The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-15

! in tho action OF the States OF this Union
] within the last twelve months which
should serve. and has served TO open the
4 eyes Of the people OF the country Some
/ twelve or fourteen States within the past
| twelve months have chosen United States
/ senators. and In several OF thom where
! certain rings and sO-called political
! bosses could not control the LEGISLATURE
then deaGiocks were formed and forced.
and the legislatures adjourned without
making a choice and those states are
with but one-haf representation IN that
important body to-day. In several Of
these States Investigations have been or
dercd as 20 the methods used TO secure
the election OF senators. so Objectionable
has the system become that some
twenty-seven legislatures out Of forty
five have asked. by resolution and Dei
tion, change in this mode OF elcciinR
senator's. But tho Senate persistently
refuses 10 take up the question. and
stranglcs the measure in committees.
and 10 Is getting more and more 10 be
the order OF the day that this present
method turns uD al washington a class
Of senators who are either mill1uaivcs
themselves or tho representative Of
great aggregated wealth and power. and
there is long list Of shameful transsc-
tions TO the credit Of the States Of this
Union growing ont OF this very thing.
One man is elected senator from a dis
tant state while actually living in New
York and it IS said has nm income Of
$4,000 0o a year. A State senator. during
one Of these senatorial contests IN
one of tho States. took from his pocket
thirty $1,000 bills. which he said had been
given him for three votes I'm the Legisa-
ture.
BUY MEN.
"In Delaware Mr.. Addicks has three
times dcadlocked the Legislature
Of hif State iu the selection OF q senator
because he has found De can buy up
weak men Ike sheep In shambles and
that they viii follow the string that IS
fastened in their collars and held ln his
hands. I'm the Fifty second Congress a
resolution was offered by Mr. Tucker. OF
Virginia, and supported 10y Mr. william
Jennings BRYAN. of Nebraska. proposing
constitutional amendment on this sub
ject. i'm the I1fty-third and Fifiy-hfth
Congresses similar resolutions were
offered and passed What is % that has
made this subject so obnoxious. so oh.
jccuonable. $50 continually the subject Of
resolution and petition by the various
States? IL IS simply because n is one
chief and prolific source of creating thel
modern political boss and of inviting ring
work in politics. 10 SIS the one place
where the corporations trusts. and com
bncs can chcckmate with easiest methods
and least expense any and an measures
for the relief of the people and build up
for themselves an oligarchy that will in
every way serve their purposes. The
practical workings of the present method |
Of electinc senators is not for the people |
90 select q legislator and for that lceis. |
lator 10 elect a senator. but the senator. |
when they get the rcins of political |
power in their hands. selects the legisia |
tor and the said legislator then puts I'm |
his vote for the senator-the very man |
who told him he could run. thus con- |
hrming the viii Of the bosses by naming /
them for the United States Senate charm |
bor
THE MACHINES WORKING.
The wheels Of the machine work some
what after this order: These combines |
and moneyed powers fix ON a certain
man, and Doe is generally ono OF their at
t0ruevs, man who handles their retain
crs. and usually. he himself is very little |
less than "a millionaire. Let us then call
this man Mr. Blank. lie Is put in train
ing and thoroughly posted as % the route
he IS TO take and the means he IS 10 en-
pl0y. ln The first place he must hc told
30 VIII he necessary for him 90 Doe on the
State Committee. either as its chairman or
the head of The Finance Committee that
he must see tO it that az least "a majority
of the State Committee are selected from
among men whose habits of thought and
whose public record are committed TO his
way OF thinking lie is assured that ho
Will have an the money he wants in adj
diton TO what he can control that is con-
tributed to the State Committee by the
innocent and patriotic citizens. He is
then told 10 watch the election Of mem
bers 10 the Legislature. and though there
man be two terms even before the election
Of the senator comes around DE 's told
that 10 will De we'll for him 90 find out
where candidates are in danger and send |
them timely help; and even I'm instances |
where the candidates are not in danger Of
defeat. it may be advisable 90 create in
heir minds a fear that they are about
O be beaten. and have thom call on the
State chairman and Committee for help:
and. of course. Mr.. Blank has an OF the
corporation fund at his disposal and the
too. under his control. but
itue If any money. can be gotten from
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