Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-04-02
BY POPULAR SUFFRAGE.
PROPOSED AMENDuENT FOR
ELECTION or SENATOR'S.
Mitchell of Oregon Makes a strong
Argument I'm Favor of Its
Adoption.

W AShlNOlONs LhdICll ~ NJSlid-
tor Mitchell of Oregon today re-
ported to the Senate from the
Elections Committee the Joint
resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution, provid-
ing for the election of Senators
by direct vote of the people.
The committee says it approach
ed the subject of the proposed
change in the method of electing
Senators with a full appreciation
of the gravity of the subject and of
the importance Of the public in
terests involved. The objections
that are raised to the proposed
change are discussed fully. The
amendment, it is held. does
not in the slightest degree trench
upon the system upon which our
Government is founded. The
objection is not tenable that any
proposed change in the mode of
electing Senators can be properly
regarded as an attempt to deprive
the States in their sovereign or
political capacity of their legal
representation in the Senate. 1t
proposes a change in the mode
only this and nothing more by
which the States shall choose
their representatives in the Senate.
Why, asks the report, are not
the people, qualified electors of a
State, the proper mouthpiece of
the State in the election of SEN
ators? And, if entitled to speak,
then why not directly and for
themselves and not through their
representatives in State Legisla-
! lures? One weighty and princi-
| pal objection to the present system
Of electing Senators, says the re-
| port, is that the power and right
of the individual voter are hedged
about and circumscribed, his will
| is manacled, he cannot vote for
his choice. 1t carries with it the
implication that the people, the
| qualified voters, are, for some
reason, unfit for the full exercise
| Of the elective franchise. Again
| it is held that the proposed
amendment is an enlargement of
the right of suffrage on the part
Of those entitled to its exercise
under existing laws and tends to
| render impossible the use Of i'm
| proper methods to influence SEN
atorial elections. While it is pos
| sible the inducements of wealthy
and unscrupulous aspirant for
Senatorial honors may reach and
influence the majority of small
body in the Legislature, such a
thing would be impossible were
the decision left to the great mass
of the voters.
| Another unanswerable obiec-
ton the committee finds to the
present system Of electing Senat-
ors is the great length of time fire.
quently consumed in the election
and the consequent distraction of
the legislative minds from bust
ness, to say nothing of the strife,
i'll feeling and contention that too
often follow in the wake of such
contests. Another vital objection
to the present system is that in
the election of the members Of
the Legislature, when such Legis-
lature has as one of its duties the
selection of Senator, every con-
sideration is lost sight of except
the solitary one of how candidates
if elected will vote on the question
OF the Senatorship,
The tendency of public opinion.
the report concludes, is to dispa-
rage the Senate and depreciate its
dignity, its usefulness, its integri-
ty, its power. Ii there is any cause
for this tendency it should be re-
moved without delay. The adop-
ton of the amendment will re-
move prejudices now existing
which are rapidly becoming deep,
ly and dangerously fastened upon
the public mind, will dissipate all
cause, all excuse and pretext for
unjust criticism, and will tend to
elevate the character, advance the
dignity and increase the useful
ness of the Senate,