Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-20

"A'S feao Will intense interest ana
qualification the following editorial in
the Dispatch Of yesterday:
BIDS FOR SENATORSHIP.
1.-The following is from the editorial
columns of the Baltimore Sun. one of
the most conservative papers in the
country:
Now that several States Legislatures
are about to elect United States Sem
ators, charges OF bribery and corrup-
ton are rife. In Montana q few days
ago member Of the Legislature dis
played $4,000. which, he said, had been
provided to compass the defeat of one
candidate and the election of another
In California a son of the late General
y. s. Grant is an aspirant for Senato-
rial honors. Howard L. Wright, the
Speaker of the lower branch OF the
Legislature. is quoted in an interview
as admitting that he received money
from U. S. Grant. or rather from Mil
ton S. Green, his political manager
with the understanding that he should
support Mr.. Grants Senatorial candi-
dacy. In all he received $3.50 from
Green. but now that he is supporting
MT. ID. NJ. Burns, he intends to return
the money he received from Mr. Grant
through Mr.. Green California is a
big and prosperous State. but the price
or votes for Senators falls far short of
the quotations in little Montana, one
OF the mining camps. A dispatch from
Helena, in the latter State, says that
recently in the open session of the Leg
stature, Frederick Whiteside. Assem-
oiyman from Flathead county, arose to
a question of privilege. and in clear
distinct tones said he had been offered
SlO,O00 to work for w. A. Clark Hard
ly year passes in which there is not
a disgraceful scandal over the election
OF United States Senator'S, and shady
methods will probably be employed as
long as the present system of electing
Senators is retained. Ordinarily, leg
lslators are more secretive about their
transactions than the statesmen in
California and Montana. When men
admit openly that their votes have
been purchased or bid for. and no eff
fort is made to punish them, it would
seem that the public Is growing callous,
and Is no longer offended by the venal-
ity OF Legislatures. How can the ablest
and pureSt men be sent to the United
States Senate when, as too frequently
happens, the candidates fitness and
character are subordinated to the
length of his purse-strlngs?
We much fear that West Virginia all
so Will furnish an example of the pres
ent evil system OF electing United
States Senators.
The remedy is in the adoption of the
proposed amendment to the United
States Constitution allowing Senators
| to be chosen by the people. If the
| people are to be trusted to elect Leg
islators, Governors, Representatives in
Congress. and Presidents. why should
they not be trusted to elect Senators .?
That's the question. 1t is simple, plain.
and straightforward and every man
can understand 1t. It has already as
sumed prominence and Importance, and
we think 1t is destined to occupy much
OF public attention in the course OF the
next few years. In Virginia, We be-
lieve. the sentiment is overwhelming
IN favor OF the change, and the hope
is entertained that Congress will finally
yield to the popular demand and cause
| the amendment to be proposed to the
several States for adoption or re-
] lection.
1 heartily endorse every word that
the Dispatch has to say on this sub
1ect, and hope that 1t, along with all
the Democratic press of the State.
in view of the fact that it will be
| impossible to have election of Senators
by the people for some time to come
| at least. Will advocate the next best
thing, to-wit: Party nominations of
candidates for the United States SEN
ate by State conventions or primaries.
In the Dispatch of September eth.
1898. l advocated State convention for
| eiffs PURPOSE. have no cause to
change my mind. but on the contrary.
when I look around at the scenes now
| being enacted in Delaware PennsvI-
vania. Montana, California, West Vir-
GINA and other States, am more than
ever convinced that, taking everything
! into consideration. the very wisest
course for Democracy to pursue in this
State Is to have q convention neyt
summer like those we usually have to
nominate a candidate for Governor
and nominate Democratic candidate
TOT United States Senate. In this man
ner the fight for United States Senator
ship will be eliminated from the con-
test for seats in the next Legislature
land we know from n few fights
over hold-over State Senator's seats in
the fall of 1897 just how bitter such a
tight will be-, there will be no posi-
bility of a disgraceful wrangle in the
Legislature, and above all the voice of
the people will be distinctly heard in
the election Of a United States Senator.
Some one opposed to this plan will
cry out that the application of the
above editorials to Virginia is a re-
Election on the integrity OF her Leeisla-
ture. I reply that l do not charge the
Virginia Legislature with corruption.
1t has been. and probably will be next
time. composed Of as high men as there
are in the State but / want course
pursued that will prevent the possi-
bility of any such charge being made
against Virginias Legislature as Is now
being made against the Legislatures Of
so many other States. Virginia .Legis-
lators may be better than those of
other States, but they are not SO high
that they cannot be even suspected.
Human nature in Virginia is the same
that 1t is in California, Montana and
aCt Nircr into