Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-25
SENATORIAL ELECTIONS.
Views of William Jennings Bryan
NJ Given to the y. Y. Journal.

Brice, in his american Common
wealth." gives to General James b.
! Weaver, Of Iowa, credit for introducing
the first resolution proposing an amend
| ment 10 the Federal Constitution pro-
viding for the election Of United States
! senators by a direct vote Of the people.
| The resolution was introduced in the
| FQrty-slxth Congress on January 81, 1881,
{ nd read as follows:
Resolved. by the Senate and House Ct
| Representatives OF the United States OF
America I'm Congress assembled 0wO-
! thirds Of each house concurring thereim,
That the following Is hereby proposed as
an amendment TO the Constitution Of the
United States. and when ratified by the
legislatures Of three-fourths OF the sew
eral States. shall be valid to all ntents
and purposes as a part Of the Constitu-
tion-to-Vit.;
ARTICLE -.
"That so much Of section 3, Article l., OF
the Constitution OF the United States as
provides that the senators Of the United
States shall be chosen by the legislatures
thereof shah be amended so that the
same shall read as follows:
1.-THE Senate of the United States shall
be composed Of two senators from each
State, 10 be chosen by the vote Of the
qualified electors IN said states, Respect
lively, and at such time as shall be deter
mined by act of Congress"
If the subject was brought before Con-
gress at an earlier daIe am not aware
of IL. Nothing more clearly shows the
growth of public oplnion ." more fully
demonstrates the irresistible force of q
good idei than the PROCESS which this
reform has made during the past eighteen
years. The Democratic House Of
Representatives in the Fifty-sccon1 Con-
gress, and again in the Filty-third, adopt
ed resolutions proposing such an amend
ment, but the resolutions died in the Sem
ate committee. No one who has watched
the trend Of events can doubt that public
sentiment will finally prevail. IL the
amendment is once submitted to the
states for ratification they Will make
quick work OF its adoption. for there is
scarcely a State where there Is no. now
an overwhelming majority in favor Of
this effort to bring the government closer
20 the people. The Legislature Of Ne
brasxa. at it, recent session. adopted
resolution declaring In favor Of he poFu-
lar election OF senator's. In the state
Senate the resolution WAS adopted with
out roll call; in the House the vote
stood "a 10 5-a little more than IL 20 l in
favor Of the proposition.
Several reasons may be suggeGted for
the change:
l. Popular election would make the
senator more truly the representative Of
the people for whom he speaks. The
democratic idea OF government IS, trlr
the representative reflects the sentiments
OF the sovereign people. That he II eject
ed. not to think for the people upon liza
por;ant questions. but 70 act for them
and CARY out their thoughts, Is evident
from the fact that candidates for public
offices are nominated upon platforms out
lining the policies which he candidate is
expected to support. If a public officer
were chosen merely because OF his supe-
rior ability, he would not be hampered
oy the platform; out as matter OF fact,
his opinions upon public questions really
determine the support he receives II,
.hst., the senator Is the representative OF
The csople. tnere 10 no valid reason why
re should rot be the choice OF the People.
II the Xoters have sufficient intelligence
% choose a Fresiden; (for they vote Tor
electors pledged TO tEeir favorite oandi-
Gste). rrembers OF Congress, Governors,
state legislators. eto.. they must be pre-
sumed 70 have sulficlen, intelligence 10
reject United States senator's. TIE argu-
mcnt that a senator should be elected by
The Legislature because he represents
State in sts corporate capacity has no
foYcs, because the state Is nothing but
the people OF The State and a senator
represents o State In the same sense that
O. GoVsrncr does.
q Whatever may have been the original |
reason for the present method OF elecling !
senator's. new conditions have made a !
,hargs imperative. The corporations ate |
now potent In their influence. and Gun 4
csntrol tire action OF the lesislatarss !