St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-12
HON. F. w. M. CUTCHEON.
lex Chairman of the Democratic state Com

[Ex-Chairman of the Democratic State Com
mittee,
| do not think there are now living in
this country many thoughtful persons,
at the same time disirterested, who will
not concede that the election of United
States senators by the direct vote of the
people would improve the quality of the
personnel Of the senate and would re-
suit in inestimable benefit 10 the nation.
That mode of election would result in
the choice of men more original in con-
ceplion, more earnest In purpose, more
honest in motive, more able in eXecu-
ton. The wider and fiercer competition
for seats in the senate that would result
by making it possible for men of limited
means and no previous political connec-
tionS 10 become candidates with pros
pect of success, would inevitably bring
many such men into the senate. Then,
too, that body would he brought into
more intimate contact and closer SYM
pathy with the people. 1t would be-
come more quickly responsive to their
wishes and aspirations. The great body
of the people are generally right-in the
long run almost invariably right-par-
tlcularly when the moral sense is ap.
pealed TO. But whether right or wrong,
the people are entitled, under our form
of government, to rule, not only in
theory. but in fact, unhampered by
complications of legislative machinery.
L he duty of each citizen to the republic,
as l conceive it, is TO assist in so mould
ing the form of our government that the
desires of the people will be attainable
in all cases; and then, if in any given
case he believes that their desire is for
something unjust or unwise, to do his
utmost by argumsnt and example to re-
place that desire with one for some.
thing better and truer. The thing to
be BONE in mind is that, whatever
the consequences, we have voluntarily
and irrevocably committed ourselves to
a government, not only for, but by the
people. The sooner the experiment
works out It's proper consequence, the
better for the world. 1t follows that we
are bound to do everything that will
give greater and more Immediate etfi-
cheney to the peoples will.
Moreover, believe that, while the
proposed change would undoubtedly
deprive the senate to some extent of it's
conservative character, it would so
surely result III an Improvement of the
average ability of its members that its
efficiency as safeguard of the
country's true interests would be vastly
increased.
And the change would prod uce an
other and not less benefcent result.
The scandal that now, almost invari-
ably. attends the election of an United
States senator wouli be rendered al
most impossible. The use of money
and promises OF official favor would be
reduced to the minimum, and few men
would sit in the senate the hens of
whose togas had been soiled by the filth
that now too often bedaubs them. This
probable publication of our political
life is, in Itself, a sufficient reason for
favoring the change.
Of course we can hardly hope that the
senate, as now constituted, will submit
to the states an amendment to the fed
eral constitution embodying this change.
except under overwhelming pressure.
l believe that every state legislature
should, prior to the election of a United
States senator, adopt resolution in
structlng the senator about to be elect
ed to work and vote for the submission
OF such an amendment, and should re-
quire every candidate for election to the
senate to give pledge to that effect
Every political convention should pass
a resolution calling upon the state iegis-
lature to adopt this course. If this pro-
gramme were earnestly and consistently
pursued,it would not be more than four
years at most before such an amend
ment would become part of the nations
fundamental law.