St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-26
HON. E. T. CHAMPLIN,
lEx-Speaker OF the State House of Repl


lEx-Speaker OF the State House of Repre-
sentatives].
Ihe best reason that L can advance,
and one upon which nearly all others
hinge, is that this is republic, and its
laws should be enacted and admins
tered so as To best conserve the welfare
and Interests of the people in common.
ana consequently the greatest liberty
should be extended to the people in the
election OF their lawmakers.
another very important reason is that
OF good and wholesome state govern
ment. Under our present system of
electing United States senators by the
Legislature the honesty. comprehension
and general fitness that should char
acferZe members of the legislature is
often lost sight of in the scramble for
votes for United States senator, and as
consequence our legislature is filed
with men, some, at least, of whom con-
slider that they have fulfilled the mis-
sion that they were chosen for when
they cast their ballots for senator, and
our state suffers from the inefficient
legislation of lot Of partisans who are
more interested in their chief than in
the welfare of the people.
Again, the long term of six years
opens the greatest field for corrupting
influences. III senator can be APP
preached, dare say that men who are
the beneficiares of class legislation will
not be slow in interesting him in their
behalf. either directly UT Indirectly. /
m 10 I,t,t
the colossal fortunes that are some
times amaSsed upon salary of $1,000 a
year. and the unaccountable manner in
which some senators vote and talk
| when favored interests are jeopardiZed.
lead me to advance this unpleasant
reason among others, and to the con-
| clusien that, were senators elected by a
direct vote of the people. ami for a
shorter term, they would best represe MT
| them.
This last reason induces me to ad.
vance another in the same line. where
corruption is more glarng, relative to
the means resorted to in the election OF
senator. to which the people Of Mime
sofa have had some striking examples.
1t is. indeed. out of the question to buy
the people of great state. but it is
among the possibilities to buy few
votes; and, while do not believe that
lawmakers are more corrupt than other
men-in fact,I think that as a rule they
are patriotic and honorable-Still among
so many l dare say that there are some
whose conscientious scruples can be over
come by filthy iucre, and thereby cor
rupt man may be elected 10 WELD a
period of six years.
| A brief glance at the influences which
were potent in fixing that clause in the
constitution providing for the election
of United States senators by the legis-
p latures of the states would induce any
true friend of democratic government
= to oppose it. At the time OF the adop-
I ton of the constitution fierce contest
ensued between the radical Republicans
led by such men as Patrick Henry,
b Thomas Jefferson and others, who coll
tended for the greatest liberty for the
L people-Henry, in fact, was opposed to
the constitution after its adoption
and the followers OF Hamilton
who favored strong central
iized government with senate
consisting of life members. correspond
/ Ing TO the British house of lords. A
strong elemen. demanded a recognition
of the sovereignty of the states; the
laresult of their labors was compromise
on the question. and law for the cleo
ton of senators by the state legislatures
for six years. Now it is evident, had
democratic principles prevailed in that
constitutional convention, the law
would have been framed giving the
people the right to elect their senators
as we'll as all other lawmakers. Time
has demonstrated that the rights of
states are quite as well subserved by
the members of the house as by the
senate; and, as Democratic principles
are the same today as in 1857, l, as a
Democrat, would amend the constitu-
ton and elect by direct vote, and for
shorter term, as said before. Coming
back to the first reason advanced, l
will conclude by stating that govern
ment by the people cannot be so in fact
unless the people elect their lawmakers.
Respectfully yours.