Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-21
ELKCTION OF SENATORS BY POPU-
LAR VOTE.

a .
LAR VOTE.
The progress that has been made in
the direction Of convincing the people
that the election of United States sena
Tors should be by direct vote of the peo
pie hf the several states, has been very
great in the last decade. We believe
that the time is ripe for the submission
of an amendment to the constitution
authorizing this important change. AS
long as the proposition rested on a mere
abstraction, and the federal senators
represented the best interests of the
people and were chosen from our ablest
public men, there was no practical rea-
son for change of the method of elec-
tion. But in the past ten years the
question has assumed very different
aspect. The reasons that existed at the
beginning of the century for the election
of United States senators by the legisla-
tures Of the states are perhaps as strong
today as they were then, but they have
been minimized and overcome by rea-
Honsthat have grown out of the vastly
different conditions of the country at
present, and circumstances of grave i'm
port that these conditions have given
birth to.
The wonderful increase Of wealth in
this country has led to the concentration
of powerful interests into great corpora
tions. In the early stages of the repub-
Lie strong corporations were exceptional,
and as factors in politics were only op-
preesively felt in one or Two states.
The Camden and Perth Amboy railroad
ruled the legislature of New Jersey for
years and had strong ''pull'' in Penn
sylyania; but outside of that organiza-
tion there was no great corporation that
aneddled Extensively with politics.
What a change is now apparent !
There is hardly state in the Union
that is not dominated by some powerful
corporation or combination of powerful
corporations. These great organized in
terests are all concerned in either de-
feating inimical legislation or in
procuring the passage of bills in
their interest. They have found
that the easiest way to exer-
else the veto power upon measures that
are designed to protect the people against
corporate aggression is to have their own
creatures in the United States senate.
Hence the ever-recurring charges of
bribery and corruption in the state legis-
latures when United States senator is
to be elected. 1t may be true that these
charges are not always we'll founded !;
but the fact remains that the
senate has an undue proportion OF
its members from the millionaire
class, and a suspicious sprinkling of
members who rest under the cloud of
being the mere attorneys for corpora
lions when the interests OF organized
capital are in question.
The people are firmly convinced OF
the fact that the election of senators by
the state legislatures gives the corpora
tions and capital class an advantage
which can only be overcome by return
ing to first principles and electing
them by popular vote. It is the only
Eecourse left, Itwouid popuiarize the
upper house and place it in touch with
the people. 1t would take the election
out of small and easily swayed body
and place it in the keeping OF the whole
people, whom the corporations would be
unable to corruptly influence.
In the purer days Of the republic the
public man who aspired to the exalted
position of United States senator became
q factor in the canvass prior to the cleo
tion. He went before the people. His
views on al public questions were fully
discussed at the campaign meetings,
and be met bis opponents in open de-
bate with the people as jurors to decide
npon his claims. In such con-
Tests only the best and ablest
men could enter with any show
Of success, and the consequence was
that the United States senate was con-
sidered at home and abroad as the most
august and distinguished deliberative
body of which any country could boast.
How far it has receded from its former
nigh estate it ia not necessary to dwell
1pon. Yet it would be untrue to say
hat the senate has reached so far below
he mark of dignity and self.respect as
o be callous to and Indifferent of pub
ic opinion. Whilst there are percent
'ge Of senators who reached their posi-
ion by devious courses, there is yet a
majority Of ito members who grace their