The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-13
Senatorial Elections and The Ptople.

.#Ha.~
While the action Of the house OF repre-
sentatives ln passing the resolution sub
hitting an amendment TO the constitu-
tion, providing for the election OF United
States senators By direct vote OF the
people, undoubtedly responded 10 q en-
eral demand which is coming from varl-
Gus parts Of the country, there Is a
doubt that the resolution will become a
law at this session. We have observed
no poll OF the senate concerning such a
measure, and It Is. yet TO be seen how
that body will receive the proposition.
There are many phases OF the question
TO be considered: there are the natural
objections that will be urged By the
senators themselves, added to tie tradi-
tional opposition to the changing OF the
systems and precedents adopted by the
fathers OF the country. Against these
are the many arguments in support OF
the measure, such as the changed con-
ditIons, the many scandals that have
grown out Of senatorial elections by the
legislature in 4 number of states, and
the frequent claim that senator's elected
are not always the popular choice. and
other considerations that have been de-
bated for years.
Much Of the opposition to the present
system has been brought about by some
OF the senators themselves. particularly
those that are known as the grand
mother" element. Without discussing
the wisdom or the lack OF 1t involved In
the proposed change, It Is well to note
that IL the senate finds itself unpopular
with the general public, and does not
desire the alteration of the method OF
choosing its members, SO far as the
public mind is concerned, and to re-
move the chief causes which have led
to any demand for the elections by d.
rect popular vote, by the correction Of,
certain abuses which the practical
minded business men OF the body frank
Iy confess are a drawback in the expedi-
tIon OF legislation.
The adoption OF rules limiting debate
to a reasonable degree, without render
ing the senate an undellbcrative branch
of the national legislature, and taking
from 1t that distinctive character, but
with a view OF rendering 1t possible to
expedite important and urgent meas
.ures; the abolition Of customs which
mako It possible for q single senator.
say from O western pocket borough, to
delay an emergency action the country
wants. or o wholesome piece Of leslsla-
tion, and perhaps defeat It by the con-
sumption OF time and flibusterlng tao
tlcs-n short, the adoption OF business
methods OF disposing Of business meas
ures-all this. together with other re-
forms that are admittedly needed, would
not only remove the p%rejudices against
the senate in the minds OF the plain
people. but would tend to popular!ze It.
While 1t will not do to ignore the OBJ
jections urged on the ground OF the
scandals that have accompanied the
elections of senators by legislatures Of
n few OF the states. It should not be for
gotten that senatorial elections are not
the only ones In those same states that
are not free from corrupt practices. II
senatorial elections are accompanied by
these evils occasionally, and public at
tenticn IS more directly drawn to them,
It is largely due to the narrow limits
within which the public attention is
centered, and the greater Importance
that is attached to the choice OF q sem
ntor.
There Is a healthy continent in tho
country which the %Intclllgencer believes
10 working in the direction Of reforms
IN oil sorts OF elections, 60 far as their
purity Is concerned. The Australian
ballot system, the passage OF more
stringent laws. certain parts Of the civil