St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-12
HON. JOHN E. STRIKER.
assistant United States District Attorney
for in

Assistant United States District Attorney
for Minnesota
The senate of the United States
would not, in my judgment, be i'm
proved were its members elected direct
ly by the people. This does not mean
that the present condition of the upper
house of congress is satisfactory. but
that believe other causes than the COLI
stitutional method OF choosing it's men,
bers are responsible for its inefficiency.
At the present time this body is pre-
venting the passage of measure de-
manded by the people at the last general
election, and promised to the citizens of
the United States by the party in con-
troll OF the government. This ObStruc-
ton is due TO the fact that number of
senators fear to support bill which is
unwelcome to many individuals and
classes in the communities which these
Legislators represent Would the re.
ANNEXATION of principle by these men be
| less marked if the interested individuals
and classes were able, directly. to make
or unmake senator? Would the dem
| agogue find it more difficult to get votes
from the people than from the legis-
latorS of the state? Would the million
aire find it harder to purchase a sena
, torial toga from the people than from
the legislature? If the answer to these
questions be no, can see no advantage
to be derived from direct election of
senators by the people.
Assuming an honest desire on the
part of the electors to choose the best
possible man to represent them in the
national senate, think they can secure
this end through the indirect method of
choice provided in the constitution.
The representatives and senators i'll the
several state legislatures are chosen
from comparatively small districts,
where it is possible for the voter to be-
come thoroughly acquainted with the
character and qualifications of the can
didate for nomination and election; and
If it he the desire of an elector to choose
the best man for the place, he has the
opportunity to accomplish his purpose.
And the local senator and representa-
tive have better facilities for choice of
the right man to Sc nd TO the national
1t is unwise TO depart loo radically or
quickly from well established historical
precedents. In the four great types OF
modern constitutional government, viz,
the presidential republic, the presiden-
tlal monar chy, the cabinet republic and
the cabinet monarchy, which types are
we'll illustrated by the governments of
the United States, of Germany, of
France and of England, the members of
the upper house are designated in a
manner different from that which is
adopted i'll electing the members of the
lower house. The reason for the legis-
iature consisting of two bodies is large
ly In the fact that these bodies are in
tended to represent different govern
mental entities, Or else different
classes of citizens. The purpose of
this diversity of representation is
clearly apparent in the case of
dual government, like that of Ger
many or the United States, in both of
which the local state is for many pur-
poses supreme. 1t is the design of both
OF these constitutions to make the lower
house the direct representative of the
people and the upper house the organ
or the local state. This diversity of
allegiance of the members in the two
houses can. l believe, be obtained in no
better way than the fathers of this
republic adopted in our constitution.
The Democratic party is still the
party of local self-government. and it
should not be the party to attempt to
make the senator less the representa-
tive Of the state. Coming from the
legislature of the state, he is its am
bassador. Were he elected by the peo-
pie, as is the representative III congress,
he would represent merely por ton of
the voters of the nation.
1t Is impossible, in an article of this
character and length, TO even suggest
remedies for the present condition Of
our governing bodies; but l believe the
senate of the United States, as we'll as
all of our other legislative bodies, will
best serve the purpose for which they
were created only when the political
morality of the voter has been elevated.
Some of the means by which this may
be accomplished are, l think: First -
A radical restriction of immigration. 1t
Is patent that immigrants are now COM
ing to this country more rapidly than
our population can asSimiiate them.
They are destroying our ethnic and
political unity. and the class of these
Immigrants is such that the average
political morality of our voters is i'll
Jured by their presence. Secondly-The
best men to represent the people can
only be selected when the primary cleo
ton, as well as the final election, is
placed under governmental control.
l believe that the wise course for dis
cussion at the present time is along the
lines of reformation of the laws affect
ing suffrage and the details of the
selection of officials, rather than con-
corning constitutional change in the
method of choice.
Hg7Ag. S57HzZ~