The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-21

interruptions aspirant for senatorial honors
may, and sometimes do. reach and tend to
control majority of small body, in a
legislature, while such thing would be
absolutely impossible were the division left
to the great mass of the voters.
Another objection to the present system
of electing senators is that it occupies SO
much of the time Of the state Legislatures
and distracts them from the duties which
properly belong to such bodies, to say
nothing Of the strife, ill-feeling and con-
tention that too often follow necessarily in
the wake of such contests, which arc fire.
quently carried on for not only weeks, but
months and sometimes throughout the
whole session, to the great detriment of
other important public business.
Yet another vital objection is that it
is frequently the case in the selection of
members of state legislature at time
when such legislature has as one of ite du-
ties the election of a senator every other
consideration is lost sight of except the
solitary one of how such members will
vote on the question of the senatorship.
The question of the legislative candidates
legislation on the views he entertains with
reference to the great material interests of
the state-internal improvements, ASSESS
ments, taxation, revenue, corporations, ap-
preparations. trusts, municipal affairs. sala-
ries and fees of officers, civil and criminal
code, apportionment and other like i'm
portant subjects-are wholly lost sight of.
Still another and very important objec-
ton to the present system of electing SEN
ators is the fact that there is great unrest
in the public mind on this question.
Popular opinion has taken hold of the
subject, and the demand for change
is as pronounced as it ia ina
Perative, as earnest as it is general among
the great masses Of the people. The belief
in the public mind is rapidly gaining that
proper Difference is not given by the senate
of the United States to the demands and in
terests of the people, and that this ia large
" due to the fact that senator's do not owe
their positions to the people, who are per-
manent, but to the Legislatures, which are
this belief in the public mind is we'll
founded or otherwise. 1t exists, and there
10, In my judgment, but one means of REM
edying it, and that is by change in the
mode of electing senators by which the
qualified electors of each state shall have
the right to vote directly for their choice
for senator.
The movement of the people in the inter
est Of the people is stalwart and universal
in all lands and in none more 30 than in the
United States, and the sooner this great
fact is recognized by the representatives of
the people the better. But not only 80. It
IS a fact that must be apparent to all that
during recent yeays an impression. deep.
seated and threatening, whether we'll
founded or otherwise, has obtained in the
American mind and among the masses of
the American people to the effect that the
senate of the United States has become a
sort of aristocratic body. too far removed
from the people, beyond their reach and
with no especial interest in their welfare,
The senate has in the past few years been
assailed from time to time by many Of the
LEADING and moat influential iOurn al of tn.
country of both political parties, and is al
most invariably ironically designed as ''th'
American house of lords" The tendenc,
of public opinion ia to degrade the senat
and depreciate its dignity, its usefulness
its integrity, its power.
Although the senate should, be and in fac
really is, the most dignified as we'll a. tn
world, the tendency in public journalism
| and in the popular mind is TO belittle il
| importance and cast the spirit of obloqu
over and around it and ito members. Ths
the impression which leads to all this IL, I
q great extent at least, mot we'll founded. a
IN their sober senses will agree; yet it Is
fact that 1t exists, all the same. Therefor
any movement that looks to the right Of th
people to be heard directly in the slect!o
OF senator's cannot bat result bonAdclAll
to all concerned. Il viii bring the peop
and the senate into more amicable relI
tons. II will remove prejudicss now exist
ing and which are rapidly becomiu
. deeply fastened upon the public mind.
It will invoke spirit of mutual forbea
ancs and respect as between tho senate an
the people which unfortunately does n,
. now exist to that degree that is desirabl
: 1t will restore c0u6denc. u will dissipa
. all cause and excuse for unjust criticiss
: 1t will tend to elevat tbs character, .
, vance the dignity, incrssc the usefulnss