Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1892-01-16
ruE PUBLIC MELFARE.

Concerning his plan to change the
Constitution and elect Senators by a d.
rect vote Of the people, Senator Mitchell
81 have looked into this subject with
care. When the framing Of the Consti-
tuition was being discussed at Philadel-
phia in 1857, one Of the plans proposed
for the election Of the Senators was their
choice by the people. This was not
adopted, because il was feared that it
would give the people too much power.
We had not entirely thrown of our
British training and prejudices then. All
sorts Of propositions were discussed,
from the naming Of Senators by the
President which was a stride toward
monarchy, to their election by the peo-
pie, which was pure democracy. The
discussion was 80 vigorous that 1t
threatened to dissolve the Convention.
The system that We now follow was q
compromise in every sense Of the word.
"As to the advantage Of the direct
vote, in the first place we would avoid
all scandal, which sometimes attaches
to the Legislature that is said to be
bribed. No man could bride a whole
State. We would avoid frequent dead
locks, where the power is given to one
member of the Legislature to cast a de-
Gliding vote for Senator. We would
avoid the great waste Of time on the
part Of the Legislature in electing a Sena'
tor when matters Of vital interest to the
State are lost sight of, and frequently sc
much time is consumed in choosing
Senator that important State legislation
has to be postponed. 1t would also dc
away with the present great objection
that an individual voter cannot vote fol-
his choice. He cannot, in fact, vote di-
rectly at all, but must content himself
with casting a vote for members Of the
Legislature who may or may not properly
represent his wishes in the vote they may
cast for Senator. The system is unre-
publican, not democratic and vicious in
all respects.
at carries with it an implication that
the people, the qualified votes OF the
State, are for sorhe reason unfit for the
full exercise Of the elective franchise in
the choice Of high Government officials,
except in a qualified and largely restricted
sense. II is in practical purpose and eff
feet q declaration that for some occult
reason, which is in no way made mani.
fest, it is unsafe and prejudicial to COM
nit the election Of Senators to Q vote Of
the people,"
"Do you believe that the change you
are seeking to secure will be e~ffectual?'
II have every reason to believe it
will. There is great unrest in the public
mind on this question. Popular opinion
has taken hold of the subject, and the
demand for a change is as positive as it
is imperative. The belief in the public
mind is rapidly gaining that proper def
erence is not given by the Senate of the
United States to the demands and inter-
ests of the people. and that this is largely
due to the fact that Senators do not WI
their positions to the people, who are
permanent, but to the Legislatures,
which are transitory. 1t is quite imma-
terisl as to whether this belief in the
public mind is we'll founded or otherwise.
II exists, and there is, in my judgment,
but one means of removing it, and that
is by a change in the mode Of electing
Senators, by which the qualified electors
of each State shall have the right to vote
dire city for their choice for Senator"