The sun., 1890-01-13
state Conventions and Senators II
Congress.

| SOAVo NOnVenIOnb anu bouhVuEb IN
Congress.
Our esteemed contemporary, the 81. Louis
Republic, furnishes this information about
the Democratic politics Of Illinois, and this
comment thereon:
"NothinR Il more certain In tho politics oi the future
than that the Democratic State Convention At Spring
nsid next year will nominate . candidate for United
States Senator The party, BY that action win take the
aggressive toward the eonsummaon Of one OF
the urgent reforms in American politcA and one
which demanded by every consideration Of duty and
| patriotism. Past and present events emphasize the
necessity OF departure from caucus control OF Bona
toDhps and closer approach to the people 40 source
OF power To continue system which breeds private
corruption and public dstrust 10 to portert popular
government and 10 eventually destroy IT,"
This Is the era Of unnecessary reforms, and
It Is possible that the Illinois Democrats, or
some Of them, want such q change in the
manner Of nominating United States Sena-
tors as the Republic suggests. 1t is not q
scheme which would be seriously considered
by party which expected to elect It's candi-
date for Senator, and II the Illinois Demo-
Gratis are seriously considering 1t, 1t Is evi-
dence that they do not expect to elect Sem
ator next year. IfUnited States Senators are
to be elected by the State Legislatures the
candidates should be selected by the men,
bers of the different parties in the Legisla-
lures. The members Of the Legislature
should, OF course, represent the opinion Of
their constituents In the matter, and may
properly be pledged to do so; but the antici-
patton by an alien body, whose functions are
entirely different Of the choice that belongs
to members Of the Legislature as represent
atives of the people and to no one else,
would be IN intolerable impertinence.
The business Of State Convention is the
preparation Of O party platform and the
nomination Of State officers to be elected by
the popular vote. A State Convention can
pass resolutions commencing a particular
candidate for Senator, but 1t would be an
unwarrantable extension Of its powers and
usurpation Of the powers Of the Legislature
to nominate candidate for Senator.
Besides, the proceedings would be ridicu-
lous. The members Of party In the Legis-
lature are not going to give up their rights
In the election Of O Senator In Congress at
the dictation Of State Convention held six
or nine months before the Senator cleo
ton comes off and several months before the
Legislature Is chosen. The idea that o body
which has ceased to exist long before the
Legislature which is to elect Senator has
come into existence should control the nom-
ination OF O candidate for Senator Is almost
too absurd for serious refutation.
A legislative caucus is as satisfactory o
way Of naming candidates for Senator in
Congress as o ward caucus is for naming
delegates to a State Convention. The eau
Gus system has not broken down. and It Is
as good at the top as at the bottom.
A lot Of cranks are breaking themselves
down in the vain effort to persuade some
body that legislative caucuses do not name
proper candidates for Senator. There is a
vast deal of noise about the matter but we
don't observe that the people are much in
terested. They have the power In their own
hands. II their representatives don't repre-
sent their wishes In the election OF Senators
in Congress, 1t Is very simple matter to
plant those representatives firmly and for
ever In privatA life