The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-03-21
BY DIRECT VOTE
Elections Committee FavOrS q
Change in Method Of Choos-
ing, Senators.
Public Opinion Demands the
Change and the Demand Is
Emphatic.
No Good Reason for Not Giving
the Dear People What
They Want.

WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator
Mitchell of Oregon reported to the sem
ate from the elections committee the
joint resolution proposing all amend
ment to the constitution providing for
the election of senators by the direct
votes of the people. The committee
says the accompanying report has ap-
preached the subject of the proposed
change in the Yethod of 'electing sena-
tors with full appreciation Of the
gravity of the subject and Of the im-
portance of the public interests in
volved The objections that are raised
to the proposed change are discussed
very fully. The amendment, it is held,
does not in the slightest degree trench
upon the system upon which our gov
ernment is founded.
Tho Objection Il Not Teuable
that any proposed change in the mode
Of electlng senator's can properly be re-
garded as an attempt to deprive the
states respectively as states, in their
sovereign or political capacity of their
legal representation in the senate. 1t
proposes a change i'll the mode-only
this and nothing more, by which the
states respectively and the people there
Of, shall choose their representative in
the senate. Why, asks the report, are
not the people, the qualified electors OF
q state, the proper mouthpiece of the
state in the election Of senators! And
if entitled to speak, then why not di-
rectly and for themselves and not
through their representatives, III the
state legislatures? One weighty and
principal objection to the present sys-
tenn OF election OF senators, says he re-
port, is that the power and rights of
the voter is hedged about aud circum-
scribed; his will is manacled, his voli-
tion paralyzed; he cannot vote for his
choice.
Carries an Implication.
1t carries with it the implication that
the voter, the qualified voters, are for
some reason unfit for the full exercise
Of the elective franchise. Again, it IS
held that the proposed amendment is
an enlargement Of the right of suffrage
on the part of those entitled to its exer-
else under existing laws. and it tends to
render impossible the use of improper
methods to influence senatorial cleo
tions. While it is possible that the i'll.
ducements Of a wealthy and unscrupu.
lous aspirant for senatorial honors may
reach and influence a majority of a
small body in the Legislature, such a
thing would be impossible were the de-
cision left to the great mass of voters.
Another Unanswerab 9 objection
the committee finds to the present sys.
tenn of electing senators is the great
length of time frequently consumed in
the election, and the consequent dis
traction of the legislative minds from
business. to say nothing of the strife,
i'll feeling aud contention that too often
follow i'll 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
legislature has, as one of the duties, the
selection of u senator is that every COLI
sideration is lost sight tof. except the
solitary one of how candidates, if elect.
ed. will vote on the question of senator.
ship
Public Opinion Dem snds tho Change.
Public opinion, it is argued, demands
the change proposed; the demand is
loud and emphatic; pronounced as it ID