The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-31
Tho Election of senator-.

Tho Election OF NtiisifiTs
Two events. occurring simultaneously
I'm different parts OF the coah'i5, l.iu'l
trate The change which has MARKED
l.toiv tho methods of clecting United
ct,tcs senators. Senator Harris. Popu-
ust of Kansas. who is native-Oom Nr-
riuiap has given formal notice OF ms
Intention TO offer in the next Congress
IAN amendment TO the Constitution lot
the election of Senators by popular vote
henceforth. instead of 10y the vote OF Leg
isiatures The Democratic county Ooil-
mittce OF Culpepcr Va has been eAac1-
ing an agreement between the TWO IiFM
Democratic candidates for United ota'es
senator. Martin. now Senator, and Tyler,
now Governor. not TO use any money lh
promotion of their election IN tbs year
Virginia campaign.
Tbe C1llpeper plan IS unobjecuonahle.
and there seems To- be 30 reason why il
should not be compiled with. for the con-
test turns on political grounds Of oli-
ference i'm which the people OF the state
take an absorbing interest The Kansas
milan. however proposes radical hilo-
walton I'm our fundamental system lot
which there is no justification I'M the ac-
tual political situation. IL would open
the way logically TO a further depdrtu Ie
from that originally established lhsulu-
tion bv Constitutional amendment
cb.roino. the method Of the election Of
the President and Nics-freaiieh'' lol
which there is no just reason and no
considerable popular demand The only
reason assigned for the proposed chanse
I'm the matter of electing senator's Us
that ~ would diminish the opportunities
for the corrupt use Of money by caHul-
dates or their friends but the extent
ia which the evil exists is exaggerated
vastly. and 10 would not DE overcome 10y
the new method
Formerly Senatorial deadloeks, were
frequeut I'm the United States but they
are now rare. I'm the memorable Iennes-
soa contest of lN1 Senator Bailey was
chosen ON the soyenty-fourth ballot. Ia
Oh. Illinois contest of the same year Sem
afor David Davis was chosen on the for
tafb In the notable and proIacied
WISCONSIN contest of 1879 Senator Car
renter was nominated on the ninety
sixth ballot and in the Connecticut con-
test of the same year between Senator
ua,viev of Hartford and Senator Piatt,
of Meriden-thcy are now Colleagues
from Connecticut-the latter was noml-
mated on the thirty-seventh ballot iHe
late Senator George. of MISSISSIPPI was
chosen boy the jackson LEGISLATURE IN
1sSo ON the forty-ninth ballot and in
hsuots were necessary before choice
was made. while in Oregon in the same
wear I'm a Ike contest seventy-eight ball
iots were necessary. and I'm Minnesota IN
choosing a successor TO Senator VIM
dom twentv-nine ballots were cast In
New Hampshire IN the same year, forty
two ballots were necessary for the cleo
ton Of a Senator, and Senator Black
burn of kentucky was first elected
Senator fin 1874 on the twentieth ballot
of the Frankfort Legislature. Exon so
conservative q State as Massachuseits
was unable 20 nm the vacancy caused
bv Charles Summers death ia 1874 unul
thirtv-three ballots had been taken
Undeniably such deadlocks offered
termination to the cupidity OF weakened
or corrupt legislators, but as we have
said such deadlocks are now very rare.
I'm New York in the case of the two
Senators who have been elected since
1s4f the Republican caucus decided the
question of representation on one ballot
Am ,he case of Senator Depew unanimous
N, I'm PENNSYLVANIA. Senator Penrose
Nos chosen at the Republican caucus
without the necessity of recourse 10
6rbt I'm the legislature and throughout
the balloting I'm Harrisburg iast winter
tho Democratic legislative minority 10
the great credit OF JUS hi'ilNNiof lNii'''i''
e5 nuetral as between the advocates ana
onpouents of Senator Quay. No pre-
fence was made on either side that mon
ev was corruptly used to influence the
course Of the legislators
II does not require an amendment 10
tho Constitution 20 correct an imaginary
evil and where the present system OF
election is for any reason not popular
SIMMER methods of changing 1t exist
I'm many states the custom prevails Of
rledglng the legislative nominees TO
eivon senatorial candidate and I'm others
the plan has been adopted of submitting
10 the voters. as part Of the PLATFORM
"A plank committing the party TO the sup
mort Of candidates. Thus the platform Of
the ohio Republicans at their convention
I'm June. 1891. pledged 'the support Of
the marty I'm tie next General Assembly
10 the election Of Senator Hanna for
'botb the long and the short term" The
Democrats Of Kentucky at their recent
louisville convention supported the cam
didacy Of Senator Blackburn in advance
of The choice OF the Legislators Practi-
callv. therefore the election Of Senators
IS as much IN the hands Of the voters as
any constitutional provision could make
ft-NeW York sun