The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-07-02

islate in the interest Of tho far
mers and wage workers of tins
country
Another great measure In which
Senator Mitchell has his whole
heart and soul, is the election Of
senators by the people. When the
sentiment of the body OF which he
is member was almost over
whelming, in opposition to this re
form, Mr.. Mitchell introduced a
constitutional amenf ment, provid-
ing for it. Congress after congress
he has re introduced it, until at
last he has succeeded in getting u
majority of the committee on priv
Iileges and elections 10 report in its
favor. The house by enormous
majorities has twice passed SIM
liar amendment. Mr.. Mitchell too
believes that a majority of the
senate will vote in its favor, al
though it is doubtful if the meas
ure can get the requisite twothlrds
vote. In his report, now waiting
for the consideration of the senate
he says:
"'The tendency in the public
mind-in the minds of the great
masses of the peoples away
from any sort of vicarious repre-
sentation in legislative functions;
away from every proposition that
ldeprives the people of the right to
be heard and heard directly Oh the
great questions pertaining to gov
eminent, and in favor, in word.
ofta government Dy the people
and for the people, in the broadest
and best sense of that o.t-qnoted
declaration The people demand
voice in the election of senators
and such demand, in the judgment
! of your committee, should be re-
Ispected. So, whatever may be
said to the contrary, whatever may
be thought of the sanctity OF the
constitution as It now stan Is, it
must be admitted by all that the
people are becoming restlve under
its restraints on the right of those
entitled under the constitution and
the laws to exercise the elective
franchise.
';sThe times are changing as the
light of republican influence ex-
pands and the spirit of true democ.
racv is exalted, and with these
changes the voice of the people,
in their majesty as sovereigns, is
being heard throughout our land.
The movement of the people in
the interest of the people on this,
as on many other questions. is
stalwart and universal, and the
sooner this great act is recognized
by the representatives of the peo-
Iple the better.
"sBut not only so. 1t is fact
that must be apparent to all, that
during recent years an impression
deep seated and threatening,
whether well-founded or other
wise, has obtained in the Ameri
can mind and among the masses
of the American people to the eff
feet, that the senate of the United
States has become a sort of aristo-
cratic body-too far removed from
the people, beyond their reach,
and with no especial interest in
their welfare. The senate has in
the past few years been assailed,
as we believe causelessly, from
time to time, by many of the lead.
ing and most influential journals
of the country of both politicaI
parties.
| ssThe tendency of public opin
ion is to disparage the senate and
depreciate its dignity, It's useful
ness, its integrity, its power. Il
there is any cause for this tenden
.. cy in the public mind it should be
removed without delay. Although
the senate of the United States
: should be, and in fact is, the mos
I dignified as we'll as the most i'm
portant legislative body in the
} world, the tendency in public
| journalism and in the popula
5 mind is in a large degree to de
l tract from Its Importance, mini
3 mize its dignity and power, ant
| cast the spirit of obloquy over ant
: around it and its members. While
your committee are of the opinion
> that the impression which leads t.
: all this is to very great extent a
least not we'll founded, yet it is
: fact that cannot be ignored that i
> exists.
"'Therefore in the judgment o
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