Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-12
The Nomination of Z. :. Senators.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
In all | nave seen that has beer. pub
lished in regard TO electing United States
senators | have not seen the following
plan suggested, which has occurred To
me. and which | will give below for what
it is worth. 1t requires no change In
the Federal Constitution, and, | think,
ii meets all the objections to the present
plan:
When a United States senator Is to be
elected by the Legislature. before the
members of that Legislature are nomi-
mated except the senators holding oveD,
let state convention be called by each
political party, or such one that may
choose To do so, to nominate "A United
States senator, and let all the members
elected by each party to the Legislature
be pledged, by reason OF their election, to
vote i'm the Legislature for the nominee
of their party so nominated. Thus, the
election Of senator would be by the lie
gislature, but he would be chosen by the
people. as much so as the Governor or
any other officer of the State Government
is now chosen by the people.
II may be objected that the State SEN
ators who hold over would not be pledged
to vote for the nominee OF their party,
but they would be i'm so small a minority
and the chances of their electing any
other person would be 50 hopeless, that,
no doubt. they would vote for the noml-
nee of their party. Not to do so would
stamp them as poor party men, ana would
be very detrimental 10 their future po!lti-
cal prospects.
1t may be. also, objected that more than
two political parties might call State COLI
ventions, and make nominations; thas
the members of the Legislature elected
by them might be so evenly divided thdt
no party would have majority IN me
Legislature and, therefore, there could
be no election But that would not hap
pen once In a thousand times, and, when
it did happen, it would not make the con-
dition of things any worse than II IS now,
under such circumstances. And this could
be remedied by releasing from their pledge
the members of the party having the low
est number. Withdrawing their candidate
and allowing them to vote for either, or
any of the other candidates. And, II
majority was still wanting, the members
of the party having the next lowest num-
Der could be released from their pledge
their candidate withdrawn, and so on, I'M
til only two candidates remained, ana
then a majority could be easily secured.
1t may be objected that, by this method.
the senator would not be elected by the
people, but he would be chosen by the
people as much as a Governor or any
other officer of the State Government IS
now chosen by the people. All the high
er officers of the State Government, inclu-
ding the Governor, are nominated by
State conventions, and the election by
the people only confirms the choice OF
some political party so made. Then, why
not let United States senator's De noml-
mated in the same way. and let the eiec-
ton by the Legislature confirm the choice
of the prevailing political party in the
same way? Thus an end might be put
to the disgraceful proceedings which have
been practiced in some Legislatures IL
electing United States senator's, and the
choice of the people, made through their
State conventions, would be respected.
| And to choose senator's by TINS plan no
alteration in the Constitution of the
| United States would be necessary, and
any State might adopt the plan without
being airected by the States not ADOPTING
IL. Virginia might adopt this plan al
once, and let other States adopt H. Oh
| not. as they might choose. But all the
| States, / think, upon seeing Its good Ell
| fects would adopt II. The alteration oil
| the Constitution of the United States, az
| best. is tardy proceeding. and It's ac-
complishment Is very doubtful. This me-
! thod has all the adv0 ntage In the selec-
! ton of senator's over mat OF selecting
| by primary elections. which. see. are adj
vocated by some. IL costs the state no.
thing, and is not nearly so cumbersome
, A small vote would be polled at the coun-
| try precincts in primary election, so thai
| the people would not be as well represent
| ed as they would in a State convention
A primary election. In all probability
would not result in a majority of all The
voters for any one candidate. and piu-
rality would have TO be taken, or else II
would result in no choice And. If plt;
rality vote had TO be taken as nomi'
nation. the majority would not be repre-
scented. as they would by the other me
| thod. If a State convention can nomi
nate Governor. Observation-Disclosures
| Attorney-General, &C.. why cannot
United States senator be nominated b,
State convention as well? I.
i u