, 1892-02-19
BY POPULAR BALLOT.
The Way to Elect Senators and
Presidential Electors.
Senator John Palmer Tackles
the Direct Vote Problem.
The Country, he Saws, Has
OutgrOwn the Old System.

WASHINGTON, Feb. the amend
ment to the constitution which l propose
is adopted the members of the senate OF
the United States will be chosen by a
direct vote of the free people Of several
states and it will be what 1t never vet has
been. a popular branch of the congress of
the United States" These we're the
words Of Senator Palmer of Illinois in his
speech in the senate today urging the
election Of United States senators by a
popular vote, and his arrangement of the
upper house of congress as a non popular
body was in language not often heard by
the venerable members of hat diRnifed
assembly.
Senator Palmer opened his speech by
saying in urging the amendment he only
obeyed the instructions given him IN the
most impressive manner by the people Of
Illinois. The senator reviewed briefly the
Douglas and Lincoln senatorial contest in
Illinois and then detailed the successive
steps and declarations made by the Dem
ocrats Of Illinois in regard to this subject
which finally led to the Democratic
triumph in that state and the election of
himself as q representative Of that prin-
ciple to the United States senate. The
senator insisted that the constitutional
mode Of electing senators by the legisla-
lures of the states was no longer satisfac-
tory to the American people. He did
not mean to make himself responsible
for the charges of bribery and influence
that attended nearly every senatorial cleo
ton by endorsing or repeating any of
them.
He referred to them 40 that slight man
per only to emphasize the statement that
the people no longer confided in but we're
profoundly distrustful of the methods of
e~lecting senators by state legislatures.
None of the reasons which led the trainers
of the constitution to deprive the people
of direct control of the executive depart
mcnt and senate now existed. ExSeri-
ence had long ago demonstrated the use
~lessness Of electors for the selection of
president and vice president.
The wealth invested IN commerce.. in
manufactures. in railways, forests and
mines demanded legislation for its protec-
ton or its benefit. and its political power.
whether employed iu congress or in the
state legislature, rarely failed of success.
All that the people could gain BY the
proposed amendment would be enlarged
powers of self-defense. Senators would
be true and exact representatives of the
people and defend their homes and prop
erty from unequal and excessive burdens
They would dignity the states, for the
people we're the states.
"The elections for the choice of presi
dental electors. the election of members
of the legislatures who elect the senator's,
the election of members of the house of
representatives in congress-" said the
senator, ARE alike influenced and often
controlled by the unfair arrangement of
districts. If the amendment to the con-
stitution / propose is adopted the mem
bers of the senate will be chosen by a
direct vote of the free people of the
several states and the senate will be what
1t never yet has been-the popular branch
of the congress of the United States"
Senator Mitchell of Oregon said he
listened with pleasure to the able remarks
OF Senator Palmer fron Illinois. He
(Mitchell) had the honor of introducing a
similar proposition in 1888 and one at the
present session. Similar amendments
were also introduced by the senators from
Indiana and New Hampshire (Turpie and
Chandler). All these propositions were
referred to the committee on privileges
and elections and by that committee to a
sub committee composed of Senators
Chandler, Turpie and himself and he was
g~ratiied to be able to state that after con-
sultation a majority of that subcommittee
had agreed to report in favor of such an
amendment to the constitution.
1t was their hope and belief that at a
very early day the full committee on
privileges and elections would be able to
report iavorably an amendment similar to
the one introduced by the senator from
Illinois. The subject then went over.
Dolph moved to take from the calendar
and pass the bill extending for ten years
the laws preventing the introduction of
Chinese, but Hawley objected. 1t was,
he said a bill OF extraordinary severity
and he wished at least time to read it.
Dolph gave notice he would call it up at
al early dav.
PETER, Perkins: Morrill,, Allison, Hale,
Daniels, Dolph and Turpie delivered
eulogies on the late Senator Plumb, and
fhA ga-aka .I.-z.