The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-17
CHOICE OF SENATORS.
Movement to Change the Mode
Of their Election.
rs ADVOCATES IN CONGRESS.
Palmer and Jehnsen Lead the Nom
Partisan Agifatfon-New Rules VIII
Not Count . Quoxum.

WAsHINGroH CITY, Jan. l6.--The popu-
lar movement for the election of United.
States senator's by vote of the people is
likely TO be one of the most important
subjects discussed by the present con-
gress. It seems likely to be one great
subject of national interest upon which
party lines viii not be drawn, and from
this fact the advocates of the proposed re-
form derive encouragement of ultimate
success. While 1t Is probably true that of
the dozen Joint resolutions on the subject
introduced in the two houses or in course
of preparation most of the authors are
Democrats, yet several of the most en-
phatic advocates of the amendment
are prominent Republicans. Senator
Palmer of Illinois, who has long stood as
an 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, while
Representative Johnson. the Republican
representative from North Dakota, will be
the most aggressive advocate of the con-
stitutional amendment in the House. In
Representatives Bryan of Nebraska, Enloe
of Tennessee, Springer of Illinois and Mil
lerof Wisconsin, he will have warm CO.
operation, but Johnson will probably be
conceded the leadership of the new move
ment because CT his oft-repeated asser-
tions that to violation of that principle
was solely due his defeat in the memora-
bic senatorial contest in North Dakota
The House committee on election of
president. vice president and representa-
fives, at a meeting today, gave special at
tention To the various propositions.
joint resolution which Miller urged pro-
posed a constitutional amendment giving
one 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 that the smaller states
have disproportionately large repre-
sentation in the Senate, and his
scheme would secure more equit-
able representation. The other speakers
directed their arguments generally to the
broad question of the ACCESSIBILITY of cleo
ton of senator's by direct vote of the peo-
pie. Corporate influences, it was urged,
were too potent factor in the election of
senators by legislatures. Attention was
called to the frequency of charges of cor
ruption and bribery made during and sub
sequent to the election of senator's.
Powers of Vermont asked if popular
election might not result in sending less
able men 10 the Senate. Enloe said it
might possibly occur occasionally, as it
sometimes did in all public elections. that
men of inferior capacity might be chosen
10 the Senate, but the country would suffer
less to have fool in the Senate six years
than to have corrupt scoundrel.
Bryan proposes that senators be elected
by direct vote in only such states as
through their proper legislative machin-
cry decide to elect senators in this man.
ner, while Enloe and Johnson proposed
that the new method be compulsory as to
ell the states.
Johnson was the Republican caucus
nominee ct the last senatorial election in
his state, but was defeated. He was ap-
preached by an attorney for a railway cor
poration and was told that to make his
election certain it was necessary that he
should give assurance that he would favor
certain man as judge for that district.
The attorney said the railway had
secured the election of seven or
eight members of the legislature
and controlled their votes. Johnson said
he did not consider it honorable to enter
into bargain of that kind, and declined
to give the assurance asked, and the re-
suit was that he was defeated. Yet at that
time he was the acknowledged choice of
the people of his state for United States
senator, as we'll as the choice of his party.
and would have been elected but for the
peoples will being thwarted by corrupt
corporation influence. The committee adj
Journed until next week.