The morning call., 1894-05-10
LET THE COUNTIES INSTRUCT.

Marked dissatisfaction is felt in Repub-
lican circles az the refusal of the State
Central Committee 10 act on the resolution
requesting the county conventions to ex-
press their preference for Senator to sue
ceed Senator Perkins. True, the resolu-
lion was not voted down, but duty which
clearly belonged TO the committee was
shirked and referred to the State conven-
ton, No member of the committee cared
to place himself on record as opposing an
expression of opinion on the subject by
the county delegates; but it is not sur
pIislng that people should say that some
members sought to attain that object by
indirection.
Thoughtful men are practically unani-
nous on the exDediency of bringing the
United States Senate into closer touch
with the people. 1t is common talk that
ever so many Senators would never have
filed seats in their branch of Congress If
the people could have voted on their quail
fcatiOns. Efforts have been made to
remedy the evil by amending the cOnstitu-
ton so as TO confer upon The people at
large the right of electing Senators. But
such reforms are not quickly accom-
plished. 1t has never been possible to
bring the Senate to direct vote on the
subject. TO many Senators the proposed
change seems to Imply an invitation to
retire to private life. Ponderous bodies,
like Congress, move slowly; even though
every citizen of the United States were in
favor of the alteration. years. possibly
decades. might still elapse before it would
be carried into effect.
Meanwhile there is way of accomplish
ing the desired end by going back of the
Legislature and empowering its consti-
tuents in county convention assembled to
express their choics for Senator. Such an
instruction would be imperative. 1t would
not be like vote of a State convention,
which members of State Legislatures in
the valley States felt at liberty to disre-
gard On the ground that it was part of
the business of State convention TO
choose United States Senator. and that
its preferences in such matter were mere
arbiter dieta Il is the business of county
conventions to choose United States Sena-
tors through the members of Assembly and
State Senators TO whom they delegate the
power. In voting for Senator an Assem-
blyman or State Senator is supposed to
carry out the wishes of his constituents.
as expressed by their delegates in the
county convention. Ii he voted for one
of whom they did not approve he would be
false to his mandate.
In the present condition of the law there
is DO way to make the United State;
Senator real representative of the people
OF his State except by insisting that he
shall be the choice of the county conVen.
t. al nd
slant touch with the people. They know
the kind of man the people want and th'
kind of man they do not want. 1t Is thei
privilege and their duty to Instruct thei
nominees on all matters of public business
so that their course when they take thei
seats at Sacramento shall conform t. tht
wishes of thoss who sent them there
There can be no matter of public business
which lies closer to the people's heart thar
the choice of the two representatives o.
the State in the Upper House of the
national Legislature.
To the trading politicians eye the oh
lection to instructions by county conven-
tiops is that it would tend TO make the
purchase of seats in the United States
Senate more difficult. AS things are nov
managed in this State the party whlcl
controls 81 votes in the LEGISLATURE elects
the Senator, and the man who controls 3
votes in the party caucus Qf his party ha
Q bare majority is master Of the situa-
ton. Under The plan OF Instructions D.
county conventions. an individual VIII
proposed to buy seat in the Senate II
opposition to the popular choice woul'
have to travel over the State and buy
majority of fifty odd conventions, which
"a mathematicians say. would be absurd.