The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-05
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The house eonmitteo hes reported favor
ably . resolution 10 amend the Federal
constitution by taking the choice Of
United States gsnatoss from the isgisla-
lures and giving u - me people. A simi-
lar resolution once before passed the house
without dissenting vote. bat the senate
burisd the resolution IN COMMITTEES and
. viii do 20 sgain. The amendment Of the
'constitut,on u impossible save In the prss-
sncs Of m overwhelming public ssnti-
msnt. and even II the coastisusion could
b easily amended on this point Il would
not do any good.
Election By the popular vots means only
the election Of one or another Of the can
didstss nominated BY party conventions.
and conventions can nominate candidates
for senators without changing the consti-
tuition. United States Senator Lodge was
nomineted for senator from Massachu-
sstts BY the Republican state convention
Of 81 This was done because Lodge, IL
though the preference Of . majority Of his
party whom Senator Dawes was elected for
the last time, Lost his election, bscauss
Dawes Law partner who was . Democrat
turned the Democratic vote over to him
10 defeat Lodge. The only difference BE-
tween constitutional amendment and the
present situation would b that . party
would then nominate its man 20 b voted
for u the polls - In case Of governor.
whereas now IL can name the man and in
struct its members Of the legislature "a
support him, ~ the Massachusetts, Repub-
lican state convention did In 1892 in case
Of Lodge.
II the people really want senators
chosen by popular vote ws shall see party
conventions. initiating the Republican
state convention Of Massachusetts, OF 1892
and nominating the candidate for senator
in this way. Each party can now name in
its state convention the man whom il will
elect in case IL secures control Of the leris.
tature. The famous precedent Of 1858 i'm
Illinois, when Lincoln and Douglas we're
thus put forward by the Republicans and
} Democrats, was initiated by the Demo.
Gratis In the campaign of 1890 when ex.
Gov. Palmer Was thus made their candi.
date for senator. and Democratic members
Of the legislature were instructed to vote
for him. The Republicans OF Wisconsin
also parsued the same course when Sena.
tor Spooner's term was approaching its
close,
The New York Evening" Post rscisss these
| political facts, and says:
at is urged with some force that politi.
clans who would be ready enough 70 .se,
MP q legislature for q mere moneyhsgs on
wirepuilcr would shrink from proc!ain.nr
such man as their candidate. and tina,
| they would tesi compelled TO select q
| higher type of man. IL Is questioned
| whether q Repu blican state convention In
| Pennsylvania would dare TO name Don
| Cameron rs ifs candidate for senator. or ,
| Democratic state convention in New YORK
| Ed Murphy, knowing that the Other
| party would be quick TO improve the or.
| portanisy OF nominating . far stronger
| man.
The most strenuous objection which III.
| politicians urge In public Is that the nam
ing OF . senatorial candidate Ia state con
| vsntien eoois the krdor of all the othe,
| men in the party who might sonabl :
aspire ~ the osfice. and inclinss their fol-
lowsrs to lock With eomposure upon thu
loss Of the legislature: whereas. If ths
l question IL ieft open. al possible caaa,
| datss for the place viii do their best &
| carry every legislative districs. each ons
hoping that he may finally win the prixe