The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-20
HOUSTON. SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 20.
georgia LEADS OFF.

The Georgia legislature HIS passed res
olu,ion declaring for the election of United
States senator's by direct vote.
If the people have not the ability to
elect suitable and safe men to the United
States senate they are incapable of self
government. Upon this theory the Georgia
legislature has, no doubt. proceeded.
The method Of electng legislators, with
reference to their choice for United States
senator. is not safe one, for. even when
1t obtains, the member does not consider
himself necessarily instructed or bound
and, therefore. holds himself at liberty
to change his inclination when occasion
lustihes-he being the exclusive arbiter of
the occasion and of its Justification In
this way the wish Of the constituent body
is frequently set aside.
When to the danger indicated is added
the corruptng employment Of patronage
or money, to defeat the peoples choice. the
protection to honest results and honest
representation in the senate of the Nation
al legislature afforded by the method Of
direct vote must be admitted by candid
men.
Next In the order of protection to the
wish OF the people, and in maintenance Of
honest and straightforward result, comes
the primary election methods by which
the legislative member is definitely in
structed.
Texas is soon to elect a United States
senator. His choice viii likely be made
by the primary election. Besides the fact
that in this way the preference of the
people can best be shown there are other
excellent reasons why the selection of
members OF the Legislature should not be
determined upon the basis of whom they
may favor for the United States senate.
These are succinctly set forth by the San
Antonio Express
Tho members OF tho legislature will be
elected or should be. upon State issues BE.
yonu vot'he for United states senator they
VIII nave lltte connection with Na.ir4al
nhHirs heyond following the usual partysr ,,s
Ihtro arc state matters entirely dlsoonhl ed
WIN National politics that should takCH %.
cedence over all other questions In thea +r.
ton OF representatives of the ppoplear ho
arc to make the laws which govern tho Il to.
Ihere are questions OF tnNation Of inf i!ei
improvements Of regulation OF public Hill |
ties. OF civil and criminal Jurisprudence OF !
development OF resources and of many other
matters or state Importance wholly apart |
from National considerations and having no |
SORT OF connection with partisan politics Tho |
state representatives and the National repre- /
sehlataNos have duties to perform which ara
cnureiy distinct from each other and when /
shoulu pe as littlc confused az possible and |
tnls may best be obviated it Is now gem |
eraliy contended. by permitting the demo- |
cratic voters In the primaries to cypress their
preference for United Stntes senator and sim.
Harry and simultaneously their preference for |
legislators ''N' '''
The election OF Mr.. Culberson to the senate
WIS practically decided long in advance of 1
inc meeting of the legislature Perhapa the |
contest between the candidates 10 e,,rcend |
senator Chiffon will he similarly decided
witnout the necessity OF providing n way Ior |
lneompetenis to ride into the State legisln
lure by hanging on to the cont tails of one /
oi mo senatorial candidates.
Legislators so instructed are not likely
to dig their political graves by abusing or
ignoring the explicit demands OF major
IVY OF their creators, however much the
artfnl politician and trained trlckster may |,
conspire to break the force OF public
choice
Until the United States senator's from
Texas shall be elected by direct vote II
may therefore be put down as pretty well Ii
assured that the people will insist upon
the protection and security OF the primary
election.