The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-16
= = 1|1"~'1"~"-"-~~~-~-~0 -~~~~-~~~~~~~
5 Chat of the Capital.
Washington Gossip, Political and
Otherwise, for the Readers
{ OF the Globe.

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-, W. WASHINGTON. Dec 15-(SpeciaI.) y
lie prediction made in the Washington
olsPaIcues 10 this paper before congress
assembled that great effort wound no
made during the sFiftS-sixth congress to
provide for the elkctfen OF senator's bv
olfect vote of the people is soon To bs
verified in every respect
Inc contest over the seating of QUAY
appointed by the governor of Pennsyl-
Vanla' and the selection of men, II OiIay
IS seated, by governors of other states
where vacancies exist. and the fight be-
tween Nhillonalres Clark and Daily, of
montana, over seat in the senate. is
becoming wearisonle to majority Il ths
people OF the country. At least this is
true IL the letters which reach mem s
OF the house and of the senate and The
petltions which come TO both branches
can De relied upon as giving the real SEN
tihleht existing everywhere.
The fact stands out pretty prominently
thdI III many instances senatorial seats
are captured by men who spend money
laEishly to get them, and they simply do
thls Tor what little honor there is in
lheSe toSas, and to come TO Washington
70 SHINE In what is called official circles
Poor men, except in a few instances fail
TO reach the United States senate. TIL Sc
| men, capable of giving good service to
Inc states they would represent, are bar
red simply because they have not the
money necessary to put up legitimate
! campaign funds out of the salary which
! they secure-a misery stipend of S., 060
per annllm ana with small number OF
perqulsltes. When 1t comes to purchas-
. ing seats, of course, these men are COM
PEELED to stand aside The men with the
most money usually capture these togas
though, 1T Is true, there are instances
wherein seats in the senate have been
won by the sheer personality of men
; oVerpoWering their more or less nanlby
pamby millionaire competitors. In Min
nesota, for instance, it can be stated
that Mr. Davis has been elected to the
senate three terms, and as he is any
thing but a wealthy man, he is not under
the suspicion of having purchased his
election upon three different occasions.
Senator Knute Nelson also comes from
Minnesota, and it is a well known fact
that he is probably not SO we'll off In
| worldly goods as his colleague, Mr. Da-
Wis
North Dakota, it may be stated in favor
of that commonwealth, has seldom sent
wealthy man to the senate since it's
admission as a state. North Dakota, eX-
cept in one instance, has elected compar-
atively poor men to the upper branch of
congress. The Pacific coast states, or,
at least, a good many of them. have been
represented by very wealthy men in the
senate for years. California has in recent
years sent but one poor man to the upper
| branch of congress. The gentleman re-
ferred to is Steven NJ White, of Los An
geles, who makes IAN. excellent salary as
! a lawyer, but found it impossible to re-
| main in the senate, even if he could have
done so, because of the immense expense
imposed upon him as representative of
the Golden State. Messrs. Hearst, STAN
ford and Perkins are some Of the recent
wealthy men who have represented Cal
ifornia in the American house OF lords =
Nevada, a state having less population
THAN many agricultural counties in this
country, has two milIionaires in the up
per branch and one in the lower branch
1t is understood that neither of the three
has a permanent residence in that state.
If they are not residing either in Wash
ington or New York, they live in San
Francisco or Los Angeles. 1t is not
probable that either of the trio spends
enc month in four years in. the state
they represent, ofeiare supposed to repre-
sent in the United States congress.
-
The measure, If passed, providing for
the election of senators by direct vote OF
the people would save the country a
great deal ofSmoney, any amount of dis
grace, and give better representation in
+ the legislative branches of this govern
ment. There have been many measures
introduced in previous congresses rela-
tive to this proposed change, but none
of them have ever been pushed very far
along. Former Representative Johnson,
of North Dakota, endeavored to put
l4through bill during his two terms, but
was not successful in getting any great
amount of interest displayed in it, even
in the lower house. The Quay case and
the Clark-Daly row, which will soon
both become thoroughly digested by the
voters in this country, may bring about
such a change in sentiment that the rep
reSentativeS of the people in both
branches of congress will Of neces-
sity be compelled o>enact q law which
will prevent the wholesale purchase of
| seats in both houses in the near future.
If such a measure is enacted it will
be signed by the president, no matter
! whether he is a Democrat, Republican
or Populist Public sentiment, it is now
| believed, will be so thoroughly excited
! If the senate votes to seat Quay and the
/ other appointments made by governors
| that the whole question may become an
| issue in the next national campaign, and,
| if so, the men running for state legisla-
| ture positions and for membership in
| the lower house of the national congress
will be compelled to take a decided stand
on the matter. The prediction is now
made that they Will be in favor of the
reform movement to give the people a
chance to directly choose the men they
| desire to represent them in both halls
of the United States congress.
Van.