Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-03-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.

! But the chief point in the senatorial
election is the success of the highly
interesting experiment in the Prairie
state of choosing United States sena
tors by the will of the people. Gen.
| Palmer was not and could not have
been constitutionally elected by the di-
rect vote of the people. Nominated by
party state convention, his party in
| the legislature having been instructed
by the democrats of Illinois to vote for
him, it did SO unflinchingly to a tri
umphant end. The old idea of many
of the fathers, and which has never
been successfully exploded, that the
states can be represented in the SEN
ate only by senators elected by the leg
islatures, is now to be changed, possibly
by the action of the people of Illinois.
The state sovereignty that comes
second hand from the people wEo cOnsti-
tute state-always an illogical con-
ception-is peculiarly so in these days
of universal suffrage. 1t is surely
coming-the state sovereignty in state
affairs which divides with other states
the exercise of high constitutional and
original powers and whose legislative
organ is based IN both branches on the
immediate will of the people of the
United States The nomination to the
state legislature will be followed after
awhile by the election of senators by
the people themselves. The fact that
Senator-elect Palmer, of Illinois, is
free trade democrat and not extreme
on the money question, while, at the
same time, III high feather with the
western farmers who advocate silver
free coinage, makes him possible com
petitor for the presidential nomination
Of his party. New York is divided
between Hill and Cleveland any way.
and the impression somehow prevails
there that the success of either IN con-
troll of the state machine would destroy
the chances of both before the national
convention. Hence the attention of
some democrats is already turned
toward Gen. Palmer as a candidate
His advanced age of seventy-four years
will, however, be serious disqualified
tion and Younger aud more energetic
man, like MIR. Morrison. would perhaps
be looked upon with more favor by the
western democracy as their leader in
1892.
One of the greatest difficulties the
democrats will encounter in the organ
ization of the house of representatives
next winter Will be due to the fact that
the southern states are no longer in the
majority in that party as represented
| in congress. The old organization,
based on a southern congressional ma
jority. is no longer tenable and there are
some democrats who hold that the time
has come for recognizing the northern
preponderaEce, both as to the election
of chief officers and the constitution of
the leading committees. These new
departure men are found in both Sec
tions, although naturally more num-
erOus in that quarter which has been
heretofore left out in the organization.
A report is circulated, which perhaps
has no sufficient foundation, but which
illustrates the situation, to the effect
that the representatives from northern
democratic districts will insist that if a
southern speaker be chosen he must
interests of the states whose industries
are more nearly concerned with the
subjects in charge of those committees.
In other words, the custom of promot-
service to the chairmaniship must now
be more honOred in the breach than the
observance At the head of the dem
Ocratic contingent on twenty or more
of these important committees, includ-
ing the ways and means, appropria-
tions, elections, commerce, river and
harbor and judiciary, is a southerner,
following the order of arrangement
heretofore in vogue. A southern speak
er. according to the alleged program of
the northern democrats. would be
under obligation to set aside the south
erners and devOlve the honOrs and re-
sponsibilities of leadership upon the
northern democrats.
The republicans have lost, including
the Illinois seat, five senatorships. this
winter. The others were one in New
; York, one in Wisconsin, one in Kansas
| and one in Snufh dakota Thov will
gain one in California by the death of
Mr.. Hearst. The net gain to the dem
ocratseand their allies will be four, but
the reduction of the late majority of
the republicans will be eight, leaving
that party with a majority of six in the
next congress.
Il EVERY mistake man makes gives
J, another man weapon.