The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-23

The question of nominating United
States Senators in the Democratic Ter
ritorial convention, is one that is caus-
ing considerable discussion and COM
ment, not alone in the Democratic
party, but among the entire people.
The tide of public opinion, as eX-
pressed by a few of the leading Demo-
Gratis of Cache, seems decidedly in ia
vor of the proposition. The Herald
man, in making the daily rounds, men
toned the subject to a few prominent
men of the party.
Moses Thatcher.
Hon. Moses Thatcher was seen at
his residence, and in answer to the
question: "Mr. Thatcher, what are
your views respecting the Senate of
the United States, especially in refer
ence to the manner in which that
national body of lawmakers are
chosen" said: History plainly indi-
Gates the reluctance with which even
statesmen avoid changing the forms
of government made venerable by
age. The House of Lords is the arts
tocratic feature of the English govern
ment; so when our fathers established
this government, it is plainly TO be
seen that eight years of devastating
war had not weaned them entirely
from those forms under which they
had been oppressed. Hence, the Sen
ate, under the opel alton of national
enactment, became the aristocratic
feature of our system, as had been the
House of Lords under the English
form of government. In my view, it
in no sense represents democracy,
and should have no place in popular
forms established by and for the peo-
pie. AS to the Senate and the manner
of selecting its members, the ballot
box fails to place the voters of the ma
ton in touch with the upper house of
our national legislature. Hence the
enactment of laws in the interest of
the wealthy and aristocratic portion,
as against the laboring and producing
classes of our people. Through that
medium has rapidly grown that con-
ditiOn of caste, or class distinction,
so distastefui 10 every American pa
triot.
"A constitutional amendment of our
national fundamental law, by which
the members of the Senate would be
elected by direct vote of the people
of the Senatorial district would. doubt
less, prove of great benefit, and in the
line of progressive reformation, could
not fail in largely purifying national
often resulting in bribery and other
forms of corruption"
The question was then asked:
Judging from the expression of
your views upon that subject, am l
not warranted in believing that you
would favor the naming of Senatorial
candidates by the Democratic conven-
ton when convened? In other words,
those Democratic nominees to the next
Legislature should be pledged to the
conventions selection of Senatorial
candidateS?'
IF the Democratic party purposes
to bring Utah into the Union as a
Democratic state" said Mr.. Thatcher,
personal interests and personal am
billions will be subordinate to the wei
fare and success of the party And
that presupposes that individual mem
bers of the party are in perfect har-
mony with each other, and will carry
into effect the policy OF the party,
even though personal interests for
time may be sacrificed. Under such
conditions, the naming of Senatorial
candidates to the convention would,
in my view, be just the thing TO do,
as such action would doubtless voice
the sentiments of the party in every
section of the territory, the delegates
being fresh from the people, and,
therefore, knowing the sentiments of
their constituents"
George w. Thatcher.
Hon. G. w. Thatcher was seen, and
in answer to question said:
81 would favor our Territorial Con-
vention naming the Senatorial candi-
dates, as l would favor any change
which places the political power near
er the people than the present method
of electing Senators.
1.-THE people would have a voice in
the matter and vote direct for Sena-
tors, thus placing the power in the
hands of the people where it belongs,
thereby taking the control out of the
hands of the money power and politi-
| clans.
This great government was made
and organized by the people and for