The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-23

Washington, March 23.--There was a
fairly good attendance when the Senate
opened today. Shortly after the reading
of the journal, Senator Turpic took the
floor.
Mr.. Turpie on Senatorial Elections.
Mr. Turpie of Indiana then took the
floor to speak in favor of his joint resolu-
tion for an amendment To the Constitution
providing for the election of Senators by
direct vote of the people. After reviewing
the historical points, he spoke directly up
on the subject of the three cases now
pending in the Senate:
There Is certainly very clear incon-
gruity between the legislative duties and
the office of choosing Senator'S OF the
United States. This disagreement has be-
come greater as the country has grown
older. 1t is now not uncommon that thes
legislature of state spends the whole
time of its sessions in the effort TO elect
United States Senator, and adjourns with
out succeeding in the attempt. This re-
suits in the total neglect by the members
of the general assembly OF their functions
as lawgivers of the state. Thus the rights
and interests local To the people of the
state are submerged. overwhelmed, and
forgotten in the struggle over the sena-
torial election. Besides this the condition
of political parties becomes sometimes so
evenly balanced as that a very small
number-two or three members of the
legislature belonging TO some middle or
third party in "a small minority among
the people-is able To determine the
small minority among the people-is able
TO determine the choice of Senator or to
prevent one being made. The inability TO
elect by the Legislative body Is becoming
more and more frequent 1t is not n
physical disability, Ii is rather political
or functional inability induced 10y the
too close equilibrium of dissenting forces
who are unable to unite upon choice.
Deprived of Equal Representation.
"It is true, as has already been noted,
that the Federal Constitution provides
that no state shall be deprived of its equal
suffrage in the Senate, but the fact is that
under the present mode OF choosing
United States senators by the legislatures
many of the states have been, from time
60 time, deprived of their equal suffrage in
the Senate. Washington. Wyoming, Mon
tana and Delaware, until quite recent
date, were SO situated and at this very
time the states of Oregon and Kentucky
are deprived of their equal representation
in the Senate by reason of the inability of
the legislatures TO elect. All these evils
will disappear by this change in the
method of clccting Senators.
1.-The people at large would not be him
dered by any such disability. lney Woulu
vote for the senator the same as they do
for the governor, and "A count of the vote
would decide the election.
Mr. Turpie then spoke of the usurpation
of the power of trusts and the influence
they exerted over state legislatures. He
continued:
"This syndicate of the trusts in its
action bears no relation TO the actual
business carried on by any of its incorpo-
rated members, such as transportation or
manufactures. Its aim political supre-
macy by direct control of the ballot
among its very numerous employees and
agents 1t presents the question, bare and
naked, to every employe whether he will
| vote the ticket of the syndicate or cast
| his ballot as his conscience and Judgment
| may dictate with the alternative of los
| ing his place and wages, and this TO a
| class of men whose livelihood depends up
on their daily work and earnings. This
| is an instance of dcspotism so odious and
| offensive, so contrary to the Unborn free
| dom of manhood, i'm such deadly hostility
TO liberty and Justice as could only have
| been invented and enforced " the shame
less insolcnce and audacity of the syndi-
| cate of trusts.