The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-13

Z tALIGLlltly ullQG5lI dUl5 Ghd Aoh5OLOl'
| time for any alteration in the funda;
| mental structure of the senate. Tht
present system has given us able mer
| whe are repeatedly reelected, and these
facts have given us an independence
stability, conservatism and continuity
of policy which are lost under the pro-
posed system. The present system
alone preserves that great principle OF
all representative bi-cameral systems
that the upper house should be elected
by qualitatively different constituent
cy, and for all the grounds advanced
we see that the present system of elec-
tion is preferable
Lord for Yale.
&, Frank A. Lord was the last speaker
for Yale. He said: IF we are to have
good state laws we must have good leg
islatures. But the election of United
States senators by legislatures hinders
the people in the selection of legisla-
ture which shall be qualified to make
good laws The citizen in his choice of
a legislator ought to choose according
to the candidates views upon state
questions, and their own personal MT
ness. But under our present system
the voter frequently votes for the can
didate for the state legislature not at all
upon state considerations but upon
questions relating to national affairs
only. The last state campaign in Min
nesota is an illustration. In that state
the people were dissatisfied with the
rule of the republican party and clam
ored for reforms. They elected Mr..
.Lynd, the reform candidate for COVER
nor by a majority of 10000, but elected
at the same time republican legisla-
tllre to insure the return Of Senator
Davis and show their loyalty to the ma
tional administration Senator Davis
was elected, but in Minnesota there
We're no reforms. The elections of SEN
ators by the legislatures gives the poll
tician increased opportunities. They
can nominate inefficient men for the
legislature and rely upon party senti-
ment or national issues to carry them
through. The politician raises a hue
and cry upon national questions, and
upon questions of state Importance he
keeps a strict silence. Were it not for
the national issue involved in the cleo
tion of legislator the voter could pass
upon the nominations for the legislature
on the merits of the men and choose a
better candidate. AT present he Is
controlled by party sympathy. The
successful candidate feels that he is
elected on national lines, ard when he
comes back for reelection runs on a
platform of national issues and not on
his record as state law-maker. These
evils are due to the confusion between
state and national politics. The only
clause in the constitution which neces-
states this confusion Is that one which
provides for the election Of senator's by
Legislatures We ask that this clause
be amended and that the election of
senators be given to the people them
selves. This being done the people will
no longer be compelled to choose by
single ballot and in the person of one
man. legislator, to make state laws
and a delegate to elect a United States
senator.
After the debate the judges, speakers
md number Of invited guests adjourn
ed to the Colonial club, where a sup
per was served in honor of the guests
Of the evening. Hon. w. Bancroft
acted as POSTMASTER and speeches were
made By Ansel Phelps Stokes, jr., Yale
96, for Yale: Prof Bliss Perry for
Princeton university and Prof George
L. Baker for Harvard.