New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-17
DISpUTED SENATORIAL ELECTIONS.


worse. Last year Delaware was the scene OF
scandalous performance when dlssus'ed 'he
whole country. In the end an excellent man
WAS chosen But he was sent TO Washington
with djsmtcd title. so that he has not yet been
able to take his seat and his state Is thus de-
prived of its lawful representation in the Sen
ate We suppose he will soon be admitted to
the seat 10 which he was lawfully elected. 1t is
scarcely conceivable that there should he any
other disposition OF the case. Yet even when
that is done stain will rest upon the legislative
record of the State which cannot be effaced
and will not be forgotten in this generation
The memory of that doginthe-mangrr growi.
"Addicks or nobody and of the abomlnabe
influences which made 1t potent VIII outlast
more than one Senatorial term.
II Is a most disheartening coincidence that at
the very time when the Senate was laboriously
considering the Delaware case another State
was preparing a similar but perhaps worse case
for it to deal with in the near future. The news
from Kentucky has been bad beyond description.
Urgent interests Of the Commonwealth have
been neglected week after week. while the Lcgs-
lature has wrangled and fought over Senatorial
deadlock Knavcry and violence have been en-
ployed Bloodshcd has been threatened. The
Governor has been compelled 10 call ont the
State troops TO keep the peace at the Capitol.
Some have criticised him for so doing. but what
ever be the legal tcchnIcalites Of the case. on
the ground Of common-sense and justice he was
right One of the candidates for the Senator
ship has crowded the Capitol with thugs and
dcsperadocs for the avowed purpose of using
force 10 prevent the election Of his rival II
would have been worse than folly to let that
mob bear sway II there has not actually been
bloodshed and loss Of life In the Capitol. the
Governor Is TO be thanked for preventing IT,
The moment the militia appeared upon the scene
the rOwdies and cutthroats announced that they
were DONE" and betook themselves back TO their
ola haunts. Perhaps it was revolutionary. Tn
qucstonably 1t was wholesome
The end Of the wretched business will come
to-day. What it will be Is doubtful though it
ought not to be. The next Senator ought TO be
a Republican, for the State went Republican nj
the last election, and that party failed only by
fiuke to get n clear majority in the Legislature.
He ought TO be sound-moncy man. too; that Is
equally evident. But there Is something more
important than either Of those considerations.
and that is that he shall be honestly chosen
At present there Is reason TO fear none will be
chosen at ALL In which case The State will have
only one Senator for year or more.
Incidents like these, more than anything else,
are causing many men TO demand radical
change in the method Of elcctng Senators The
commonest substitute proposed for the present
sy stem Is direct election by the people In some
cases. no doubt, that would have good result
In Kentucky for example Republican Senator
would have been chosen. as a majority Of the
people unquesiionably desired. Yet with pop
ular elections we should be no more free from
disputes and challenged titles. ms the case OF
Senator Morgan shows He was indisputably
chosen by the Alabama Legislature But 1t Is
| charged that that Legislature was fraudulent
because the popular election was fraudulent
So If he had been chosen by the popular vote
AT that election his title would not be one whit
better than 1t Is to-day. 1t is not change of
system that Is wanted. 1t is q change Of work
ing that system. change toward common sense
and reason. There is a sound provision In the
Constitution of the United States concerning
the election Of President by the House Of Repre-
| sentatives-to wit. that il no candidate shall
have a ma joriy of the electoral votes, the voting
Of the House shall be confined 10 the three can
ddates having the highest numbers Of votes In
| choice Of Vicc~Presdent by the Senate only
the highest two are to be voted for. 1t might be
a good plan TO consider some such rule for Scna
torial elections in State Legislatures Ii Is in
toerabc that two or three men. holding the
so-called balance Of power, should cause n pro-
longed deadlock and defeat the will Of the ma
jOrity Of the people OF the State.