San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-01-15
SENATORIAL ELECTIONS.
HILL FAVORs DIRECT Election
BY THE PEOPLE.
Thinks that Democrats Should
Move in this Matter Before
the Republicans Steal
Thsic Plumber

NEW YORK, Jan. IA special
to the World from Washington, ID.
c., says: Senator Hill was asked
tonight il he did not think Con-
gress at their session should take
the necessary steps 10 bring about
popular elections of United States
Senators.
eyes," replied Senator Hill. 81
think that Congress should give
the country not only financial
legislation which it asks but other
appropriate legislation demanded
by the best interest Of the people.
Among other things it should
pass the proposed amendment to
the constitution for the election OF
United States Senators by the peo-
pie. This is much needed reform.
the Importance of which at this
time cannot be over estimated.
The House, which usually is
more in touch with public
sentiment than the Senate has al
ready passed joint resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the con-
stitution providing for the election
of Senators by the people, and the
resolution is now awaiting the ac-
ton Of the Senate. IL the Senate
should concur with the House and
pass the resolution have no doubt
whatever that the amendment
would be ratified by the requisite
number OF states. 1t is a popular
movement. 1t accords with Dem
ocratic ideas and sentiments. 1t
would improve the Senate and
bring that body into accord with
public sentiment upon great meas
ures. Senators, whose election is
removed from the people and is for
long terms, naturally become in
different to popular desires and
are slow to act upon important
questions. Legislatures can be i'm
properly manipulated and con-
trolled by influences which cannot
we'll reach the people of a whole
state, and many scandals would be
saved and better selections secured,
as a general rule, il the power OF
election were vested in the electors
OF the state.
There is an impression abroad
that the Senate is Indifferent to
the wishes Of the people because 1T
moves so slowly and unusually
upon some great public question,
and hence there rests general de-
sire for a change in the manner OF
selection, a change which cannot
we'll be resisted many years longer.
The Democratic party ought not
wait for the Republican party to
accomplish this most desirable re-
suit, but should act at once and
get the credit for so excellent re-
form. Indication of public senti-
ment upon this question is found in
the fact that in the platforms for
the states Of California, Florida,
Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachus-
sets, Michigan, Minnesota, Neva-
da, Oregon, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Washington and Wyom-
ing, this amendment is cordially
approved. Many Republican state
platforms advocate the same
change. The leading newspapers
of the country advocate the
amendment, and sooner or later
it is bound to be adopted.
The election of U. S. senators by
the people would largely relieve
partisan legislatures from the
temptations of "Gerrymandering"
legislative districts, and members
could be chosen according to their
merits and not because Of their at
titude toward senatorial candi-
dates. States which are ordinarily
Democratic, like ConnecAc ut, New
Jersey and Rhode Island, could
elect Democratic senators by
vote of their people while by rea-
son Of Gerrymandering by legisla-
tion or in constitutions, it may be
impossible to do so. Democrats
should be able to see where their
interest is upon this quest 1, and
should act accordingly. The Demo-
cratic independent, and Republi-
can press Of the country in favor
of this constitutional amendment
should press the matter upon the
attention of their readers. No i'm
portant reform was ever accom-
plished except by an.agitator, and
agitation some times even affects
the Senate of the United S States"