The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-28
IN THE CORRIDORS.
Interesting Chat Heard at the
Different Hotels.

w. Il. stone, OF New York, was az
the Ponce de Leon yesterday and in the
course OF conversation said: $50 far as
indications are concerned my State is
now overwhelmingly Democratic and l
confidently expect that its electoral
vote will be cast for Cleveland, but in
politics it is never safe to calculate on
results until you have them before you.
l have thought good deal on our
method of electing presidents and l
have como to the conclusion that 1t is
all wrong. 1 am no politician and do
not pretend to be able to offer solution
of the problem, but to any man who is
imbued with the American idea that
the country is ruled by the wishes of
the majority it can but appear that the
plan now in force of election through
the electoral college is wrong.
cat the last election G. .,o.a .e.
cciyed large major .,.y Of the votes sI cas-.
in the -.nty and yet Harrison is Presl.
dent, because sufficient Republican
Vottes are aggregated in few States
whose electoral votes are enough to
outnumber those of tho Democratic
States, the wishes Of Democratic
minority in tho Republican States ead
the majority in che Democratic States,
which, taken together, constitute ma
jority Of ali the votes cast in the United
States, are TOTALLY disregarded and set
at naught. 1 see no good reason why
the President should not be elected by
the popular vote just as congressman
are. The plea that 1t would open
broader field for vote stealing and cor
ruption is utterly urtenable. II either
party would resort to fraudulent means
to elect its candidate on direct vote
they would do the same thing to secure
the electors.
I'm 1876, when tho Presidency was
stolen for Hayes through the agency Of
a commission, sll of the wrdugles that
arose over tho action of the returning
board would have been avoided il the
people had elected tho President bv
direct vote. Another objection urged to
this mode Of electing Presidents is that
it would engender more bitterness, ami
mostly ana probably strife. The same
argument that answers the objection as
to fraud applies to this Why it should
create any more bitterness to vote for
man directly than it would to vote for a
man who is to vote for him is something
that cannot see. The expenses of such
an election would be no greater and it
strikes me that in overy way it would
be fair and just IF a majority Of the
people are to rule this country hope
that the President may be elected by q
direct vote, If not it is about time to
hush the talk OF a majority ruling, for
as 1T now stands, as a matter of fact, it
does not do so.
~ am also in favor of electing United
State Senators by a popular vote. The
Senate is now, with few exceptions,
an assembly of millionaires. Why Is it
not so in the House? Are the Senators
greater than the congressman? Are
the greatest men Of the various States
the millionaires? think not. Look to
the California legislature, from which
Stanford bought his seat; look to the
Legislature of Colorado that was openly
bought by the millionaire brother OF
Senator Walcott, and to innumerablo
like instances and you will find tho true
reason why 80 many millionaires hold
seats in the Senate. 1t Is the fashion
to ridicule EDgland's house of lords, but
they inherit their seats, and in the
large majority of instances are fitted by
careful training from boyhood to dis
charge the duties attaching to it, while
with US If man can find mine or
strike it rich in real estate by being
hemmed in and made wealthy because
he can't get out, a seat in the Senate
awaits him If he is shrewd enough to
manipulate Legislature and generous
enough to pay we'll for it,
~ do not say that all legislatures are
venal and corrupt, but the fact remains
that 1t is easier TO corrupt uwo.thirds of
one hundred and fifty men than it is
majority of the voters of any State"
At Hotel Roanoke yesterday an old
man was reading paper. Presently he
looked up and said to companion. II
see here another man has gone astray
is it not strange that for money men
will lose reputation, honor and even
liberty itself? Almost every day the
story is told through the press OF the
country how some man trusted respected
and honored by all has abused that
trust, forfeited that respect and taken
last farewell OF that honor for few
thousands Of paltry dollars. There must
be cause for an evil 80 widespread,
and my opinion is that existing social
conditions nave much to do with it.
Men are seldom, If ever, born vii
lains. and that old and profane doctrine
OF original sin Is only worthy OF bar
barism. The chances are this man has
fallen, not because of his innate wicked
ness transmitted from Adam, but from
temptations that assailed him which he
was too weak to successfully resist. A
young man goes to the city where he has
secured good position and by industry,
Integrity and attention to business has
acquired the confidence of his en-