New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-24
SEVdTORS AND THE POPULAR VOTE.

SENATOR'S AND THE POPULAR pOIE.
The election of the United States senators
by the people is becoming one OF the 1avoil'e
remedies advocated by those who wish a change
in the policy of the Government. LeGiS'atorS'
they reason. arc too often influenced by money.
The prospect that such influence Will control
drives tbc hest men from the field. Powerful
combinations are able to sway the individual
votes Of members of a Legislature, but would be
rowu less TO turn the scale in a popular election.
Fewer rich men would get to the senate IL Is
urged. and fewer tools Of great combinations
and corporations, if the people should eject.
The remedy does not seem to fit the disease.
4 prolonged popular canvass, covering an ehtre
State, with floating votes to be looked after IN
every town. would be more costly than a con-
test within a Legislature, and therefore more
ant TO end in favor of the longer purse Now
the portv elects a majority of members II II
can and in most of the legislative districts mas
q certainty that it can or that it cannot sue
coed so that in those no expenditure OF money
would contribute TO victory. II candidates Spehu
money they generally concentrate II upon uo"o'-
full districts. few in number. But III COM
paratiyely few States is the Legislature 0rdi-
narily in doubt. Usually one party OF lhe
other elects its accustomed majority ana inc
members of the prevailing party then nave
only 70 select the candidates in caucus. ii there
;s room for corruption here there would be IN
comparably more IN an election by popular vote.
Neither is it true that a popular election would
lessen the influence of great corporations or
combinations. Some very striking illustrations
of this fact have been presented in the hlS'of!
Of different States not long ago. Montana can
furnish one New-JorSey within the last elHhU
wears can furnish others. The influence OF Il
great combination of capital is felt IN many ways
by men who are not obliged to act as trustees so
10 speak. OF the interests of constituents or OF Il
marty. bu. who We. WELD through local manage
ment. or through newspapers, or through various
associations. or through saloons or shops, power
over n number of voters. The combination OF
liouor-dealerS. for example, intent only upon
securing or preventing legislation OF a certain
kind. can always trade a body OF votes all over
q State with any corporation that Will favor
thcm. In Louisiana the lottery, in some other
states the gambling concerns, have many votes
70 trade. When a legislator votes for a cor
n~oration. contrary to the known wishes OF con-
stituentS. he is aware that he ends his political
career. but inc Nolh WI 10"
uals in a state would be governed by no better
motive than those of the corrupt legislator, and
vet would escape notice or ccnSuie.
Election by the people means nomination ny
n State convention, and that would transfer the
| vicious influence Of corporations and OF money
from the responsible and sworn legislators 10
| the comparatively irresponsible delegates IN con-
ventiOn. In most States a nomination would
carry with it the votes of nearly all the mem
bers Of a dominant party, so that the real night
would be to get the nomination, by Whatever
means. If there is to be a corrupt effort al all
it has a far greater chance of success in dealing
with men chosen for only a few hours WORK III
convention than with men who have put a*dc
other business for months i'll order to accep'
legislative responsibility.
The cndeavor to get good men Tor senators
is praiseworthy. But it is not to be inferred
that a rich man in such an Office IS necessarily
n bad man, or devoted TO corporations rather
than TO popular interests. lie who has managed
with success a large property, and earned the
confidence of associates and antagonists IN INC
business relations of a lifetime, has gwen slrci
nroof of his character and of his fitness for hi@t
nublic trust than the tonguey demagoGue who
has never done anything except to MAKE
plausible or captivating speeches. The election
Inv popular vote would give extraordinary oppor-
tunity 10 persons of that stamp, with nch cor
p%orations behind them and owning them. Bn'
if would not therefore do the people any good