The Red Cloud chief., 1896-03-27
REFORM FOR SENATE
IN FAVOR OF ELEC-
TONS BY DIRECT VOTE
, Change IL Necessary Mr. Mitchell Of
Oregon Gives Congcnt Reasons why the
Present system should be Changed
Advantages Set Forth.

WASHINGTON, March -. - Senator
Mitchell of Oregon to-day reported to
the senate from the elections commit
tee the joint resolution proposing an
amendment to the constitution, pro-
,iding for the election of Senator'S bv
the direct vote of the people. The
committee says the accompanying
report has approached the subject of
the proposed change in the method of
clccting Senator's with a full apprcci-
alton of the gravity of the subject
and OF the Importance of the public
interests involved.
The objections thatarc raised to the
proposed change are discussed fully.
The amendment, il is held. does not in
the slightest degree trench upon the
system upon which the government is
founded. The objection is not tcna-
BILE that any proposed change in the
mode of clcCting senators can lie
properly regarded as an attempt To
deprive the states. respectively as
states, in their sovereign or political
capacity, of their legal representation
in the Senate. IL proposes u change
IN the modc-only this and nothing
morc-by which the states aspect
lively, and the people there nf. shall
choose their representatives in the
Senate. Why, asks the report, arc not
the people. the qualified electors OF u
state, the proper mOuthpiccc of the
state in the election OF senators. and
if entitled to speak, then why not di-
r"ctlv and for themselves. and not
through their representatives ia state
legislatures?
One wcighty and principal objection
to the present system of clectinp Sem
ators, says the report. is that the
power and right of the individual
voter are hcdgcd about and circum-
scrlbcd, his will is manacled. his Volt
ton paralizcd and he cannot votc for
his choice. IL carries with il the inn
plicatior that the people, the qualified
voters. are, for some reason. unfit for
the full exercise Of the elective fran
chisc. Again, it is held that the pro-
posed amendment is an enlargement
of the right of suffrage on the part Of
those entitled to its exercise under
existing laws, and IL tends to render
impossible the use of impropcr
methods To influence Senatorial cleo
tons. While it is possible that the
inducements of n wealthy and un-
scrupulous aspirant for Senatorial
honorS may reach and influence the
majority Of II small body in the Lcgis-
laturc, such a thing would be impossi-
bic were the decision left To the great
mass of voters.
Another unanswerable objection the
committee finds to the present system
of electing senators is the grcatlcnyth
of time frequently consumed in the
election and the consequent distraction
of the legislative minds from business.
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 n of its duties the
selection of a senator, every consider
alton is lost sight ofcNcept the solitary
one of how candidates, If elected, will
vote on the question of the senator
ship. Public opinion, it is argued, de-
mands the change p%roposcd: the
deInand is loud ana emphatic. pro-
nounced as il is imperative: earncst us
it Seems to be, although unanimous
among the great masses of the people.
The tendency of public opinion, the
report concludes, is to dispara2c the
Senate and deprcciatc its dignity, its
usefulness, its integrity, its power. If
there is any cause for this tendency
in the public mind, it should bc re-
moved without delay. The adoption
of the amendment will remove prcju-
dices now existing which are rapidly
becoming deeply and dangerously fas-
tened upon the public mind. will dis
sipatc all cause, excuse and prcteXt
for unjust criticism and will tend to
elevate the character, advance the
dignity and increase the usefulness OF
the Senate.
The minority who oppose the prop
osition probably will file "a repor,
later.