The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-11
Senatorial Elections.

to elect strengthens the popular
demand that United States SEN
| ators be chosen by popular vote. There
are Very few states in the Union that
have w. A. Clarks with the wealth and
the Willingness to buy senatorial seats
al any cost 1t is quite possible that
Pennsylvania will be left like Utah with
only one vote in the United States SEN
ate. Quay's spirit is willing but he
hasn't the immense amount of hard
cash necessary for him toreach. The ax-
perience of Montana Pennsylvania
Utah and Delaware this winter ought
to hasten the desired reform. Conditions
have changed since the making of the
federal constitution. AS clearly ex-
pressed in the proceedings and de-
bates of the constitutional con-
vention it was designed that
senators should be the representatives
of the sovereignties of their respective
states. and not specifically of the body
of the people. The double purpose of
this was to place the great and small
states in political equality in one
branch of the national legislature. and
provide a conservative force adequate
to mitigate the perls of hasty legisla-
ton in response to evanescent popular
clamor. The intent was that it should
be less the office of the senate to die
tate than to suspend the course of
seemingly unwise legislation until OPP
portunity was afforded for a more
thorough consideration of its objection
able features by the people and their
direct representatives The restriction
of its powers in originating revenue
measures plainly shows it to be an
agent of the states rather than of the
taXpaying masses.
Periodically and without haste the
federal constitution was prepared. and
numerous were the plans proposed and
discussed by the convention. One of the
projects provided for a single house of
congress, to be elected by the people;
another for two houses. the members
of both to be elected by the people; an
other for property qualification for
senators; another for a property quail
iHtdlitH VI VlttlOIS eulltleu 10 vote Tor
senator's; another according senatorial
privileges to the old states not to be
shared by the new; another for the
election of presidents for life or during
good behavior; another for withholding
the veto power from the executive, and
many others of an extreme character.
However Objectionable, all were in a
way serviceable. They opened broad
field for discussion. Fallacies were eX-
posed, Inconsistencies ventilated and
sound and rational methods strength
ened. Then followed the great compro-
mise, which instituted the government
substantially as it exists today, and the
constitution. grand, strong and con-
sstent. emerged from the troubled
waters of discussion a marvel of po-
litical wisdom and the wonder of the
age.
One of the vital features of the COM
promise was the provision for double
representation in the national legisla-
tue-a representation of the people in
one house and of the states in the
other. and with distinct powers ac-
corded to each. This compromise has
always been regarded as a master
stroke of craftsmanship. There can be
no mistake concerning the representa-
tive character of the senate as designed
by the convention. But the enormous
increase of individual wealth was not
foreseen by the trainers of the consttu-
ton; such a condition of things as
existed in the Montana legislature last
January was never dreamed Of So long
as there is power in vast wealth and
human greed exists, and so long as the
present system of election by state leg
islatures shall be preserved, more and
more often Will men climb
into the United States SEN
ate through the agencies of bribery
and corruption.