The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-01-17
TO ELECT SENATORS
A Proposed Amendment TO the
Constitution.
THE PEOPLE TO VOTE DIRECT
johnson, Of North Dakota. win Champion 1t
in the House, and Palmer In the Sem
ate-It Is Popular.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-The popular
movement for the election of United States
senators by vote of the people is likely to
be one of the most Important subjects dis
cussed by the present Congress. 1t seems
likely to be the one great subject of ma
tional interest upon which paaty lines will
not be drawn, and from this fact the adVo-
Gates of the proposed reform find encour-
agement for ultimate success. While 1t Is
probably true that of dozen joint resolu-
tions Oh the subject introduced in the two
houses and one in course of preparation,
most of the authors are Democrats, several
Of the most emphatic advocates OF the con-
s:itutional amendment are prominent Re-
publicans. Senator Palmer, of Illinois,
who has long stood as the exponent of
THIS POPULAR PRINCIPLE
In the west, and who ascribes his election
solely to the favor with which the people
of Illinois received the new theory, will
take charge of the reform movement in the
Senate, while Representative johnson, the
Republican Representative from North
Dakota, will be The most aggressive adyo-
cate of constitutional amendment IN the
House. In Representatives Bryan, Of Ne
braska; Enloe, of Tennessee; Springer, of
Illinois, and Miller, of Wisconsin, he will
have warm cooperation. But johnson Will
probably be conceded the leader OF the
movement because of his oft-repeated as
sertions that to the violation of that prin-
ciple was solely due his defeat in the mem
orable Senatorial contest in North Dakota
The House committee on the election OF
President, Nice-Presioent and representa-
tives at a meeting to-day gave special at
.s.1.,.. Ngle inns n
resolution which Miller urged proposes
constitutional amendment, giving United
States Senator
TO EACH STATE PRIMARILY
and an additional Senator for each million
of inhabitants, all TO be elected directly by
the people. Miller contended the smaller
states have disproportionately large rep
resentation in the Senate, and his scheme
would secure more equitable representa-
ton. Other speakers directed their argu-
ments generally to the broad question OF
the advisability of the election of Senators
by direct vote of the people. Corporate
influences, it was urged, were too potent q
factor in the election of Senators by legis-
latures. Attention was called to the fire.
quency Of charges OF
CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY
made during and subsequent to the cleo
tons of senators.
Powers, of Vermont, asked If popular
elections might not result in in sending less
able men to the Senate.
Enloe said it might possibly occur occa-
sionally, as it sometimes did in all public
elections that men of inferior capacity
might be chosen to the Senate, but the
country suffers less to have fool in the
Senate six years than to have corrupt
scoundrel
Rrvan,s amendment proposes that Sena-
tors shall be elected by direct vote only IN
such states as through their prior legisls
tive machinery decide to elect Senators in
this manner, while Enloe and Johnson pro
pose the new method shall be compulsory
as to all states. Johnson stated he was the
Republican caucus nominee for United
States Senator at the last senatorial cleo
ton in his state, but was
DEFEATED BY A CORRUPT CORPORATION.
He was approached by an attorney for
railway corporation and told that to make
his election certain it was necessary h(
give an assurance he would favor certain
man for Judge of that district. The attor
ney said the railway had secured the cleo
ton of seven or eight members of the legis
lature and controlled their votes. johnson
said he did not consider it honorable TO en-
ter into bargain of that kind and declined
to give the assurance asked, and the result
was he was defeated. Yet at that time, b.
was the
ACKNOWLEDGED CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE
of his state for United States Senator, a
well as the choice of his party and woult
have been elected but for the peoples vii
being thwarted by corrupt corporate intiu
ence. The committee adjourned until mex
week.