River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-05-18

1t is not secret that, not many years
quarter of million dollars to secure
his election to the senate.
The salary of a senator is only $4,000
year, and the term lasts but six years.
Consequently when a man is elected
to the senate his total salary for six
years amounts to $4,000. And yet a
man expended a quarter of million
dollars to secure an election to the
senate. Why. did he do it?
He expended that large amount of
money simply to have the honor of be-
ing senator; just as he expended $780,
600 for painting to adorn his parlor;
just as he expended S750,000 for house
in certain city.
Now when the expenditure of quar-
ter of million dollars Will enable a
rich man to have himself elected to The
senate many of our good people think
that halt should be called. If a man
in one state can control a legislature
with money, man in every state might
do the same and hence no man could
aspire to become a great law-giver
without first becoming a rich man.
Moreover, all legislatures might be-
come corrupt.
That is, in brief, the argument made
by the people who favor the election
of senators by direct votes of the peo-
pie. 1t is for the purpose of enabling
poor men to aspire, as they did in the
days of Jackson, Polk, Clay, Webster,
Lincoln and Garfield it is for the
purpose of putting the poor men on
a level with the rich men in aspiring
to national honors and distinction that
they advocate the proposed change.
But there. is another side to the ques-
ton. If wealth continues to accumu-
late, and rich men continue to aspire,
they will have the advantage anyway,
because they can have bigger meetings,
better brass bands, bigger professions,
more expensive and extensive barbe-
cues and other entertainments; so that,
even by direct vote of the people, the
election of senators might be corruptly
secured. That is to say, the rich man
who would expend a quarter of mil
lion dollars to corrupt state legisla-
ture would spend half a million to infu-
ence the votes of the people in the vari-
Gus polling places. The millionaire of
the present can as well afford to spend
half million for the honor as he can
afford to spend quarter of million.
There is also the danger that the peo-
pie might become accustomed to look
for wholesale bribery, and enough of
them become corruptible to sell their
votes, and affect the elections.
There you have an epitome of both
sides of the argument. The reason for
calling attention to this condition pros
pectiyely affecting our body polite lies
in the fact that during the past decade
various state legislatures have failed to
perform their constitutional functions,
and have adjourned without electing
senators. thereby depriving sovereign
states of their right to complete repre-
sentation on the floor of the national
senate.
One striking example of this condi
ton may be referred to without preJu-
dice In 1894 Senator Mitchell. of Ore
gon, discussing the right OF the gov
AAoa VI ~ iNAsht AsNN ~
as senator, afte the legislature of
Montana failed to Alect a senator, said:
eSuppose a rich nan should arise in
Oregon, two years hence, and prevent
my reelection TO the senate. Suppose
that rich man should be in collision
with the governor of Oregon. And. aft
er preventing the legislature from
electing me, that rich man should be APP
pointed TO the senate by the governorof
Oregon. would it be right TO give him
seat in this body2. | say not; and will
vote against the admission of senator
from Montana appointed under such
circumstances.
Strange as it may seem. two years
after Senator Mitchell had delivered
that speech the Oregon legislature was
induced to adjourn without electing a
senator to succeed Senator Mitchell.
Very soon thereafter the governor of
Oregon appointed one Corbett, very
rich man. to the senate. The case
was considered carefully and. by q vote
OF two to one, the senate refused TO give
Corbett seat. Thus a precedent was