The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-05-20
WHAT THE SENATE REPRE-
SENI'S,

Senator Sherman complained on the
floor of the senate the other day that the
senate no longer represented the people,
but that it represented states. Now.
Senator Sherman knows that the senate,
as at present constituted, was created
with that end In view and therefore that
his criticism was void. If the senate as
now constructed simply represented
states, the condition would not be so bad.
But in fact the conditions which confront
us point to something widely different.
What, for example, does Senator Sher-
man himself represent? Is it the state
of Ohio? Does anybody pretend that the
the state of Ohio has been John Sher-
mans constituent during his long service
antedating 1873 and extending down to
the gold standard discussion Of 1893?
Does anybody pretend that Senator Sher-
man during this period has been repre-
senting the sentiments of the state Of
Ohio? Nonsense. Ohio is friendly to BIZ
metallism and always has been. Sher-
man represents not Ohio, but Wall
street.
And Brice? Does anyone pretend that
he also represents the state Of Ohio? He
himself would not pretend it. He
bought his seat of members Of an Ohio
legislature, it is true. But the leading
organs Of his party recognize that he rep
resents the coal trust and sugar trust and
certain railway and mine interests, and
that is all.
past week that Senator Frye. of Maine,
was the representative of the Southern
Pacific railway in California. Hunting
ton wanted to get into the harbor and
river bill a steal which no congressman
from California would support, and Frye
thereupon became Huntingtons repre-
sentative and got into the bill an appro-
priation for a California port in Hunt
ington's interests, in spite of the solid OPP
position Of the senators from California
and that states press and people.
Indeed, for purposes of national legisla-
ton the country may be said to be plat
ted by commercial and industrial divis-
ions rather than by states. This is the
honorable gentleman from Southern Pa
ciic domain; that the distinguished rep
resentative of the Union Pacific dominion.
This is the senator from the consolidated
steel pool; that, from the Havemeyer su-
gar trust. This is the eminent retainer
Of the Northwestern lumber interests;
that, the urbane ambassador of the an
thracite coal trust. These are the sa-
traps of the European bond interests;
those, the ministers plenipotentiry of the
Wall street gold-brokers. This is gov
ernor of the Milwaukee beer canton; that,
the consul general Of the Kentucky whis-
ky province.
In this manner, representation by
states has become practically dead let
ter. In place Of such representation, we
have representation by corporate inter-
ests and commercial principalities.
Commercial issues, commercial interests,
commercial measures, and commercial
agencies have usurped the place Of pat
riotism, and congress has become a sort
OF general chamber Of commerce, where
log-rolling and treasury grabbing take
the place Of craftsmanship. This is the
logical result Of political system in
which the almighty dollar and so-called
business interests absorb all interest
and attention. r. N. S.