The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-01-18

popular movement for tho election OF
United States senators by vote OF tho
people Is destined 10 DO ono Of the
most important subjects discussed by
tho Fiity.socond Congress. 1t seems
likely to DO tho one real subject Of ma
tional interest upon which party lines
are not to be drawn, and from this fact
tho advocates OF the proposed reform
derive great encouragement Of ultimate
success.
While tits probably true that OF the
) dozen joint resolutions on tho subject
introduced in the two houses or in
course OF preparation, most OF tho au.
thors arc Democrats, yet several Of the
most emphatic advocates OF tho consti-
tutional amendment aro prominent Re-
Z publicans. Senator Palmer, OF Illinois,
! who has long stood rs the exponent Of
this popular principle in the West, and
who ascribes his election solely to tho
favor with which tho people OF Illinois
received tho new theory, will take
charge Of the reform movement in the
senate. while Representative johnson,
tho Republican representative from
North Dakota, will BIO the most agrees
sivc advocate of the constitutional
amendment in tho house.
Representatives Bryan, Of Nebraska,
Enloc, OF Tennessee, Springer, OF ILL.,
nois, and Miller, OF Wisconsin, ho will
have warm cooperation, but to Repre-.
sentative johnson will probably be
conceded the leadership OF the new
movement, because OF his oft-repcated
assertions that to q violation OF that
principle was solely due his defeat in
tho memorable senatorial contest in
the state OF North Dakota.
AGITATION IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM.
The house committee on election OF
President, Vice-President and repre-
sentatives in Congress, at meeting
yesterday, gave special attention to the
various propositions fora constitutional
amendment providing for the election
OF United States senators by direct vote
OF the people OF the respective states.
& The committee was addressed by Re-
Z representatives. Miller, OF Wisconsin;
Bryan, OF Nebraska; Enloe, OF Tonnes
see, and Johnson, OF North Dakota, all
OF whom have propositions OF this kind
pending before tho committee. The
joint resolution which Mr.. Miller urged
proposes constitutional amendment
giving one United States senator to each
state. primarily, and an additional SEN
ator for each 100000 OF inhabitants,
all to be elected directly by the people.
OF course, this would work very radi-
cal change indeed in the composition OF
the United States senate, but Mr.. Miller
Z contended that the smaller states had
disproportionately larger representa-
ton in the senate, and that his scheme
would secure more equitable repre-
scntation.
The other three speakers directed
their arguments generally to the broad
question OF the ACCESSIBILITY OF election
OF senators by the direct vote Of the peo-
pie rather than by the present methods,
and then rather specifically to the
points in favor of the means proposed
by them to bring this about. They said
the present method enabled men to be
elected to the senate who could not be
elected by tho popular vote, and who
did not represent the sentiment Of their
people.
I CORRUPTION FAR TOO PREVALENT.
Corporate influences, it was urged,
were too potent a factor in the election
OF senators by the legislatures. Atten-
tion was called to the frequency OF
charges OF corruption and bribery made
during and subsequent to elections OF
United States senators.
Mr.. Enloe, OF Tennessee, said that
while those Investigations which had
!. been made into charges OF corruption in
the election OF senators had generally
been fruitlcss, yet there was no doubt
in tho minds OF thinking and reading
men that there was substantial foun-
dation Tor the charges in many in
stances.
Mr.. Powers, Of Vermont, asked Mr..
Enloc ii popular elections might not re-
suit i'll sending less able men TO the
senate, and ii the present method did
not secure the services OF men OF ability,
who perhaps could not, be induced 10
take part in a political contest such rs
(: was incident to elections.
Mr.. Enloe said it might possibly &C.
cur occasionally, rs it sometimes did in
all public elections, that men OF infe-
rior capacity might be chosen to the
senate, but that the country would suf-
fer less to have a fool in the senate for
six years than to have corrupt scoun-
drcl.
DIFFERENCES OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
The three constitutional amendments
offered by Messrs. Bryan, OF Nebraska;
Enloe, OF Tennessee, and Johnson, of
North Dakota, differ in this, that Mr..
Bryan's amendment proposes that sena-
! tors shall be elected by direct vote only
in such states as through their proper
legislative machinery decide to elect
senators in this manner, while Messrs.
eEnloe and johnson propose that the
new method shall be compulsory MS to
all states on the adoption OF the pro-
posed amendment.
~ Mr.. Bryan said that tho argument in
favor OF the adoption OF his amendment
was that the prospects OF its adoption
Z were greater than if it made a5chango
compulsory. States which did not care
themselves to change their method OF
! election OF United States senators might
be willing to agree to an amendment
4 which would give to such states as pre-
Siferred that method tho right to elect
senators by direct popular vote. The
friends OF the amendment believed that
tho result OF tho election OF senators by
direct vote would be such MS to popular
sizo the now method even in those states
which were not now willing to make the