The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-06-04
of the ir legislatures to agree upon a

of the ir legislatures to agree upon a
man therefor were represented for
nearly two years by only one senator,
Then came Delaware with lapse Of
over year, and now Oregon is left
with but one senator. In all of these
cases had the choice been by popular
vote senator would have been
elected and the state duly represent
ed as it should be.
Nor is this the only evil that has
developed in late years in connection
with the choice of d senator by the
legislature. The charge of "boodle"
has grown up within the last dozen
years or so, and it is boldly asserted
that seats in the senate have been
bought by men of large wealth, who
had no other qualification to recon-
mend them, and that corporations
have spent large sums Of money to
get their plant tools placed where
they would do them the most good.
OF course there is often talk of cOrrup-
tion and none attempted. But
enough has come to the surface at
times to show that this charge has
not been all troth, but that some
thing substantial rested underneath.
All this has had tendency to destroy
the confidence of the people in the
senate, because they feel that they
have very little to say in its selection.
In the meantime. while the people
are waiting for this reform to be
brought abOut-a matter that will
doubtless take years to accomplish
there is way by which they can
exercise a very important influence
upon the selection of senator, and
that is by nominating the man they
wish for the place in the state con-
ventiOn of their party, and then
electing a legislature that will ratify
their choice. II they would desig-
nate the man they want and make
strong campaign for him, few legis-
lators would dare go back upon the
wish of the people, and those who
did, would be relegated to political
oblivion at the first opportunity.
This is a matter that the Republi-
cans of Minnesota should take up,
and at their state convention next
year should name their choice for
United States senator, to be elected
by the succeeding legislature, just as
they will do for governor and other
state officers, and then should 60 to
work and elect a legislature to ratify
that choice. There is no particular
reason why the selection Of United
States senator should be left to the
members of the legislature alone, and
make that body an objective point
for those men who wish to make it
an opportunity to bargain and sell,
and unless action is so taken in the
state convention, there will be class
of men who will regard the legisla-
ture as field to carry on a species of
booiing and will not hesitate to get
there with the idea of getting what
there is in it.
But all this can be most effectually
stopped if the party comes to the
front, as it should, and names it's
choice for senator and carries on a
campaign for his election. There is
good reason why the people should
name their choice for senator and
then proceed to elect legislature
that will elect him.
Already there have been intima-
tions that the next senatorial election
in this state will be mixed up to a
greater or less extent with doodle"
The Republicans can kill this insinu-
alton in it's infancy by stepping to the
front and settling who their candi-
date shall be in their state conven-
tion and then they can elect a legis-
lature that will ratify their choice
and so put an end to all talk of cor
ruption, and any chance of it's being
practiced. The people have the
right to name their choice and they
should do it. Let that be made one
of the chief features Of the Republi-
can campaign of '9S. 1t will be one
of the most popular moves that can
be injected into the campaign, and
will prove tower of strength to the
balance of the ticket.
DDnTErTVAN IN THE SENATE