Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-01-27
LET IT BE BYA VOTE OF THE
PEOPLE

1t Is evident to the most casual of OBJ
servers that the people OF our country are
opposed to machine politics" The methods
adopted by the professional politicians moi
only In the nomination OF candidates, thu
mode of conducting the elections as well a.
the Wholesale corruption In procuring de
sired legislation, has awakened the most in
tense interest. Anxiety for the continu
ance OF our cherished institutions and de
sire to have honest, pure and able men fol
positions of honor and trust, is the growing
and vigorous sentiment that Is now pervad
ing the masses Of the honest yeomanry o.
the land. They want men who are above
suspicion, incapable of willful wrong
They want men who cannot be swerVeC
from the honest discharge of their public
duties through the influence Of money oil
the promise of future political reward. They
have not only grown tired, but disguised
with that character of official Representatives
who are covered with the filth and slime o.
the political gutter. They realize 'hsl q.
only their own Interest bat the great a.
growing 'alaiet of the country call for ,ns
character Of men whose qnaiif cas.g,.oas o
r,ind snd heart IT tbss -ssny and ovcrJ
Official emergency. They further reslizi
shat at DO oess,od IL the progress Of ooi
eoyerassen were our pares. eel H .nen
sauted noTI fha4 me p.a u.s.. More than
t1s, hey we're ne ..e impressed with
.a e, Mas representative officials
aaaal 20 direct from the people than
are at this period.
The recent scandalous Senatorial conflicts
in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia
Nebras ka, Montana, California and Nevada
have had the effect of re-arousing the senti.
ment that the election OF United States Sen.
ators should be by direct vote of the PEG
pie 1t is regarded national calamity, q
national disgrace, that this country should
be continually witnessing the recurrence OF
these scenes Of corruption, when the scan.
dals could be abated by transferring the
election Of United States Senators TO the
people themselves, 10 whom IL belongs. 1t
was assumed by the trainers Of the consttu
ton 10 the experimental stage Of this gov
eminent that the popular choice of members
of the Federal Senate would be capricious
and weak, and that 1t would be better to
confer the power TO elect these high officials
upon select bodies OF representatives in the
State Legislatures.
Thus it was thought judicious care and
celebration would be exercised in choosing
United States Senators. For the first half
of the countTy's history this view was gen
orally justified by the action Of the State
Legislatures, but 10 the past fifty years there
has heen great change in this respect In
many States, when an election for United
States Senator is pending, corrupt men, I'm
fit men seek seats In the Legislature in
order TO sell their votes TO the highest bid
der. This Is an evil which will spread in
proportion as the position Of United states
Senator shall become priced by men OF
wealth for the dignity 1t confers, or by un.
scrupulous politicians for the opportunities
it affords for speculation Ia Legislation. The
election of United States Senators by vote
Of the people, on the other hand, might be
sometimes capricious, but It would never be
williully corrupt.
We read that the Minnesota Senate has
unanimously voted 10 favor Of the election
OF United States Senators by the people.
The Legislatures cannot, Of course, abdicate
their function, but the scandalous events of
the present month in various States, with
the dead.locks and the attempts to thwart
She rights Of the people. have strengthened
the conviction even in legislative circles that
change in the constitutional procedure for
choosing Senators has become desirable, IL
not imperative