The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-11
POPULAR ELrCrIoS or SENATOR'S.

No provision Of the Constitution OF the Uni
ted States is more explicit in H. rms than that
which governs the election Of senators Arti-
Gle /, section of that instrument declares
that the Senate shall be composed Of two
Senators from each State, chosen by the
Legislature thereof"
This clause of the Constitution can only be
altered by amendment, according TO the
methods prescribed in the Constitution itself.
Under no circumstances can any State be de-
privcd OF it, equal suffrage in the Senate, but
the manner Of elccting the members Of that
body can be changed if an amendment to that
effect is adopted under the constitutional re-
gulations which have been clearly laid down.
There has in recent years been growing
sentiment in the Northern and Western States
in favor Of submitting for ratification an
amendment that will throw the election Of the
United States Senators upon the great body
Oh voters of each State. instead of leaving II.
rs now, to the different Legislatures If such
a step as this were once taken. there would be
no real conflict in it with the reasons for which
the clause of the Constitution bearing
on this point was adopted. As is well
known the adoption OF this clause re-
suited from the desire TO adjust the
relations Of the smaller States of the origi-
nal thirteen with the larger, it being properly
considered that equal representation in the
upper House would be ample protection
against the inequalities in representation in
the lower.
This protection, however. AS will be seen at
a glance. will be as fully secured by the cleo
ton Of Senators directly by the people as it is
now by their election by in the different State
Legislatures
There are undoubtedly many grounds for
thinking that the true interests Of the Northern
States, and probably in time of the Southern
will be best subseryed by the popular election
Of Senators.
In the first place. if this manner Of election
were adopted there would be far more as
surance than is the case now throughout the
North and West. that the ablest citizens Of
each State would be advanced to the
position. At the present time, 1t IS
notorious that skilful and lavish
use OF money has much to do with
the LEGISLATIVE tlfttlDu 81 NtHhloi1 III t4''f
sections. It would be much more difficult to
use money to advantage If all the voters Of
any one Of the Northern and Western Com
monwcalths had to be influenced. The Sen
atoral money bags in consequence would
largely disappear from the upper House Of
Congress, thus removing from It the reproach
under which it has long labored, Of being a
mere senatorial plutocracy.
The trained speaker. the man eminent for
his great talents would necessarily have larger
opportunities before the people than he has
now as an applicant for seat in the Senate,
and that body. rs the result of this fact,
would become q more representative assem-
bly,. because more truly popular in its char
acter.
A subordinate reason for the popular cleo
ton Of senators is that very often the test is
applied 10 those who are candidates for the
Legislature as for whom they will east their
votes in case they are successful This is an
encroachment upon the province of the Legisla-
ture under the present system. and is in only
too many instances an occasion for bribery and
corruption.