Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-13
Intends to Present Himself to the
Senate.
THE EFFECT OF SUCH A COURSE
May, Renew interest in Popular
Election of Senators.
SEATS UNDER SUSPICION

None of Mr.. Quay's friends expects him
to hasten and avail himself of the opportu-
nifty TO test the sentiment of the people of
fis state with regard to himself. 1t is
doubted whether Mr.. Quay has confidence
IN the popular vote of the state. The great
interest that attaches to the proposition
that he should make this test of his
strength in the state is its approach to the
idea of selecting senators by popular choice.
II, after the determined and successful fight
that was made against him In the legisla-
ture and the serious charges made against
him in connection with the use of state
funds. he could by popular vote be elect
ed to be custodian of the state funds, it
would be great triumph if not a vindica-
ton for him, and might be regarded as
ceftlncate of qualification for the United
States Senate
The question of a constitutional amend
ment providing for election of senators by
popular vote has been for some time un-
successfully agitateG in Congress. 1t will
be very difficult to secure such an amend
ment to the constitution. but means of get
ting around the constitutional provision
have been experimental in during the past
few years and the developments of recent
senatorial contests promise to lead to much
more general experiments in the same line.
Virginia's Bitter Fight.
Virginia is at present in the midst of a
very bitter fight over the question of
whether or not the choice of the legisa-
ture of that state for senator shall be an
ticipated by a popular nominal ton, and
vacancies in the senate from several states
attest to the difficulties which, during the
past year, have attended the election of
senators by the constitutional method.
1here Is no assurance that any other
method proposed will be more effective in
securing good men for the senate honestly
elected but the fact that bribery of legis-
latures and manipulation by boss
methods have been SO commonly charged
OF late and that it has been impossible in
four states for legislatures to elect
leads a good many political students
to believe that, whether 1t is the wisest
course or not there is rapidly deveI-
oping a sentiment in favor of guarding
against the corruption of legislatures nv
making popular nominations for senators
prior to the election of the legislatures and
or pledging the legislative candidates to the
nominees thus selected. This has been done
on several occasions and the opinion Is ex-
pressed by some that within the next two
years a number of states will make the
experiment.
The four cases where legislatures have
1alled to elect are not the only examples
pointed to as evidence of the fallihilitv of
legislatures. Very sharp attention to the
methods in vogue in some places of manipu-
latlng the legislature will probably be at
tracted by a case expected to come UP
when Congress meets involving the right
OF newly elected senator to his seat
Seats Under Suspicion.
1t is commonly known that there are
several seats in the Senate under suspicion
as TO the method by which they were OBJ
tanned which will not be contested, because
proof is difficult and the Senate is judge
of the qualification of its own members If
Pennsylvania should attempt the popular
selection of a senator in connection with the
election of a new legislature, the attempt
would be watched with great interest, and
II 1t were successful In securing a proper
representation OF the state in the Senate
IL would revive confidence in the faith that
the redemption of the republic lies with
the people.
1t was not believed by senators when Mr..
Quay was appointed to the Senate by Gov
ernor Stone that he would ever present
himself in the Senate to be seated. 1t is
recognized now, however, that it is his
intention to do so. and the only thing that
is liable to prevent it would he a certainty
his part that he would he rejected
Such certainty ought to exist, in the
light of former action by the Senate, but
manipulation is always regarded as posi-
BILE in a legislative body which itself is
established largely through the manipula-
ton of legislatures. Should he be seated,
it is believed that the effect would
be to augment the sentiment in favor of
popular voice in the selection of sena tors.
A situation which would admit of a gov
ernor multiplying all efforts to draw the leg
iSlature out from under boss control It
is believed, would arouse public FEELING.