The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-22
BRYAN URGES POPULAR
ELECTION OF SENATORS.
Presents Several Strong Reasons in Support
of Constitutional Amendment,
Points Out the Evils of the Present Plan and the Benefits
Which Would Result From Change

that candidates for public offices are nomi-
mated upon platforms outlining the policies
which Ih" cauli. T. is expected "a support.
II tar public officer wee chosen merely
b'caE~, of li; superior ability. he would not
h. hamr"red by tn" platform. huj is
matter Of fact his opinions upon rrhlic
questions really determine the support he
f"'eiv'S- n. then. the Senator l. the repre-
sentative e the Ic"uie there Is no valid
reason why he should not he the choic. uf
iH" people. n the voters have sufficient ia
t'.lis"u-v. 20 'tUoSs Il President flor they
ro'e for electors pledged Ia th-ir is.vogitc
candidate. meuhers of Congress. ,iov-
'rnors. state legislators. etc. they mus, ue
Trcs' med 10 hay" sufficient Intelligence 10
select United States Senator's
Ilr argument that d senator should be
elected Ia the legislature because h repre-
s"nfs "a state in its corporate capacity has
go force. because the State il nothing bili
the people ~ the State. and /. Senator ron
r'eeiits state in the same sense that a
Governor does.
Secord. Whatever may have been III,
original reason for N. present method u
"l"VfinE senators. new conditions have
made change Imperative. The corpora
lions are NOW rGten, IA their Influence and
can ""utI"! ID action of The Legislatures
much easier tl.aH !Iry can punrla- rla,.-
lions II IS some times argued that partv
conventions would be as Liable TO nominate
urGe Si!ahlt candidates iur the S.raf,. ~
l. Sislatures ate ~ elect them but trer. l.
1n important difference When a cufv.u-
lion dominates an undesirable man. the
people sit III Judgment upon the nomira-
tiDn. anu the fear of rejection at the puUs
acts a. restrain; upon the conv. ntiou
" hen a Legislature elects an undesirable.
man far the Senate there is no aut.al from,
it, decision The corporations do NOT usual
j. ask a legislator 20 go outside of MIS-
party 10 support the corporation candidate
but they usually have their favorite can
Giaate in the dominant party.
Third. the present method Of e,-ctinp Son.
atprS !ntcrfvrcs seriously with Star. ,,fT,.rs
here the state Legislatures Meet .,a,.
two years. two Legislatures out of ,.y.ar,-
three elect u senator and when a ...nato-,.,l
election Is pending, party lines are drawn
ana the candidate capacity for STAT. af-
fairs i often overshsGowed by the ue.,..
sdty ri having party majority IN TN. leg
istitUrc. When the Legislature meets tbn
first business l. the organization AMI ,bn
officers %! the legislature ar. u.,,allv
chosen with reference. to the senatorial car
didstes whom rhry are to support rather
than bcCtus" 81 Ihclf Illness for the .,,s.
ti"ns. II the contes- is prolonged. as i,
often Is. all state business il arreste. y,hiIs
the contest over the senatorial seat wakes
hotter aEo hotter. 1t is difficult "a n,-..r-
the injury done TO stat. a9,,-s
by having a political question Of the frs
magnitude forced upon the State I.s.is-
lature.
Evils of DcadIocIs
Fourth. sometimes the Legislature adj
iourns without election and then the State
has only half Of its senatorial representa-