Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-24
A WARNING.

the ncrcest and most interesting SEMI
torlal tights the country has ever known
Ayers term in the Cabinet will expire
at the same time that the term OF sena'
tor Mcmillan. of Michigan. expires. ana
Il has been known for quite while that
the former had an eye to the latter
seat. Indeed. it appears that until n
day or two ago Aiger. with his usual
arrogance. assumed that the very fact
that he wanted senatorial honors would
be sufficient to put Mcmillan or any one
else In his party out Of the race. How
ever. much 10 the establishment and In
dignatlon Of the great Secretary" some
one 1T seems suggested that the Mich,-
gan Senator might have the audacity
ia desire to succeed himself. whereupon
Algrr fired a telegram at Mcmillan ask
ing him the direct question, whether he
was a candidate. The reply was prompt
and Enthusiastically clear. 1t was In these
words: 81 am candidate for the United
states Senate"
MCMILLAN has friends who are as pre-
sumptuous as he Is. and these claim that
bis answer means that Algcr will with
draw But there are many reasons for
believing that they reckon without their
host. There are many things that justify
the conviction that Alger will stand fast.
Aside from the beef Secretary's brazen,
confidence in himself. he knows that he
can count on the administrations sup
&c I,a
anti-administration wing Of the Republi-
can party In Michigan. Mr.. Mckinley
cannot cast off Algcr. The oboquy that
attaches TO the Secretary also attaches
to the administration. The defeat Of
Mcmillan at the hands of Alger would,
It is argued. be a "vindlcation" of Alger.
and, therefore, it would be 'vindica-
ton" of the administration. Conse-
quently. It stands to reason that Alger
will not only continue in the struggle,
but make it the struggle Of his life. and
that Mr.. Mckinley and the presidential
cotcrie will back him with all their In
huence and resources. 1t is true, as has
been stated. that Ayers record will en-
able Mcmillan to render it exceedingly
warm for his opponent Yet on the
other hand, It is impossible to spoil what
Is already rotten. and from the view
point of Alger and the administration. the
iercer the assault upon Alger. the more
complete the "vindication." if Mcmillan
is downed.
As between Alger and Mcmillan, 1t IS.
Of course. to be hoped that Mcmillan will
win. But whatever the result there is a
great lesson in the fight The fact that
he Senate of the United States should
be regarded as a place into which TO
dump such men as Alger and Quay in
order to their "vindication,' and that
the senatorial toga is sought as a cover
ing for the corruption that clings to
politicians Of their kind is a solemn
warming to the people 1t is warning
that they cannot change too soon sys-
tenn of electing senators which renders
It possible for the upper branch of Con-
gress to be made more than anything else
a "house of refuge" for boss political
rascals.
The evil and the disgrace to the coun-
try Of "vindication' by election 10 the
Senate have been steadily growing for
years. and the only way to remedy the
Evil and the only assurance against the
lisgrace's becoming ineradicable lied in
making the Senate directly responsible to
he source Of all power-that is. the
oeople. Had experience not already
taught us that the existing method Of
choosing senators has been perverted TO
base uses and should be abolished, the |
manifest reasons why Alger seeks sena
lorlal hOnors would alone be sufficient to |
point to the necessity for a change. 1t |
would be impossible for Alger, with the !
Dad Of obloquy he carries. TO secure cleo |
ton to the Senate by the direct vote Of |
the people Of Michigan.