Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-11-17
SEAATORSHIPS.
How to Stop the Corruption.
A Great Political Problem and How
to Solve It.

Importance is now before the Ameri-
can people, how best 10 choose oul
United States senatorY
Without pauslng 70 call in question
the wisdom Of out fathers, who framed
the constitution that provides fol
the present mode OF selecting them
or its efficiency as adapted to the
times then present. there Is one thing
certain 1t has now degenerated into a
parry scramble for place aud power
influenced sometimes by a moneyed
consideration. whereby the conscien-
tious scrunles of members Of our leg
islatures 70 the contrary are over
come by bribe on the promise of po-
litical patronage to the disgrace Of
the indiyi lual and the nation.
These shameful scrambles in our
legislative halls are largely on the in
crease, where precious time is frit-
tered away, and the interest Of the
state neglected, while Thousands Of
dollars from the honest taxpayers
money are scattered TO the four
winds.
Not only IN Oregon has the evil
grown 10 unreasonable dimensions
and the objects Of the law-making
power rendered abortive once, twice,
or thrice, but the evil Is spreading to
other states of whirb the last legisla-
ture Of Kentucky is fresh in the men,
ory of all; and it is now augered that
ohio will give us a richer example the
coming winter.
How best to remedy this evil has
taxed the brain of many an honest
statesman. Among all the different
plans prepared to remedy the evil
none will be more etfectual than a
change of the constitution OF the
United States, so as to allow them to
be selected by the direct vote Of the
people; but judging by the tardiness
with which this measure moves its
ength along in congress IL will be a
half century ere it will become the
aw.
Constitutional amendments move
slowly at best, but where the senate
S largely made up of the moneyed
who have purchased their
way into the halls of congress with
money, and the promises of official
atrOnage, the measure will be re-
arded by them, knowing that the
irect vote of the people will be likely
0 relegate them TO the humble walks
private life. One would suppose
|
hat measure so wise, just and good
ould speedily pass from congress to
ne people, but such seems to be the /
Ict. =
The question now Is, how can we A
void the evils of our present mode of a
election till such time as we can get .
ne necessary constitutional amend ,
lenty In answer to this question /
III suggest that our next Legislature {
ass law TO submit the selection ,
I a U. 5. senator to the direct vote
{ the people at its next June cleo
ion. And let 1t provide! further
hat the choice Of the majority vote
4 the people snail be ratified by the
ote of the next succeeding leglsla-
ure as provided by the United States
aw, Till such time as the necessary
constitutional amendment can be
lad. This will take this yexed ques-
ion out of the legislative hall at once,
10 that the other Interest of the state
IAN be attended to, aud woe to the
political fortunes Of u member who
iares to llinch from his duty when
lhe time comes,
will suggest further that the
'hoico Of one or more Uulted States
senators can be made at the next |
lune election by all parties agreeing
10 submit the selection OF Senators to
,he people. IL is true, as see II now,
hat the names of the nominees can
lot appear on the orlclal ballot, but
his difficulty can be overcome by
zach party selecting through their
central committee in each county one
lerson To act for IL in each precinct