Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-08-18
ELECTION OF U. S. SENATORS.
Arguments in Favor Of q Direct Vote by
the People.

The following extracts are from a
speech delivered in the national house
of representatives by Hon. Owen Scott,
of Illinois, during the recent session OF
congress:
1t is well known that those persons called
upon to act in representative capacity are
most likely to perform well the duties assigned
when held to a rigid accountability This prin
cIple prevails in business. A close scrutiny,
and constant, rigid responsibility will secure
faithful and Industrious discharge OF duty. II
the bank should relax its demand that accounts
should balance every day, inaccurscy and dis
honesty would supplant perfect system and al.
most unbroken success
The railroad is memorable in its requirements
of accountability. Life and property are at
stake. The supervision by those holding the
right to discipline for careless or wilful neg
lect Of duty secures the most miraculous SyS-
tenn of safety and rapidity of movement known
in the affairs of the world. Millions of lives
are daily in security from disaster because ev-
cry one, from president to trackman, is held to
the most direct, rigid and constant RESPONSE
biity.
Senators are but men, and not all are even
great men. The fortunes of politics under the
present system of their election sometimes
bring to the surface persons scarcely of the
mcld or manner to be designed more than
grave and reverend seniors" Hoary locks,
arched brows, and air Of wisdom are quite
frequently mistaken for senatorial greatness.
The want of direct and constant dependence
upon the people tends to make men deaf to the
appeals OF the oppressed for relief from griev-
ous wrongs ard CALLING burdens
Reelection does not come from the people. A
skillful movement on the political chess board
OF the state secures the nomination of men for
the legislature, who influenced by motives
selfish, often mercenary, will be willing to- vote
to return the senator who has neglected and
ignored the just demands Of the people.
constant
state legislatures removes any possibility OF
accountability to the body which elects. A SEN
ator having completed his six years serv-
ice goes for reelection to a body made up
almost wholly of men. In view of these
considerations there IS very little vital and
forceful responsibility felt by members of the
american house of lords. for the opinions
and wishes of the people of the state they rep
resent
Take the power to elect from members OF
state legislatures and give it to the individual
voters OF each commonwealth and care for the
interests OF the masses will be awakened in the
senate that has never existed Instead Of being
a retiring ground for wealthy and influential
men to enjoy the ease and luxury that come
from rank and station, men of brains and of
sterling worth will more often be chosen by the
people to fight their battles for right and
justice. The rapid growth of sentiment in
favor OF popular election of senators has come
largely from an evident tendency of the upper
branch to ignore the demands of the people.
Mr. Speaker, the need of holding to d Stricter
responsibility is not the only reason for the
change proposed in this amendment to the fed
cral constitution Respect for and confidence
in the senate has been largely discounted in the
last few decades by frequent charges of cor
ruption in senatorial elections.
In many cases the impression exists that
bribery, By the payment of money or promise
OF federal appointment, has been omnipotent in
senatorial contests. Whether the charges are
Or false q
fact of loss of confidence by the people. No
such condition could exist if by direct vote
they were chosen. Oftentimes the change of i
single vote in legislature will determine the
contest. It will be easily seen that with
scrupulous or even weak men this presents a
terrible temptation. Even when the balance Of
power is lodged with dozen men millionaire
aspirant for the senatorship need not fear the
poorhouse, even though he put financial induce
rncnts in the way of these legislators
The growing tendency TO elect vastly rich men
to the senate has given much color to popular
suspicious of legislative corruption Our gov
ernment cannot afford to preserve a system of
election which gives the country q tainted or
suspected senate. To poison the spring is to
impregrate the stream below. When the upper
branch Of the supreme legislative body of the
land is believed to contain those who, but for
corruption and bribery, could not have been
elected, the stream of political ambition is
poisoned and the public conscience is blunted-
taken the first essentially dangerous step to-
ward its downfall man may buy the votes
of few. but it is impossible to corrupt the
many. 1t is believed therefore 20 be of vital
importance that our system Of government be
changed and perfected thatwe may escape even
The appearance of this evil in public affairs.
III sessions Of legislatures which elect sena-
.orS the business of the state is demoraliZed-
Fer months the work for which legislators are
primarily chosen remains undone in the excite
mo nt att jTcr1 senatorial At
expense the state maintains the session. and
FOR days weeks and months almost nothing is
done. That which is accomplished is so cOlOred
and influenced by the pending struggle that it
were perhaps better left undone- In Illinois, in
the memorable contest when Senator Logan
was elected for the last time, the result only
came after many months waiting, the death of
4 member and a sharp political trick, which
gave a district a representative which in no
seTSe reflected the real sentiment OF his people.
Had this contest been by direct vote. the
same result would have been accomplished.
Gen Logan would have been elected in No
vember. Five months of useless legislative
struggle would hare been saved Large ex-
DcuSe to the people would have been avoided.
Public business rgtating to the growth and
prosperity OF our magnificent empire state
would have had careful and thoughtful atten-
ton. On the whole it seems that not one ad-
vantage can be claimed for denying TO the peo-
pie OF the the tight TO elect their senators
IS they elect their governors, members of con-
t-ress ard other officers Every consideration
seems TO favor the change except the Gust Of
doing otherwise, which has long prevailed.
WAS so impressed with the Importance OF this
measure that early il. the session L prepared
ana introduced the joint resolution, which IS
reported by the committee in the form, subssaIi-
tally, as I introduced IL.
AIr Speaker, this change does not involve any
fundamental principle That each state shall
choose two senators ia not to be disturbed 1t
is simply proposed that the people il! their SOW
ereic,u right shall vote directly for their Serv-
ants in the federal senate, and not intTust this
to the intermediate agency Of state legisla-
lures
So iorC. then. as tHere is simply change
from q cumb.ous and unsatisfactory method Of
doing this To one which more fully recognizes
the fundane tai principle Of this republic that
before the low ''alI are created equal it :;
To he hoped that this house and senate WI!
speedily adopt this joint resolution, sending tho
cons tito tional amendment to the states for rati-
Fl cation
When il shall become operative senator's will
be representatives OF the people. They VIII no
longer stand fsr Kaleidoscope legislative con-
sIirucncies.
Ehargesof improper influence will be heard
no more The senate will be restored to old
time conf; dence, power and influence The leo-
pie will he sovereign in both houses Of congress.
Their wishes will be more carefully regarded
AMI their interests protected by those Who are
directly and cons family responsible to Int ID
tApplaIlSe
PERSONAL POINTS.