The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-08-12
THE ELECTION or SEM

Senators who will represent this
State at Washington. When we say
Democrats we do not mean the five
or six gentlemen who have in the
past assumed the responsibility of
selecting the candidates for Sena-
torial honors, but we mean the rank
and file of the Democratic party.
In the State of Mississippi Gov.
Nc Laurin and Congressman Allen
were both aspirants to the Senate
and in order to ascertain the choice
Of the Democracy of that State,
and made their fight before the
people. That's the way we want to
see it done in Louisiana.
Every Democrat in this State, no
matter how humble he may be,
should be given an opportunity to
express his choice in the selection
of senators. We believe the people
have sense enough to elect their
senators and we also believe that
they are less liable to err in this
matter than the Legislature. The
Gazette in common with other
Democrats would like to see sena-
torial aspirants make known their
wishes to the people and announce
their views and opinions if they
should happen to have any on pre-
va,llng public questions.
The Legislature to be- elected
next April will be called upon to
name two United States Senators.
In casting their votes the members
of that Legislature should carry out,
as much as possible, the wishes Of
their constituents. By leaving the
selection Of senators entirely to the
Legislature without an expression of
any kind from the voters, legisla-
tors are given too prolific a field for
combines and dickers. United
States senators should be the choice
of the masses. If it were possible
it would be better to elect them by
popular election, but unfortunately
we are not permitted to do that.
We should, however, endeavor to
ascertain the will of the majority as
nearly as possible. The great
trouble with the American Senate
at the present time is that it fails to
represent the masses. On the con-
trary, many Of its members are the
accredited Representatives of cor
~c
senting the people they represent
their oppressOrs and i: is not at all
strange that the laws which emanate
from that august body are often
calculated to increase the burdens
of the toiling millions and tighten
about their necks the CHAINS Of the
moneyed tyrants.
For years it has been the custom
in Louisiana to ignore the wishes of
the voters in the election of United
States senator's. The candidates
for senatorial honors have never
Condescended to tell the people
what they thought on momentous
issues of government. On the con-
trary, they have generally preserved
an ominous silence on all public
questions.
If there are any gentlemen in
Louisiana who are nursing a desire
to wear the senatorial toga let them
for once in great while take the
humble voter into their confidence.
They would at least set a good ex-
ample which might be followed by
others. 1t would perhaps be little
{ embarrassing at first to some gentle
men who seem to believe that polit-
ical success lies exclusively in the |
skilful manipulation Of the wires, |
but it would be far more in conso-
nance with the inspired Democracy |
Of Thomas Jefferson.
Reasonable DEMANDS.
A large number of property
h FOLDERS of this town. who are being
made to pay unreasonabIy high
rates of insurance, have signed a
petition praying the Southeastern
1 arIff Association to be relieved Of