Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-14
Chandler Opposed to Electing
Senators by a Popular Vote
PALMER MAKES A SHARP REPLY
He Discusses the Proposed Csnstitu-
ronal Senator Pal
mef's Political Record Attacked.


No Demand for the Change.
Senator Chandler said the time might
come when he would be convinced that
such proposition might be submitted.
but he was not convinced Of IL st the
present time He said that there
WAS no demand for the change
that there had been no griev-
snce shown, no injury done. no
suggestion that unless the change was
made rich men would break into the
senate. He did not propose to crafty
the Farmers Alliance by voting for a
constitutional amendment for which he
thought there was no occasion
Attacked Gen. Pxinsr's Record.
Senator Chandler went on TO speak Of
the evil OF caucus government and of
caucus nominations, and TO argue that
the present system Of elccting senators
was much loss liable TO fraud
and abuse. He then turned
his attention 70 Senator Palmer
and his political record. finding special
fault with an sllusicn in Senator Pal
mer's speech some time age to the last
election Of Gen. Logan TO the senate by
trick. He thought that the senator
might have allowed that distinguished
man to rest quietly in his grave without
attempting to put upon his name any
tart whatever.
No IRefectien eu Logas.
Senator Palmer disclsimed any idea
of rejecting on Gen. Logan in that
matter and gave a short history Of the
way In which Gen. Logan had been
elected on that occasion--a vacancy in
democratic legislative district hav-
ing been filed through the secret
candidacy unknown to the demo
cratic voters) Of a republican named
Weaver, who had gone through the dis
trict as an insurance agent and been
elected before the democrats knew
that there was any opposition in the
district. He had characterized this as
a trick, and It had been laughed at as
such in Illinois; but he had not init
mated that Gen. Logan had any knowl-
edge Of il.
Degraded Condition ef Voters.
Senator Chandler resumed and en-
ished his speech against the constitu-
tional amendment Another objection
which he urged against Il was the pres
ent condition of suffrage in the United
States. He spoke Of tho suppression
of popular suffrage il tho three
states OF South Carolina, Mississippi
and Louisiana .snd Of the degraded
condition Of tho voters in all the
great cities of the union. The vote In
New York city, he said. was cast by the
ignorant, the degraded. the criminal
classes of that city And there was
coming into this country an enormous
influx Of foreigners, unable to read and
BILE of casting an Intelligent bal
lot, and who. as soon as they reached
tho couatry. were made voters without
reference to the provisions of the nat
uralizatlon laws whenever . great
political party determined to bring
them to the polls. ThiA was the shock
ing and horrible condition Of the kuf-
frage in America; and instead Of un-
dcrtaking to restore the suffrage 10
purity and integrity the senator's who
had made such lepg speeches in support
of the constitutional amendment were
gravelv proposing TO eui@rye .he sphere
of popular elections and 10 make the
first important ameudme Mt OF the con-
tstiution in 100 years
Chsadier Cosclsass.
Senator Chandler Gid not see how the
.. adoption of the amendment could bring
the senate any nearer 70 the people
thea now. Who could be closer TO the
people than the senators who had
represented Illinois? Yates. ogles-
by. Cullom and Palmer had been
chosen governor by the popu-
lar vote and Logan had twice been
elected congressman at large. Then
Senator Chandler alluded TO the war
and said that Senator Palmer's We've
had changed since the time when he
was . republican governor Of Illinois
and read Q message which Senator
Palmer had written.
Palmer's Auswer.
Senator Palmer replied a. follows
Twas in the army. 1t was not my business
10 look after the revenue. helped 70 elect LIN
coin hsa the utmost confidence In hts patriot
ism hsc und>rrsccd through the ssvspapers
ffBuENc8 -
| II IL hsa been twice much ana would havs
brought twice ss much money veuid have
| favored a. heard ~ the issue es green
backs and other matters 81 that sort II was 9
matter of no consequence vas ready - ssve
the last ssr ana the last dollar 70 put covr The
rebellion vas in fsver Of - yfnr The lssf Sol
lar Of TIE vsr debt IN gold. because vs hs4 sell
| the country We would favored 81 The ron
| sfirtional amendments l admit tl.st - tAa'
! there need Ne no trouble hereafter I vreta
that message nv friend has read sra thanh
| him for doine en-
Not Afraid of the Popular Vote.
Senator Palmer said ne had no feat
| Of the popular vote. Most 81 the evils
| that could be traced 70 popular isfu
euces were nothing "a compared With
| TIE evil TO be found where the popuia'
will aud the popular interests were dis
| regarded.
The senator from New Hampshire
| had spoken Of him q. = repub biicss Sod
rtor. Not only that but he iSensto'
Palmer hsd helped 80 make the repub
licsu party. He had been the president
~ t.e first repuelicss state con
vention ever bid in Tire STAT.
/ ~ Illinois While the r-yubairsr
/ PARTY was being dsvotsd 20 The
,,<~s for which II wss nnsas ns erssde'
ar nebler PARTY had existed II wss
only sfter i. fellfnts the hands Of me,
who eeatrsstss n fss THE .dysrcemen'
- Fsssr c-r -rif4fs 81 ets tset &
h.s become the fce 70 the eoutsa
whieh i new VS.
trtf~-n Tzk>s as-d
Senator cs-lon fETl hAA alss sone