The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-12-05
NEWSPAPERS
or Pennsylvania on the United atates
Scnntnrship.


FIR )m the Scranton Truth
This journal has for u number OF years,
been steadfust in its advocacy of tho
American idea that United States sena-
tors should bo chosen by direct vote of
the people We bolieve the present system
of choosing senators Is un-American, an
tiquuted and at variance with our form Of .
government, rs we'll rs with the spirit of .
our institutions.
More than this 1t affords opportunity
for barter where there should be none, /
and is a temptation to the unscrupulous
millionaire and the venal legislator.
Nothing tends so much to strengthen
the foundations upon which our govern
ment rests as the certain knowledge that
in all political action the will of the peo-
pie prevails, and, so far as the United
States senate is concerned, this has not
been true of it for many day. 1t was the
theory of the most conservative among
the trainers of our organic law that the
perpetuity of the nation would be best
promoted by diminishing the popular
voice in SO far as the selection OF the most
important officials was concerned; and
so our cumbersome system of electing
United States senator's came TO pass, with
the result that the senate, which used to
be known as "the most dignifled delibera-
tive body in the world" is far removed
from popular influence and affected but
little by public opinion.
The result has not always been satisfac-
tory. Instead of the dignifed, conserva-
tive, deliberative body contemplated in the
beginning the United States senate has
for years been the nest in which various
dangerous theories have been hatched.
Men who shamelessly bought their way
~, GNnN To hnr
their places to promote various schemes Of
their own when they were supposed to be
serving the country, The silver business
of which the country has recently heard
something had It's beginning in the Uni
ted States senate, not as theory concern
ing which serious men, anxious to serve
! the public, had profound convictions, but
| rs q sordid scheme evolved in the minds
| of senators who had bought their seats
and who wanted to use their votes to in
Grease the value of their silver mines.
Every one, in any way familiar with the
history Of the senate, knows this to be
| true. The fact was notorious before the
recent campaign gave it the semblance of
respectability as n national issue; but
neither the campaign nor It's result can
alter the genesis of the silver scheme, nor
can the fact be denied that its concoctors
were United States senators who bought
their way into the senate.
Is the country content with that sort OF
service all the timer Are tho people to see
the seats in the senate sold to millionaires
without entering protest. Must we have
O Wanamaker as senator becau SO of his
wealth. Does the highest quail flcation
for the senatorship dwell in the poe ket of
the candidate2 These are timely ques-
tions, now, in view of recent events
If we are to make this government
strong, enduring inperishable in the for
tress Of its greatest power, namely in the
hearts of the people, we must take leave of
some of the old methods In politics
To assume civic virtue and cultivate a
crime beneath will not suffice. We want
neither anarchy nor despotism in this
country, and we can avoid them best by
seeing to it that the will Of the people pre-
walls in the choice Of presidents and sena-
tors and public officials generally, and
that the size of mans bank account is
not his highest recommendation for a
great office.
The roproach which has long olung to
Pennsylvania with regard to its senatorial
"dynasty" should not DO perpetuated. We
want no bar gain counter" senator from
the keystone state, and we do not say this
in the sense of rejecting on Mr.. Wanna
makers business but as protest against
the application Of the bargain counter"
Idea to the senatorship; MS a protest
against the carrying out Of an idea now
uppermost in tho mind of every intclli-
gent Pennsylvaninn, and uppermost in
other minds, to wit, that the election Of
the Philadelphia merchant would be
strong presumptive evidence that he had
purchased his scat In the senate as q bar
gain.
The Truth has no personal feeling
again st Mr. Wanamaker. 1t simply meets
his eclared candidacy for the senatorship
with what its conceptions of right and duty
are at this time, and it has no hesitation
whatever in saying that 1t believes he is
the right man not to elect.