New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-04
MERE CHANGE NO REMEDY.

4 thousand or so of the leading Democratic
politicians of Virginia are meeting In conven-
tion to discuss the proposal to elect United
STATES Senators by popular vote. We might per-
hans say to advocate rather than to discuss, for
# Is understood that sentiment among them is
overwhelmingly In favor Of such change OF
system Nor do they Of the Old Dominion
stand alone. Many men in other States are out
spoken in favor of popular election OF Senators.
That has been true for some years. At the
present time probably, the number Of such men
is larger than ever before, because Of the fail
ures-in some cases attended with revolving
scandals-of Legislatures to elect Senators. The
vile performances Of recent years in Delaware,
the dlscreditable deadlocks in Pennsylvania and
California, and the resultant deprivation OF
those States-as now seems probable-of half
their due representation in the Senate, have I'M
ouestionably and not unreasonaby prompted
many men to look for some reform in the
method Of Senatorial election that shall make
such evils impossible.
The deslrablllty of reform Is not to be dis
puted But that II would be effected by such a
change Of method Is seriously to be doubted.
state Governors are now elected by popular
vote But we do not see that the results at
tanned are any better than In legislative cleo
tons Of Senator'S In recent years there have
been many disputed Governorship elections,
some involving appeal 10 the courts and some
being decided by physical force. In some cases
two rival Governors have been sworn in and
have for time conducted rival administrations
in the same State Such Governorshp scan
dals have been proportionately as numerous as
those connected with Scholarships, and we see
no ground for assurance that they would be les
sened in the case OF the latter were such cleo
tons taken from the Legislatures and given to
the people. Nor Is there any promise that such
change would result in the choice Of better men
for the Senate. We are inclined 10 regard the
Senate as a much ADLER and better BODY than
many Of its critics represent It, But, granting
that the worst that Is said Of II is true do not
its members compare favorably with the Gov
ernors of the States In ability, in dignity, in
honesty? Unquestionably they do In fact.
some Of the men who have been least credita-
BILE as Senators had formerly been Governors of
their States. II the people Of State deliber.
ately elect man Governor they have no bust.
ness to find fault with the Legislature for after
ward electing him Senator
Moreover, 1t should not be overlooked that the
Legislature itself Is a body of the peoples own
creation. and in finding fault with it the people
are criticising their own work II they bore in
mind, In voting for members of the Legislature.
that they were thus voting by cumulative proxy
for United States Senator's perhaps thew wou,d
send better men to the State capitals. and TINS
get in turn better Senator'S Certainly II they
voted for Senators directly, and did 80 with no
more care than they now exercise In choosing
members OF the Legislature the result would
be no more satisfactory than at present We
hold therefore, that the mere change Of svster,
would be no remedy for existing evils. II Is No,
change OF the constitutional system-and ~
| the fundamental principles of the UnIon-tba, "a