Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-03-14
DIRECT DOMINATION AND Dl-
RECT ELECTION OF U. S.
SENATORS.

There Is a most excellent opportu-
tunlty for a clean, able E9stefn Ore
go0 Republican ~ secure seat In the
United States senate In 1901, 10 sue
ceed George w Mcbride. Eastern
Oregon Is entitled 10 one OF the sena-
tOrships aud II the right man can be
discovered there Is little doubt about
his being successful. Eastern Oregon
needs representation IN the United
States senate, and the whole people
OF this section would not be backward
ia pushing forward the right man
Who shall II be '-E East OregOnian,
There are other sections OF the state
that would be highly pleased TO send
asclean able Republican TO the United
States senate, but there Is 20 way 70
tell when "the right man" II dlscOY-
cred until after the votes are counted.
For instance, few thought OF George
w. Mcbride as possibility until
Cleeton's midnight speech had been
made.--A storia News.
What assurance have we that even
the counting Of the votes"will reveal
"the right mau ?" What confidence
can the people feel that a clean, able
man, Republican or otherwise, will be
selected II must not be forgotten
that the 30 men who arc, in their 10
dnitely superior wisdom and lnteg-
rlty, TO choose a senator for the peo-
pie OF this state, 10 1901, are MT yet
elected 1t is barely possible that, II
the tally-sheets are we'll guarded, the
next Legislature may not be Republic
can.
SO II seems like possible waste Of
energy 10 now bother our beads about
who will be McBrlde's successor, or
from what section Of the state he viii
come.
II the people were going TO have
some voice In bis selection or election,
H. might pay them TO consider ellgl-
BILE candidates now; but II is matter
10 which they have very little TO say.
They simply turn over their power TO
a small number OF men, who are Sc
lected by methods into which 10 is
best not TO inquire too closely. These
men are given absolute freedom 70
elect whomeyer they choose, and their
choice has TO stand for six years,
without regard 10 whether or rot they
have pleased single voter Of the
state, besides themselves.
The;surprise Of 1895 and the hasco.of
'91, Ia this state; the bribery Ia Calf
fornIa, the failure TO elect IN Utah and
Delaware; the corruption with which
the country has been dIsgusted In
the case OF some brand new United
states senators from other states; the |
dendlocks now on In different parts Of
the Unlon; all are the logical outcome
OF this most anlIquated and senseless
aud un-Democratic way Of electlng
the upper house Of congress.
IL Is no wonder that cry is going
up from all sections and from all par
Ties Tor change, Aud what is the |
change recommended The election /
OF these senators by the direct vote OF /
The people That this would be an
lmmeasurable improvement is almost
universally acknowledged.
Aud all this betterment would come
Irom placing the matter more directly
IN the hands OF the people at large
From thisiit Is seen how logical Is the
lext step The further we place mat
.ers out Of the reach OF the people, the
nore completely We place these mat
'ers Ia the domain OF fraud, bribery,
'ossism ami all corruption. The
learer we bring them back to the peo. 1
'le the more we advance cleanliness {
honesty aud good government. !
The logical conclusion is plaln. I
Place the nomination as we'll as the d
lection OF United States senators,and
he nomination OF all other elected OF {
ciais' directly In the hands uf the d
otors at arge,aud an Immense stride Z
lll have been taken 10 tho direction Il
purity, Integrity, ability ana true o
atrlotlsm In governmental affairs.