Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-19
A Large Crowd in Attendance, In
Guiding Many Congressman.
RADlCALREMARKSFROM THE WEST
lie insists That 1t Is the Way to Popularlzt
the Upper House.
TIE FIRST LIVELY SENATE SESSION

several States, and it will be, what 1t has
never vet been, the popular branch of the
Congress of the United States" These
were the words of Senator Palmer, of llli-
nois in his speech in the Senate to-day,
urging the election of United States Sena-
tors bv popular vote and his arraIgnment of
the Upper H ouse of Congress as non-popu-
lar body was in language not often heard by
the venerable members of that dignifed as
semblv
That this language, too. should have been
used in the maiden speech of new Senator
was not in keeping with the usual decorum
and traditions of that august body, but as
senator Palmer fought his way to a seat in
the Upper House by the advocacy OF the
principle OF popular election OF senators,
and, indeed, to some degree, as an opponent
Of some OF the restrictions involved in sen
atoIial courtesy" he probably does not feel
constrained to observe with reverence all
the barriers of tradition.
The resolution presented by Senator
Palmer and which is now pending in the
Senate provides Tor the formal submission
of a constitutional amendment requiring
United States Senators TO be elected by
direct vote OF the people OF the various
States instead OF by the State Legislatures.
as al present. Due notice OF his intention to
address the Senate to-day having been
previously given, the galleries were well
filled and many members of the House were
present to hear the Illinois Democratic
Senator advocate the great political prin-
clDe OF which he has SO long been the repre-
sentative in the West.
Senator PsImer's Trite Speech
Senator Palmer opened his speech by say
In. that in urging this constitutional amend
ment he only obeyed the instructions given
lin in the most impressive manner by the
people of the State Of Illinois. The people
OF Illinois" said he, care loyal to the Consti-
tuition and are devoted to the principles of
orderly, constitutional free government, but
they believe that the election OF Sen-
arors by the state Legislatures under exist
ing conditions, has failed OF satisfactory re-
suits and that the reform proposed by the
i0int resolution now before the senate is de-
mauded alike 10y correct principles and the
highest considerations OF puDlic policy.
Ihe Senator reviewed briefly the great
Doug slass and Lincoln Senatorial contest in
Illinois, and then detailed the successive
steps and declarations that had been made
by tie Democracy of Illinois in regard TO
the subject, and which had finally led to
Democratic triumph in that State and
the election OF reprGsentatlve OF
Senate. L DOn the issues contained
in the platform adopted by the State con-
vcntion, said he, ''l0l members OF the State
Le@islature (204 being the whole numberl
were elected by an aggregate plurality of
more than 5000 votes. These l0l members
OF the legislature, regarding themselves AS
ClCc-CrS chosen TO register the will of their
constituents between the 2lst day of Janu-
arv, 1891. and the llth of March, voted for
the candidate nominated on 153 ballots, and
on the l54th ballot they were joined by two
members Of the House Of Representatives
who were favorable to the election of Sena-
tors by the direct vote of the people OF the
several states. On that ballot u Senator
was elected"
The Old Way No Longer Popular.
or course the ''two members alluded to
were Representatives Moore and CockrelI,
OF the Farmers Mutual Benefit Association.
The senator insisted that the constitutional
mode of electing Senators by the Legisla-
lures OF the States was no longer satisfac-
tory 20 the American people. He did not
mean 70 make himself responsible for the
charges Of bribery and undue influence
that attended nearly every Senatorial elec-
tian bT iEdOrsIng or resolving any OF them.
lie rcieIre TO them in that slight manner
only 10 emphasize the statement that the
people no longer conf led in, but were pro-
I0Undly distruStful ui the methods of cleo
rlIg senators by the state legislatures
None of the resolutions which led the
1IamcrS OF the Constitution to deprive the
people of the direct control of the ENecli-
tive Department and of the Senate now ex-
listed Experience had long ago demon
stl%Ueu the uSelesSnesS OF electors for the
selection of President and Vice President.
T.:ey were but the John Does and Richard
EOes oi the political system. II the amend
to the Constitution which he proposcd
should he adopted Senators could be chosen
by the direct vote Of the Tree people of the
several States and the senate would be
what il never had been-the popular branch
o. Congress The wealth invested in COM
mcrCe, in man fractures in rail ways and
fOr mines demanded legislation ior it's
protection CT its benefit and its political
power whether employed in Congress or the
state Legislature, rarely Jailed of success.
Organized as il WAS, it able to direct its
influence to the attainment of any desirable
end. But property had now nothing to lear
from the aggressive action of the people or
from their direct influence upon the Gov
eminent Al that the people could gain by
the proposed amendment would be enlarged
powers OF seli-deienst. Senators would be
the true and exact Representatives OF the
people, and would defend their homes and
TIER property from unequal and excessive
burdens. They would dignity the States
Tor the people we're the States.
Districts Unfairly Arranged.
The elections for the choice of Presidential
electors, the election of members of the
Legislature. who elect Senators, the election
for members of the House of Representatives
in Congress, said the senator, ''are alike in
fluenced and often controlled by the unfair
arrangements of districts. IL the amend
ment to the Const tuition which propose is
adopted, the members of the Senate OF the
UniIeu states will be chosen by the direct
vote OF the free people OF the several States,
and the senate will he what it never las yet
Deen-the popular branch OF the Congress of
the United States
senator Mitchell of Oregon said he had
listened with pleasure to the very able re-
marks OF the senator from Illinois. He
(Mr MitchelD had had the honor OF intro
duCIng 4 similar prOpOs ition in lSSS and one
~ the present session. similar ndmeuts
had also been introduced by the Senators
from Indiana and New Hampshire Messrs.
Turpie and Chandler. All these PROPOSE
tiuns had been re erred to the Committee on
Privileges ana Elections, and by that COM
mitteC 20 4 subcommittee composed OF SEN
atOrs Chandler, Turpie ana himself and he
was gIatitied in being able to State that after
a consultation majority of that sub-com-
lHitUee had agreed to report in iaHor of such
an amendment 10 the Constitution. 1t was
their hope and belief that at Il very early day
the ull Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions would be able TO report favorably an
amendment similar in some respects to the
one introduced by the Senator from Illinois.
The subject then went over.
Among the petitions reported and referred
by the Senate was one by Mr. Voorhees,,
IRON some citizens of Weedersburg, Ind,
asking that the Pnkerton detective force
be suppressed by law, or else that it be in
cCrpoIated in the military force of the coun-
Try.
Bills Back From Committees.
Among the bills reported from committees
and placed on the calendar were the Fellow
ing; Authorizing the construction OF a bridge
across the Illinois river near Havana, Mason
county. H., to latify and confirm an agree
ment with the Ionka tribe of Indians in
Oklahoma Territory.
Mr. Dolph moved to take from the calen-
lar and pass the bill extending for ten years
the laws preventing the Introduction of
Chinese into the United States, but Mr.. Haw-
ley objected. 1t was he said q bill of extra
ordinary severity, and he wished at least
-