Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-02-27
ELECTION or sENA1oRa


The Question az Chosing United StSSHS
Senai OEO By the People DoIoro tho Sfa-
ate-SeDstoY Palmer speaks In Advocacy
efIt--SsnatOr Mitchsii's vlcws-EuiOgies
ON Senator Plumb.
WASHINGTON, Feb 19-"If the
amendment 70 the constitution which l
propose 10 adopted the members of the
senate Of the United States would DO
chosen by tho direct vote Of the free
people Of the several states and 1t will
be what II never yet has been, the pop
ular branch of the congress OF the
United States" said MIR. Palmer OF
illinois, in the senate yesterday In urg-
ing the election of United States sem
ators by popular vote.
The senator insisted that the con-
stitutional mode of electingsenators by
the legislatures of the states was no
longer satisfactory to the American
people. None Of the reasons which led
the trainers OF the constitution to de-
prive the people OF the direct control
of the executive department and OF the
senate now existed. Experience had
long ago demonstrated the uselessness
of electors for the election of president
and vice. president II the amendment
to the constitution before proposed
should be adopted senators could be
chosen by the direct vote of the free
people of the several states and the
senate would be what it never had
been-the popular branch of congress-
The wealth invested in commerce, in
manufacturing in RAILWAYS. forests
and mines, demanded Legislation for its
protection or its benefit and the politi'
cal power, whether employed in con-
gress or the state legislature, rarely
failed of success Organized as 1t WA
il was SO related that it could direct Its
influence TO the attainment Of any de-
sirable end.
'All that the people could gain by
the proposed amendment would be The
enlarged powers OF self.defense. Sem
ators would he the true and exact rep
resentatives of the people and would
defend their homes and property from
unequal and excessive burdens They
would dignity the states tor the people
were the states. The elections for the
choice Of presidential electors the cleo
tions for the members of the legisla-
ture, who are the senators, the cleo
tions for members of the house Of
representatives in congress, are alike
influenced and often controlled by the
unfa ir arrangement Of districts. II the
amendment to the constitution which
propose is adopted the members OF the
senate will be chosen by the direct
vote of the free people of the several
states, and will be what 1t never yet
has been, the popular branch OF the
congress of the United States"
Senator Mitchell said that he had
listened with pleasure to the very able
remarks of the senator from Illinois.
He (Mr. Mitchell) had the honor of in
Producing similar proposition in 1888
and one ut the present session. SINH
lar amendments had ais, been intro
duced by the senators from Indiana and
New Hampshire. All these PROPOSE
tons had been referred to the commit
tee on privileges and elections and by
that committee to n subcommittee
composed of Senators Chandler. Turpie
and himself and he was gratified in be-
ing able to state that after consulta'
ton tho subcommittee had agreed to
report in favor of such IN amendment
to the constitution. The subject then
went ser.
EUIoGIEs OF SENATOR PLUMB.
Mr.. PETER offered resolutions on the
heath Of Senator Plumb. of Kansas, and
then delivered an eulogy on the de-
ceased. He spoke of him as one OF
those grand characters that stand out
among their fellows like peaks In
mountain ranges beginning, he said,
rs a poor boy, Mr.. Plumb had been
editor at 10 years of age, q captain OF
militia at 90, member OF q constitI-
tional convention at -, lawyer at 90.
lieutenant captain, major and colonel
of volunteers at %, United States sem
ator at 40. Surely there was lesson
In such life. viewed in its own robust
personality with no embellishments
beyond the simple truth. Among all
the tireless workers that had accom-
plished the wonderful work of making
Kansas such q great and prosperous
state, none had been more active and
persistent, none more respected. none
more loyal than Mr.. Plumb His am
bition had been to do rather than to
be. He was clear il view, firm in
opinion, direct in thought, voluble in
speech and courageous in expression.
Mr.. Cockrell paid his tribute to the
dead senator and spoke of him as one
whose life read like q romance and
" no has discharged his labOrious duties
In the senate with credit and honor to
the state of Kansas and to himself
Mr.. Perkins said that the senate was
not engaged in an unmeaning cere'
mony. A great statesman, wise legis-
lator, devoted friend, IN eminent and
patriotic citizen, was dead and now