The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1892-06-07
Election Of the United States Senators
BY the Popular Vote.

BIZ the Popular Vote.
When the deputies to the Federal
Convention had assembled at Phila-
delphia il 1851 theyshad before them
task which, il weight ofa response
bility, has never been surpassed. This
Z assembly of our forefathers met 70
arrange laws for the government of
q people which then, although few in
number, were large in patriotism,
and which now form the members 81
one Of the greatest nations in the
world. They knew The temptations
to which legislative assemblies are
subject, and il was when deciding
what was To be the nature Of this
part of our government that they put
forth their best efforts, both ID
thought and in speech They we're
DESTROYS Of adopting 4 system that
M I'D be self-protecting and preserv-
ing, and il was for this reason that
they decided TO have tWp branches
Of the national Legislature.
It was 50 des,gaed ts,crder esar
any eccentric e urea ief eapsice
of one Migs,f ke oveffnged 81 the
other fhs oit15 oflisers aud aiyis
-.'enz - '' [rr9I n rSisHsd
~ q eef.I0 N. E i ~ I.|.5 1It -
Senllal tp effr9 5,IE,d IN 1.|IE||.{h
governments ~ fei'e &is' IIoxids
J ed for The Unites 4 : ''s s ehsfe ii
1 the ptlnefpsE one III ati Flicse SIiviss
ions, and our subject il ulon The
method Of slscfiae lie nlemhvfs Of
this body,
It Is propose y do aWay<With the
present system, and to adopt new
one, The question hinges on the
feasibility Of the new plan as com
pared with the old one. Which will
be more efficient, more seryiceable?
Which will, in its final results, bet.
ter aid our government? There is
between the two systems sufficient
difference to change materially, il
not absolutely, our present form Of
representation.
q The present system is one that was
adopted by the Federal Convention
after much deliberation, and many
days Of toll spent in debating the
subject. Ofthe details of this sys-.
tenn it is not necessary to speak.
The essential principle is that the
members Of the United States Senate
are now elected By the State legisla-
lures
The proposed system is that they
be elected by the people Of the indi-
Vidual States, or, in other words,
that they be elected BY the popular
vote. To take this step would be to
change the principles flour govern
ment, and on account of this the step
should not be taken without look
into the future to see, as far as pos
s1ble, what would be the final results
WesWill take the position against
the proposed system, and, as the two
systems mentioned are the only prac-
ticable ones, in favor Of the present
system.
d combatingthe proposed system
IL will be necessary to suggest one
presumably better, and to compare
the two. A comparison would be
necessary if for no other reason than
that The adoption Of one will neces-
sarily lead to the abolishing of the
other.
No one can say that the change
would beea slight one, and that the
established system need not be taken
into consideration when opposing the
proposed one. No one denies the
propriety of having the first branch
Of our national legislature elected by.
the popular vote, but toIsayy that the
entire system should be placed in the
A hands Of the people is, In reality. to
/ say that our whole system of govern
ment should be changed. 1t is to,
oppose the system of checks which
has 50 long had such a beneficial in
fuence and to advocate system
which would undoubtedly be subject
violent and passionate proceed
ings.
The Senate, being the mostimpor-5
tant branch of the two, should be a
small and therefore select body ex-
empt from the passionate proceed
\ ings to1which large assemblies are
liable It should be composed of men
chosen for their tried sagacity and
wisdom in legislative affairs. These
men form that partof our govern
ment which is to act asits anchor in
times of violence and excitement, and
Withoutwhich ourship Of state would
be. torn from its mooring and dashed
to pieces in Che first storm.
Should not, then, hefactors which.
make up this important piece Of
mechanism be chosen with the great
est care? The evils Ito which our
goso-nnaent II subj est safc fgtsrti IN
& the turbulence and foIlies of demo-
cracy, and q good, select Senate ap-
pears to be the thing most likely to
act as check to this evil. The sys-
tenn Of. refining should go as far as
possible, land the question now is
which method will better secure this
1hd.
It is argued in favor Of elections
BY the popular vote that this is q
government for the people, and by
the people. and that. tharefnre he