The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-30
A CONVENTION
TO NOMINATE.
Continued from Seventh Page)

Continued from Seventh Page)
9ehetson. Madison and all Of our illus
tIious forefathers united In making the
constitution as II Is. and took pains 10
provide that United States Senators
Should DO elected by the legislatures OF
The several States, that Sc would be sac
rilege TO disturb their work, and there
fore We should live under IT without
alteration to the crack of doom.
No greater debt OF Veneraton and
gratitude can any people owe. than We
OF this day and generation owe 10 the
men who framed the Constitution Of our
country and put Its machinery into prac-
teal operation for grand career. re-
we're their memory; l worship their wis
dom, i applaud their deeds. But all wis
dom did not die with them. No human
minds can frame either laws or govern
ments that Will serve for all time. and
meet the ever-changing conditions of So
ciety. AS Emerson truly says:
In dealing with the state We ought 20
remember that its Institutions are not
aboriginal. though they existed before we
were born; that they are not superior 70
the citizen; that every one OF them was
once the act OF a single man. every law
and usage was a mans oxpedient to meet
particular case. that they all are imi'
table all aIterable: We may make as
good: we may make better
And, where in all history can he found
more radical Teformcrs tha2 these same
forefathers? What bold disturbers OF the
existing order Of things were they2 They
were born into a monarchy that had
hourished FOR centuries. handed down 10
them by their forcfathcrs. yet they
solemnly pledged their lives. their for
tunes. and their sacred honor 20 destroy
that form Of government. They did de-
stroy II so far as these American shores
are concerned. and ordained another bet
ter suited to their conditions. They over
threw the monarchy. and established a
republic. We follow their principles ana
initiate their example when We make
such changes I'm our government as the
times and conditions demand.
Away then. with these attempts 10 con
iurc the free thought of an intelhgent
people with the names Of the illustrlous
dead Let us not he frightcd with false
fire Let the issue be gquarely made ana
fairly met Do existing conditions and
the tendency Of the times Indicate that
il would be better for the state and bet
ter for the country that the voters
should themselves select the Senators, IN
Elfdu Oh UfAEh dAllh Ait'A E'A'NN'N'' ~ r-
LEGISLATURE?
The people vote directly for Governor.
the chief executive. and for the law
akers Of the state. and practically vote
directly for President. Why can they not
be trusted 20 vote directly for a Senator
who along with ninety other Senators
and three hundred and ffty-seyen Repre-
sentatives. Is to make laws for the
whole country?
The autonomy and equal power OF the
States in Congress will be as truly pre-
served as by the present method For
each state win stil have two Senators
with same term Of service and same
functions as now. and they will more
truly represent the power and sovereignty
Of the state when elected by the people
OF the state than when elected by a
legislature The Governors Of Virginia
during the past decade or more have
been elected by Il majority OF thirty
thousand and over Is it possible that
the dignity Of the senatorial Office would
suffer when supported by a power Ike
that. rather than by bare majority
ont Of one hundred and forty men IN
Richmond? I think rot.
Then too. in legislative elections. trades,
combinations and loe-roline abound.
tending not only 10 thwart the will or
the people but as frequently not truly
rejecting the will Of the members them
selves In popular elections these would
b. almost entirely eliminated. and the
erosser forms Of corruption that are now
charged 10 exist IN nearly every sena-
torial election in the country would be
reduced TO a minimum. I'm nine cases
out Of ten the legislature that elects a
Senator. or more accurately speaking.
the legislature in electing a Senator Is
ruled by a caucus. the caucus Is ruled
bv a ring, the ring SIS ruled by boss.
This boss may be either a person or a
soulless corporatiOn. I'm either case the
result is that the wishes Of the people
are disreearded, and their interests mis-
represented.
In order 10 realize how the condition
OF affairs have chs nged since the earlier
and purer days of the republic. consider
what chance of election would benjamin
Franklin stand before the legislature or
Pennsylvar ia when opposed by Mat
Quay? or which Of the revered found
ers OF the Constitution could carry the
Legislature of New York against rom
Platte or with what hone of success
could the poverty stricken orator fatflck
Henry enter the lists with modern poh-
IDEAL hustler as his competitor?
Inc integrity ca human hftNNAf ''.t' ~
kept pace with the rapid growth OF
wealth. and Increasing power of patron
age. and when these are brought TO
bear upon a small body " men hcrded
together they exert tremendous and
often times a decisive influence. But
they are comparatively impotent for evil
in controlling the individual voters OF a
whole commonwealth. The truth of this
is shown in the lobbyists maxim that ~
IS easier Ia buy a legislature than whole
state
But the crying necessity for a change
I'm the manner Of choosing Senators IS
seen in the frequent deadlocks OF the
preseut day. In mechanics machine
that will not do the work for which II
is designed. is useless; IL is discarded
and something that will attain the de-
sired result is substituted. Owing TO the
fierce rivalry for high Office in these days
many OF the legislatures, after spending
months I'm a daily struggle costing the
tax-pavcrs many thousands Of dollars al
iourn without having done the work al
lotted item by the Constitution. Ihls -
becoming more common throughout Inc
country. and for il there Is absolutely no
existing remedy The state IS not repre-
scented as the Constitution requires ana
tho people pay the expense OF Costly
and unavailing struggle. rms n an cN',