The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-08
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION SHOULD BE
ELIMINATED.

| SION Nh 1oUI. II ~ diloFe lHdh d Seal
off. but for weeks, some without men
| ton in the papers and others with news
papcr mention. there has been consider
| able discussion about tine selection
of the next United States Senator. We
| make no objection to the activity of
friends of various candidates nor TO pub
lications as to candidacy. I'm fact, we
welcome the spirit that appeals to the
people by plain declarations. The four
gentlemen who are understood to be
candidates have dome the State some
service We would be glad, since their
candidacy is public property, if each one
of them would issue an address to the
public, giving his views upon puIl.sc
questions and let the people know where
they are ''at' upon questions of mo-
ment. 1t is, of course, too soon to dis
cuss candidates for 1900, so say all
politicians and business men-and they
are right-but all the same they 20
ahead discussing and trying TO make
sentiment for their favorites. If We
could have our way, we would have all
discussion of the Senatorship postponed
until August 10th, 1900 but as that is
impossible, it is better that the discus
sion be in public rather than that re-
nation of Legislative candidates who are
pledged to one candidate, without the
knowledge of the voters.
The worst way to elect any officer is
by THE Legislature, and we were graft
fed when the last General Assembly,
as to important offices like Corporation
Commissioners, changed the law so that
people. This was i'm keeping with the
pledge made in the Democratic platform
of 1898, and was a step in the right
direction. That same platform declared
in favor of the elections of United States
Senators by the people. Unfortunately
the Senate is largely composed of men
like Hanna, Quay, Platt, Fairbanks WHO
know they can stay in as long as they
can give legislators offices. hut who
know that if the people had a whacS
at them, they would be retired to private
life Their selfish opposition delays the
change in the law, and it will be some
years yet before Senators are elected
by popular vote. That fact has not
deferred the Democracy of South Caro-
lima and other Southern States from
selecting their Senators virtually by the
popular vote They have legaliZed pr
maries i'm which all the voters I'm the par
ty vote direct for their fayorite for Sen
ator, and by party custom the Legislators
vote for the Senator who receives the
majority of the votes east. lit has work
ed well and has prevented the dOmina-
tion of corporations or political MAJ
chimes. In South Carolina the machine
had fixed everything to send John Gary
Evans to the Senate They had the
machinery in most of the counties and
under the old system, Evans would have
been chosen. The popular vote resulted
in the election of anotiher-an sIbler ani
better fitted man. There was general
satisfaction and acquiescence in the re-
suit, for the defeated candidate saw
that the voters themselves had prefer
red another No man cam reasonably
kick against aegalized or other honest
ly conducted primary, for it is the voice
of tle sovereigns froan whose decree
there is no appeal. The introduction OF
this system in North Carolina has re-
GENTLY been proposed and urged by a
score or more of papers, and so far as our
observation goes popular sentiment Is
very strong for it. In 1S94-the year
party disasters-there were serious divi-
sions and discussions in tine party grow
ing out of the selection of two United
States Senators. lit was ONE of the POI
tent influences of Democratic defeat. Il
is all very well to say that the SELECTION
of a Senator ought to be postponed until
after the election and then left to the
Judgment of the legislators chosen, but
the people know that in eight cases our
of ten the Legislators have been nomi-
mated by the friends of ONE of the can
siidates, and will vote for him instead of
exercising their unbiased judgment. The
result is that in 1894, and in other years.
there is a struggle between the friends
Of the aspirants for the senatorship in
every county to secure the nomination
of legislator favorable TO their candi-
date, with injurious results to the party.
That can be largely eliminated in 1900
if the State convention will provide
for Il primary, to be held after the Au-
gust election, which shall determine the
choice of the people for Senator.
1t is of paramount Importance that the
Constitutional Amendment be Tatified ID
August, 1900 and that the party of
White Supremacy succeed at that cleo
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