The morning call., 1892-12-29

people which can be effected without an
amendment to the constitution.
1t will pay 10 study the proposed modifi-
cation of our political practice in the light
Of facts. On the face of il, it transfers the
nomination Of Senators from the Legisla-
lures to State conventions. This would be
a desirable change if, on the average, State
conventions were bodies of higher char
acter and better equipment than State Leg
islatures. But are they? At present every
member of a State Legislature has been
selected from number Of applicants who
have competed for the position before a
district or county conventions; he has
gone through the ordeal of popular cleo
ton and has won the day. On the other
hand, almost anybody who chooses may be q
delegate to State convention. The post of
delegate generally goes a-begging. and quite
often counties are represented by persons
who have bought proxies. The character
of the membership in State conventions
might be raised If they added to their other
duties that of choosing a United States
Senator. but even then would they be as
substantial and responsible bodies as State
Legislatures?
Again, the effect Of comforting upon State
conventions the power of choosing the Sen
Of the party the alternative of supporting
the Senator who was the choice OF the con-
vention or to bolt the party ticket Now,
1t has frequently happened that State con-
ventions, in this State at all events, have
been In closer touch with the wirepullers
| and political bosses of the party than with
the people at large. 1t is quite possible that
the last Republican convention at Sacra-
mento, If il had been required to nominate
a Senator, would have chosen the man of
all others whom the Republican voters
ioathed, simply because he was hand and
glove with the ringsters who ran the con-
yention. Similar instances may be quoted
from the history of the Democratic party in
this State. If the famous Stockton cOnven-
ton had been called upon TO nominate a
Senator it certainly would not have chosen
the Democrat upon whom the party after
ward conferred the honor.
The notion of The Iowa reformers is that
by nominating a candidate for Senator in
convention, the voters Will have chance of
passing upon his merits, and thus the. up
per House" may be brought in to closer touch
with the people. But after the nomination
is made. voters can only signify their dis
approval of it by defeating their party,
which may be, under given circumstances,
burning the house down to get rid Of the
rats.
The CALL does not wish to be under
stood as condemning the Iowa plan un-
equiTocally. 1t merely desires to point ont
practical inconvenience which would be
likely to present themselves if it were gen.
orally adopted. For the present system OF
electing United States Senators no good ex-
cuse can be offered. Ii was engrafted upon
our political framework in order TO main
: tain the theory Of Stale severe gnty and to
assert the equality of the States. The one
is now an obsolete tradition and the other is
patent aDsurdity. No reason now exists for
electing Senators by State Legislatures, and
common-sense aud public utility dictate
/. their election by the people. But radical
changes OF this nature are not easily eff
fected, u or can they be effected at all with
out careful consideration of the probable
consequences. The popular election of
Senators would stifie aspirations of adven-
turers who aim TO enter the Senate by the
back door of money and intrigue. But il
might involve drawbacks which are not now
foreseen. 1t could not be embodied in an
amendment to the constitution without re-
viying the old controversy over the respect
i've merits Of bieam eral and single legisla-
tive chambers. Those who are so hot for
a change in this part of our political system
would do we'll to read Sieyes' argument in
favor of single chamber. His conclusions
were probably unsound, but it is not easy
to point out the flaw in his argument