Gloucester County Democrat., 1900-02-01


in which this law would be the most
salutary are likely to be the states
where the legislature would make the
selection
The senate bill if adopted. would
make it more easy to buy senatorial
position than now 1t would over
come deadlocks. it is true but it is bet
ter to fail to elect than to have sena.
tors who are representatives only OF
aggregated wealth and who are to be
the tools of corporate greed
''1'here are few elections for senator
where there are not charges of bribery
aud eorrupting influence. In many in
stances men are selected for legislators
not because of their qualifications. but
on account of their pledge to vote for
certain candidates for senator. Others
seek and obtain the office as the hire
ling Of candidate for senator that his
vote may be secured in the legislature.
James MadisOn's Views.
Each branch of congress should be
responsible directly to the people. The
more removed the individual is from
this responsibility the less interest he
is likely to manifest in them.
james Madison said when framing
the constitution on this exact PROPOSE
ton:
This great fabric to be raised would
be more stable and durable if it should
rest on the solid foundation of the peo-
pIe.' 1t is unfortunate that his views
were not then accepted"
Mr.. Corliss says: "The object of this
resolution is to place in the hands of
the people of the respective states the
right. if they so elect by constitutional
or legislative enactment, to afford the
people the privilege of expressing by
direct vote their will in the election CT
United States senator
''The chief concern of all good gov
ernments is the welfare and happiness
of the people. and we believe their
welfare and happiness are best secured
and preserved through the powerful
agency of the direct action of the citi-
zen as the sovereign.
Had the people enjoyed the rights
guaranteed by the proposed amend
ment in recent years the election of
senators in the states of Kentucky.
Idaho, Delaware and others and the
disgrace to such states and the humiIi-
alton of the nation by the deplorable
| conduct of the members of such legis-
latures would have been avoided.
"In the election of United States
senators by members of the legislature
corruption cannot well be proved.
'@The fundamental principle of re-
publican form of government is based
upon the idea that they derive their
! Just powers from the consent of the
/ governed
IF the people have the wisdom in
our states to elect our governors and
state officers, if the people have the
wisdom TO elect our state judiciary,
why may they not be permitted TO en-
joy the right Of selecting United States
senator's?
"'Lead us not into temptation says
the Lords Prayer. The constitution
in its present form spreads in the path
way of members of the legislature a
moral temptation through which many
good and true men of merit are forced
to defeat and the glory and honor Of
senatorship snatched from the hands
of the people by corrupt means.
'"Take from the legislature the selec-
ton of the United States senator and
you will destroy one of the most po-
tent powers through which corporate
influence now holds its sway.
''The impression prevails that 1t is
as difficult for poor man to enter the
senate of the United States as for a
rich man to enter the kingdom Of
heaven.
"Give the people the right proposed
by this amendment and you will once
mere restore the United States senate
to the position intended by the fathers
i of our country and remove the intiu-
ence that now threatens the confidence
of the people in this important branch
! of our government.
ConklinE's Prophetic Words.
"Under the present constitution the
| people have no means through which
they can discover, punish and condemn
the corrupt conduct of the members of
the legislatures This would be RENE
| died by the proposed amendment. In
| a state convention of the respective
parties candidates for the senate would
| have to be nominated. and should such
honor be secured by corruption they
| would be condemned by the people on
| fhe day of election.
''The unit of power in the senate. un-
der the constitution. is held by the
state through her two votes, each state
exercising equal Influence and power
without regard to her boundaries or
population. and it was intended by the
trainers Of the constitution and ex-
pressIy provided that vacancies in the
senate should never occur. Yet through
the manipulatiOns of state legislatures
vacancies of recent years have repeat
edly occurred, and at the present time
four vacancies exist-to wit. in Penn
sylvania, California. Delaware and
Utah.
"Under the constitution when vacan-
cies occur it is provided that they shall
be filed temporarily by appointment
by the governor prior to the con
vening of the state legislature and the
election Of a senator at the first session
thereof
'Never in the history of the senate
it can be creditably said. has that body
seated person seeking admission by
appointment from the governor after
the legislature of the state had failed
to elect
"After trial of over 100 years of the
present method of electing United
States senators it has been found the
exception. instead of the rule. that the
states have been Vpon terms of abso-
lutte equality, as intended by the con
stitution. in the United States senate.
"The following prophetic words of
Senator Coukling. in discussing the
right TO till vacancies where the legis
lature fails to elect. ar most applicable
at the present time:
That the governor of state and
his friends. by cabal. intrigue and ma
neuver. may so arrange that the legis
lature will decide not to elect. or would
fail to elect. in order that the governor
might gather to himself the power to
fill the vacancy
with the adoption Of the proposed
amnDdnlnnf fo tht ranSfitiiffon II xyDy4Id