. 1t will then
be determined whether coin on the one
side or brain and merit on the other can
win a seat in the senate of the United
States. 1t rebounds to the credit of the
democrats of Los Angeles that an effort
to reverse the present corrupting system
of electing United States senator has
been inaugurated by them. Ii success
full it will be a ''crusher' for the. million
aire aspirants in other states.
The Knights of Labor and other great
labor organizations have declared them
selves in favor of electing United States
senators by popular vote. Naturally
they will rally around the standard of
the man who puts the question to a
practical test.
There is but little doubt that the
movement will take with the people,
irrespective OF party affliation. No
better man could be found to lead the
van in the battle against plutocracy
than the pure, plucky, gifted and highly
popular native son of California, Stephen
M White.
The leading republicans of Los An
geles, according to your report, ac
knowledge that he would reflect honor
and credit on his state if elected to the
United States senate.
Ii the democratic state convention, be-
sides endorsing the candidacy of Lieuten-
ant-Governor White, also declared itself
Enthusiastically in favor of ballot reform,
on the lines of the Australian system,
thousands of voters would support the
ticket who otherwise would vote for the
opposition. j. J. ToBN.