Los Angeles herald., 1890-08-20
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST go, 1890.
A RETURN TO OLD METHODS.

RETURN TO OLD METHODS.
The Examiner has come out fat-footed
against the proposition for the San
Jose convention to name the Democratic
candidate for United States senator
The argument of the Examiner is not
very strong or convincing. 1t is that
the endorsement of Mr.. White would
shut out other aspirants for the exalted
position. We don't see it. If there are
other aspirants besides Mr. White, let
them jump into the arena and take
their chances. The convention can
choose between them.
The plan proposed by the organiza-
tions that first induced Mr.. White to
come out, will bring the election of
United States senators nearer the
people. Now a significant silence is
preserved by candidates till the legis-
lature meets, and then that body is
manipulated by perhaps man who
could not come within Dahlgren gun
range of an election if the people had
any say in it.
The Examiner is not happy nor is it
veracious in charging Mr.. White with
bringing himself out for this nomination.
He was brought out by the county Dem
ocratic committeelof Los Angeles, back
ed by all the Democratic clubs of this
county. They first suggested the plan
as an expedient to popularize the selec-
ton of United States senators, and to
give the people chance of expression
in the choice of these important repre-
sentatives.
After all, why is not the party's con-
vention proper body to name the man
or set of men the party would delight to
honor with seats in the United States
senate? 1t dominates all other candi-
dates for office, why should it not desig-
nate the man or men it wants to see
make the fight for the senate? Is there
not great party advantage to be gained
by such Endorsement? In the first
place, it draws out men of the largest
caliber in the party, and makes them
active and potent factors in calculating
before the people the issues of the cam
paign. 1t brings men into the canvass
who would remain at home if it were
not for their recognized candidacy for
the exalted place.
1t is only of late years that cam
paign involving the election OF United
States senator has been carried on with
out one or more pronounced aspirants
for the senate taking conspicuous part
in it. The precedents in this state are
numerous and continuous down to a
few years ago. If there were opposing
candidates inside the party, their claims
would be fought out in the state con-
vention, and the one who was the
choice of the convention when it met
made the campaign, and if the party
was successful he was elected to the
senate by the legislature. Gwin,
Broderick, Weller, McDougall, Latham,
ETC., all reached the senate by this
method.
The method that is now pursued is a
recent invention. 1t first blossomed out
in Nevada, and came to great perfection
in that state before it was transplanted
in California. Since then the pluto
cratic method, of ignoring the senator
ship altogether in the campaign before
the people, and going into the legisla-
ture with sack and buying it, has
spread to great many states, and has
resulted in filling the United States
senate with men whose highest, and in
some instances, only qualification for the
position is their immense wealth. See
how simple the process is. In joint
convention Of the two houses there are
in this state 120 votes. A majority is
sufficient to elect-that is 81 votes. All
the plutocratic aspirant for the senate
has to do, even if his party has only
a bare majority in hand, is first
for him to secure 81 votes in the caucus
of his party to seize the prize. 1t would
be difficult to show where the people
come in in such method of selection.
Indeed, as a general thing, the will of
the people as to their choice for senator,
is the last thing considered under the
modern plan. If Mr.. White can break
this system up, and popularize senatorial
elections, he will accomplish reform
that will be hailed by the people with
the utmost satisfaction and the most
pronounced applause.