The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-06
ELECTION or SENATOR'S BY THE
PEOPLE.

The chief argument urged for the con-
stitutional amendment, recently passed by
the national house of representatives. pro9
viding that senators shall be elected by
the people, Is the claim that Legislatures
are subject to corruption and often to bad
influences.
Democratic Congressman Everett.. of
Massachusetts,, vigorously answered this
argument when he said:
.who choose the legislatures Mr..
Speaker Where do those legislatures
come FRONT They come from tile people;
they coma from the very ones to whom
you wish to intrust the elections OF SEN
ntoFs. | believe In the people, but ! be-
lisvs that IL there Is corruption in the
legislatures il must be because there are
weak spots somewhere in the people that
lead to this corruption. III there Is cor
ruption showing itself in the elections OF
the legislatures which choose the senator's.
that corruption will show itself sooner or
later in the popular vote, 80
Ex.United States Senator Edmunds
says:
s'This attack upon the constitution and
the house provision for the election OF the
senators directly by the people is an inn
Inense delusion and an attempted dlsturh+
snce of conservative balance, as the senate
is the feature that the makers OF the con-
stitution intended TO have most pro-
nounced effect. The quality of men
selected through popular vote is much
more likely 20 reduce the quality of the
body, as is perfectly obvious 70 any per-
son who is at all read In the political bis
tory of this or other countries.
In one or two states IL may be possible
90 secure two or three men 10 vote for a
particular senator by means OF purchase,
which j. particularly bad thing, but IL
must be remembered that the men that
manage that sort % thing can control tia
primaries TO choose delegates 10 state
convention more certainly than the nem-
bcrs Of any state legislature ever elected,
and that the people may generally be re-
lied upon 10 vote Tor the party nominee.
good or bad. 1t the states of the Union
have n wise regard Tor their own state in
dependence and safety they Will preserve
the election in their own legislative body
rs they preserve the making Of laws
The facts would seem 20 justify the con-
clnslon Of senator Edmunds. The Kansas
legislature elected PETER 90 the senate. but
the popular vote OF Kansas elected level.
ling governor. Cows. Waite. Horg. Stone,
AltgeId ard Tillman were all elected by
the popular vote. As matter Of fact the
legislatures which make foels or knayss
United States senators are generally about
as good as the people behind them
IL the people who elect the legislatures
were any better than the body they have
created they would show their superiority
by making better legislatures and eleetlnR
better governors and coaszrsAsnaen. When
q pcople don't know enough 80 do this
they certainly are not mlsrepresented by
legislatures which send fools or knaves %
the United States senate. or by goternors
who make unworthy appointments. who
govern like fools or knsvss There IS no
device by which a people can select states
mea for the Uaited States senate when
they are not above electlng worthless
legislatures. congressman and governors.