St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-20
MR.. j. L. TOWNLEY.
[Ex-Mayor of Faribaut and lea ding Demo
Graf of ST poul

vote of the people at large, the same as
members of the house of representa-
tives. They must be SO elected if the
free American people expect to have
honest government, or even to do ma
tlonal legislative business. As the sen
ate is now composed, it seems, as a
whole, to pursue a course. in national
affairs, wholly without regard for or
sense of responsibility to the people.
In view of recent occurrences, why
should not the senate rest OIL the same
basis as the house? The house, under
the constitution. is vested with the
power to originate" all bills for rev.
enue and governmental expenses, for
the reason that it is supposed to know
the immediate and definite needs for
such expenses. And this is so assumed
because 1t is closer to and comes di-
rectly from the people, and can there
fore better Judge the things necessary
to be done at the expense OF the govern
ment. Do we, then, want body such
as the senate. which Of necessity does
not know the closer business needs of
the people, to disarrange matters for
the simple reason that they do not ap-
preciate them?
This reasoning assumes the senate. as
governmental body, to be honest in it's
motives and actions. l do not believe
the United States senate. as a IegiSla-
tive body. or even majority of it, is
now. or for twenty years has been, hon
est IN its Legislative actions for the PEG.
pie.
This is hard. plain talk. Here are
my reasons: 1t will only be necessary
to go back to the congress in session in
1890. The Mckinley act was before the
United States senate; having come
from the house as a protective bill in
letter, form and spirit. The senators
from the silver states bolted, as the
Mckinley act could not benefit them.
Then that great lobbyist, John Sherman.
presented what was called and known
as tine sherman silver BILL" This
bill, IN its letter and effect, compelled
the government to buy from and pay to
the silver producers about $4,000, 600 a
year, for the bullion output of their
mines. Some Of the owners of these
mines were senaterS-Republi can SEN
aters. With this Sherman purchase
bill passed, as their share of the plum
der,it became all easy matter to pass the
Mckinley tariff act There was no ex-
cuse for its presentation or passage, ex
cept TO secure the votes necessary to
pass the Mckinley act. 1t was an out
rage on a free people, and in effect, class
Legislation i'll favor of the silver states.
This class of legislation soon created
Jealousy and financial disturbance. a
part OF the money of our country was in
silver bars.
In 1898 more than so per cent of the
American people. without regard to
party affiliations, but in the spirit of
American honor and fairness, demanded
the repeal of the Sherman silver bill.
particularly the purchase clause"
The president called congress into extra
session for such purpose. A message
to that effect was sent to congress. The
people, and even the Legislative power.
thought it would take congress but a
few days to repeal the Ubiquitous law.
The house Of representatives, coming
directly from the people and responsible
to the people, did its work in ten days;
but the senate, being responsible to
none except Mammon, fought the bill
for eighty days and came near defeat
ing it, during which period thousands
OF banks and business houses failed, and
universal arrangement of business
followed. Capital, the coward, hid
away, and industry went on tramp.
So much for a senate, Democratic in
its makeup. called together for a speci-
fed patriotic purpose.
Again, the Democratic party, on
brave platform, promulgated at Chicago
IN lS92, elects a president and both
houses OF congress by million major
ity, the president having nearly one
hundred majority in the electoral col
lege. The Chicago platform plainly
meant free sugar, free coal, free ore,
free wool and free lumber. The spirit
of that platform was free raw material
for American manufacturers and Amer
lean Industries. The people accepted
and ratified that platform. Congress
assembled last December. and in very
few weeks the "Wilson BILL" So called.
was passed by the house of representa-.
tiveS and sent to the sena.e. In this
bill the Chicago platform was in a great
measure carried out, and raw materials
were made free. Democracy. every
where, had majority. Early In the
session the bill was sent to the senate.
1t was the policy of the Democratic
party to frame such bill, and it was
generally conceded that it would raise
$500, 100000 of revenue. pay the pensions
and all governmental expenses. The
house, being responsible to its party
and the people, dbl its duty promptly.
The senate, responsible to no one, COM
pletely changed the bill, added 600
to it, and placed sugar,
coal, ore, and many other articles, sub
ject to taxation. The poor use these
The trusts own, control and
produce them. God made the most of
them. He did not make them for the
trusts. Scandal arose in the Democratic
party in the senate, responsible to no.
body and nothing, then was, and now
is and ever will be, guilty of party
perfdy and party dishonor;;" and we
all believe that The senators favoring
the trusts, both Democratic and Repub.
lican, led by Senator Arthur German,
are guilty of crimes outside OF party
lines.
1 have mentioned two instances where
the public suffered. once by Repub-
liean and once by Democratic senate,
aud l believe in each and both eases il
s because the senators have six-year
terms, which they bought and paid for,
and therefore feel no responsibility to
The people.
THE great may conquer, the rich can cheat,
But lis phrase absurd 10 call any villain
great
L spent q few weeks in Washington
asst February, and was forced to the
by personal observation, that |
he United States senate is largely COM
posed Of old scheming millionalres, who
simply sit there in the senate to rep
'eSent the great syhdicates and trusts.
md not the people.