The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-08

if it joins hands with Tammany to turn
Greater New York over to those who
have preyed upon it SO long, not only
the city, but the whole country will
know where to place the responsibility.
In the contest about to take place in
Greater New York it is the Republican
party more than all else that Is on trial.
A POPULAR. SENATORIAL ELECTION.
The wires bring the announcement
that Mr. McLaurin leads in the pri-
mary election held by the Democrats of
South Carolina for senator to fill the
vacancy caused by the death of Sen
ator Earle. The quite general senti-
| ment in favor of the election of SEN
ators by general ballot, growing out
of the conceded ldegeneracy of the SEN
| ate as body, makes the South Caro-
lima method, one of interest outside
for Virginia was defeated by the pol
1tic1ans in the convention by close
vote, indicating that it has merits that
commend it to observers in other
states. We have, in the Republican
press of this state. frequent sugges-
lions that the state nominating con-
vent1ons assume the nomination of a
| senator with the understanding that
legislative candidates will be bound by
| the decision. To these and numerous
other indications of discomfort with
the method of electing by legislatures
must be added the proposed amend
ment to the federal constitution pro-
viding for the popular election of SEN
ators which passed the house and is
hung UP in the senate
| The South Carolina method is not
| legalized, as we understand it, but is
method voluntarily adopted by the
Democrats of that state 1t was an
outgrowth of the revolt against the
| Old family rule that had controlled
| politics and senatorships in that state
| since it's Incorporation with the union,
|
and destined to fall with it. Its adop-
ton followed the defeat of Wade
Hampton by Irby, and it's first work
was the electiOn$that resulted in send
ing Tillman to take Buffers place If
the latter choiceds pointed to as show
ing, by it's fruit the want of adapta-
ton to the production of the. best, it
will be only falrs to compare it with
the product Sof the same method by
which Earle, was chosen in preference
to Evans, who as governor, was badly
smirched with eTillman in the negotia-
ton of some state bonds Earle COM
pared favorably, in point of character
with the product Of any legislative
selection in the senate
The method requires primaries to be
held all over the state on the same day
to Which all Democrats can go and
vote their individual choice for senator.
Inc ballots are cast, counted and GER
titled to the central authorities of the
party by the judges, tabulated, and the
person receiving a majority is. elected
by the succeeding legislature. If no
one receives majority a second ballot
is taken. Candidates are required to
file; their declarations, of candidacy, and
after prescribed day none other can
enter the field. Then the candidates
| take the stump, canvass. the state, dis
| cuss the issues, state, national or
personal-and, so far, the issues there
have been largely persona1-and abide
by the result The Democrats being
practically the only party in the state
makes the discussion more personal, al
though this year the vote of McLaurin.
first as representative and afterward
as senator. for protection imported
that issue into the discussion. McI.au-
rim justified himself by the Chicago
| platform with it's omission of the word
only in it's revenue plank, and by his
duty to look out for local interests
when the game of grab was being
played.
| The Charleston News and Courier OBJ
| jects to the plan because it encourages
personal politics, and the ablest men
will not go into such a struggle; but
this is as much due to the fact that
there is no opposition party as to the
| turbulence that inevitably resulted
| from the overthrow of the old family
rule and the rise of the submerged. In
| a state like Minnesota there would be
| two or three candidates, and each party
would be put upon its mettle to put for
ward the ablest; because it would be
a contest of brains. and not, as too fire.
quently of late years, one of money. If
| the plan Of primary elections proposed
by Mr.. Toilette in Wisconsin could be
enacted, providing for the nomination
of other officers. it could be adapted
! to the election of senators until the
| time when public sentiment shall force
| the federal senate into the adoption of
| the house amendment to the constitu-
ton.
The farmers OF Anoka are rubbing their
| hands with glee these days and they ought
! to for God has been good to them and
! given them bountiful crops.-Anoka Union.
! Then the question arises why was not God
| also good to farmers in Europe, India,
| Argentine and Russia? And why is He not
olxr - 1x,9 ,Iak L.