Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-12-03
LErus HAVE GOOD SENATOR.

The Legislature to meet at Harrisburg
next January will contain a large Repub-
lican majority in each branch and II
will have a chance 20 honor and benefit
the party by sending a sound and reputa-
BILE Republican to the Senate at Washing
ton for the next six years. The fact that
Mr.. Cameron, whose term will expire
next March, has been conspicuous mis-
representative OF his great constituency
has made the Republicans OF the State
especially anxious that the next Senator
sent to Washington shall be man OF
the soundest political character and one
whose ability and experience will give
/, him place among the most useful and
influential members Of the first legisla-
tive body Of the land. Multitudes OF
Pennsylvanians are tired OF listening 10
sueers at the want Of character, the inca
pacitv and the habits OF their SENATOR'S
all the more so because those sneers have
too often been justified by the facts, and
it is high time that their representatives
at Harrisburg relieved them OF this EN-
| barrassrnent.
III the Legislature will do its duty IN
this regard, it will benefit not only the
State and the party, but the Senate 1t
self. 1t is a recognized fact that the up
Der house OF Congress has OF late years
| Been declining in popular estln1ation- IL
has come to be quite generally looked
rpon as ''rich mems club, as BODY
| containing more millionaires than states
| men, and counting on its roll too many
| members who have not been above using
| their Office to promote their personal IN
| interests. 1t has also recently earned
condemnation as an obstruction to useful
| and needed legislation, and as body
| whose absurd rules and traditions nave
deprived the majority OF its members of
| the power to control IT'S own action. IN
| fortunately there have been facts to Justi-
| fy much OF this condemnation, and It IS
| certain that reform is needed not only IN
the Senate's procedure, but IN the char
acter OF its membership, And we believe
that large majority OF the Republicans
Of Pennsylvania think it high time that
| a move toward that reform should be
| made in their own State.
1t is certain that if Pennsylvania IS to
have the influence in the State to which
| her rank in the sisterhood of States en-
titles her there must be a decided change
| in character OF the men sent to repre-
sent her in that body. The choice OF
| her Senators has too frequently been de-
,errnined by influences not at all credit
able to the Legislature and that produced
results not advantageous to the State and
| harmful 70 the country at large. II the
same influences are still to dominate the
Legislature, it is hopless to expect any
substantial improvement in this regard.
| but il TIL Legislature will disregard such
influences and show independence
enough end wisdom enough to send to
the Senate next year a man OF sound
Republican principles, OF recognized
ability and attainments and OF respect
able personable character it will do much
to establish its own reputation and to
benefit the party, the State and the
whole country. And If, IN selecting
such a man, our representatives. viii at the
same time pick out one whose
experience attests his capacity for deal
ing with public affairs, 50 much the bet
ter. There are men enough Of this char
acter in the State, and II is to be hoped
that the Legislature may have the good
sense to select such man without stop
ping to consider the interests or the
wishes of any political boss or faction
and without paying attention TO any
'shrieks Of locality. ."-Wellsboro
Agitator.
THE farce known as the Senatorial In