The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-04-27

the present. Then there were n
gigantic moneyed corporation
There were not more than two mil
lionaires in the country. Now thcr
are more than thirty thousand, in
GLIDING probably one.third of tn
members Of the Senate. There ar
some able statesmen in the Senate
but it is generally believed to hav,
detcriorated on account Of the election
to it Of several m~illionaires, who
aside from any disposition they ma,
have to promote their business inter
ests through their high official pc
sltions, are not experienced in state
craft, naturally the case with thos,
whose lives have been spent mainly
in amassing wealth.
1t is said that if the popular method
prevails political conventions to nomi.
nate candidates for the Senate will be
as easily unduly influenced as legis-
l~atures are now. But delegates to
such conventions would come with
instructions from their constituents.
Even it politicians secured the nomi-
nation Of an Objectionable person the
people could reject him at the polls.
We do not often hear of the cleo
ton of m~illionaires as v nors of
States or as members of the Nation |
House of Representatives. In tie
event of electing senators by a pc
lar vote, whether the political pa
name candidates by primaries or con-
ventions, the people will make the
final choice. Now there is no appal
from the decision of a State legisla-
ture. Prior to 1924 electors for
President and e-President were
chosen by the legislatures of the dif-
States, yet it is not proposed
to revert to that method. State
legislatures should deal with Stale
affairs only, and this matter of elect
ing senators, in which is involved
national questions, should be attend
ed to by the people.
The popular method was advocated
Congress by William j. Bryan ia
1893. General Fitzhugh Lee has
commended it, and Senator
James X. Jones, chairman Of the
National Democratic Committee, has
ately endorsed it. 1t is thoroughly
n accord with Democratic principles,
md to help c II it the Democratic
masses Of Virginia should this year
instruct their candidates for the Gen
raj Assembly and their hold-over
state senators, by primaries or con-
entions or general convention, for
'hom to vote for United States sem :
tor, and one should be chosen who /,
ill vote to amend the Constitution, l
living the people their right to q
hooSe directly. |
AS Virginia is affected by the d,
hole Senate, it is to her interests :,
OF only that her own people elect 6
senators, but that the people of !,
lie other States elect theirs. When 8
le money power secures the election >
one of its members or agents to tie .
enate it has achieved q great y
iumph, for senator's are chosen for :;
x years. i
1t is hoped that the Richmond "
invention of May 10th will be at a
nded by representative Democr s il
I'm every section Of our State, and m
at they will formulate a good plan S
action. Candidates for the Gen W
Assembly should be instructed in Sc
to The senatorship, and not q,
t liable to the temptation of sup til
ring any candidate in return for a W
npaign contribution. "
The Senate has been defined as an ge
.ssemblage of the Ambassadors of tC
States" 1t is our highest lesis- ga
i've body, confirms presidential BIT
nination, ratifes or rejects treaties in
ween the United States and of
'iSn governments; consequently, il al
uld be the peer of any body o; fat
tn in patriotism, craftsmanship, =
diligence and integrity. ~
article is not meant as a re-
ton on any legislator or candidate
the Senate. United States sena
and State Legislators are prob I
: as honest and are more i%ntelli-
t than average men, but they can +
tempted to do wrong, as
II people can be, and should not +
ar removed from the supervision
heir proper masters, the sovereign :