The San Francisco call., 1896-06-06
Many Reasons Why United
States Senators Should Be
Chosen by the People.
THE STIGMA OF CORRUPTION.
It Would Be Much Easier to Prevent
1t in a Regular Public
Election.


United States Senators, and was therefore
Of direct personal interest to every one of
his fellow-m embers. He spoke on Sen
ator MitcheIi's resolution providing for the
election of Senators by the popular vote.
Senator Perkins prefaced his remarks by
stating that the people of California by a
vote of $4,000 against 1900 had shown
how strong is their belief that the election
of United States Senators should be by
popular ballot. He called attention to the
fact that the convention which framed our
National Constitution was composed. of
men of English stock, who were imbued
with traditions of the mother country,
whose institutions they looked to for prece-
denCe, and which was almost the sole
guide.
He pointed out that many mem bers of
the convention openly advocated the cre-
alton of an upper house on the plan of the
English House of Lords, and the United
States Senate was made to conform TO
that body as nearly as it was possible in a
country where there are not two separa te
interests as are represented in England
by aristocracy and the lower classes. 1t
was sought to form two constituencies by
bringing forward the fiction of the State
as something distinctly from the people
who compose it and making Senators its
representatives.
The complaints which are now heard on
every side regarding the manner of cleo
tion of United States Senators are due to
the fact that the trainers of our constitu-
tion did not incorporate with every part
of that instrument that idea of freed ON
for which they had heroically fought.
There was that distrust of the people
which is prevalent in England to-day, and
which is there the principal reason for
hesitation to reform the House of Lords.
There was the same fear of popular cor
ruption that has been expressed in this
country by the defenders of the present
method Of electing Senators. Mr. Madison
thought that if an election by the people
promised an uncorrupted and impartial
choice there could be no necessity for the
appointment by Legislatures, nor was it
apparent, he said, that a more useful
check would be derived through Legis-
latures than through the people.
But has the history of the several States
justified him in refusing to give the people
the right of election? Have the scandals
that have arisen shown that Legislatures
are above suspicion? A resolution which
was introd uced here during the present
session is sufficient answer to that
question.
Thomas Jefferson, in that document,
which every patriot veperates, gave ut
terance to the thought that governments
derive their just powers from the consent
of the governed, and that whenever any
form of government become destructive
of this and other principles affecting their
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,
it is the right of the people to alter OF
abolish it, and to institute new form of
government that will most effectually
secure these ends. TIE great Webster, too,
in a speech delivered in this Senate sixty
years ago, alluded to the republic as the
peoples government, made for the people,
made by the people, and answerable to
the people.
"In the selection of United States Sena-
tors it has happened that Legislature
fails to carry out the will of the State or
district conventions in voting for Sena-
tors. Each OF us can recall instances of
this kind where, previous to election. but
one candidate for the senatorship was
mentioned, and the people were satisfied
Herewith, voting for members of the
Legislature firm IN the belief that no other
Senatorial candidate would be chosen
should the Legislature be dominated bv
men of his political faith, but after the
election an entirely new man would come
to the front and secure the patronage of
the gentlemen whose votes were so essen
tial to success. The recognized CAMPAIGN
party candidate was supplanted by one
who, much to the surprise of all, had been
able to win to his side a majority of the
party caucus and eventually the majority
of the Legislature. The result was that
the public press teemed with charges of
undue and improper influence, and parti-
san slander and rancor became unbridIed
and it has openly asserted that the choice
of the people has been betrayed.
~ am, however, not prepared to admit
that any one Improperly obtained his seat
in this body, but all will agree that had
there been direct vote of the people in
the election of Sepators, the partisan press
would be dIsarmed from making charges
and the files unincum bered by the slanders.
1t may be said in reply to this argument
that bribery and corruption are known in
connection with State and Congressional
elections, and even if this amendment pre-
vails that in the years to come the charge
will many times be made, possibly some
times truthfully, but it is self-evident to
every thinking person that it is much
easier to manipulate by influence 100 men,
bers of Legislature than to improperly
a.. <f /, -.
en- tire State at the ballot box.
besides it removes the unjust aspersion
OF defeated candidate that is frequently
used against the successful one, as well as
that against the true and loyal friends
that have stood by him. It is urged that
State conventions may make as bad Sc
lections as Legislatures, but to this the
reply may be made that the people. when
the election is held, will surely correct the
mistake. The unfit candidate is always
rejected when the people have voice in
the proceedings, but if the Legislature