Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-02-07
ELECTED BY TINE PEOPLE.

United States senator's should he
elected by direct vote OF the peo-
pie and several bills to change the
present method Of election have been
offered in the lower house ofcongress.
We believe the plan should be uniform
throughout the states and senators
chosen the same as congressman are
now. The Infamous proceedings in
Montana's legislature last winter
and the attempt Of W. A. Clark 10
retain his seat should disgust every
decent man in Montana and make
him cry out for II change.
Then there Is the Quay case. Re-
pudiated by the better element OF his
own party in Pennsylvania he IL
striving to be seated on the strength
of IN appointment by the governor
OF that state, who IL probably n pill
ant tool. But there are other cases
just as shameful az those cited which
tend to show the growing evil and
danger OF the present OF
electing senators.
1t is true the masses do not always
do the wisest thing. but as a general
proposition the people az a whole
are less likely to be purchased than
the members Of a legislative body,
besides 1t IL impracticable w II a
majority felt disposed to sell them
selves, as detection would be almost
sure to follow. We believe IL is alb
solutely true that certain men be-
came candidates for the legislature
two years ago because they antici-
pated that there would be an oppor-
tunity to make something morethan
their board during their two months
stay ut the capital. And we further
believe that after nominations were
made men were ''seen" and given
financial aid in the campaign on the
promise Of support for certain men
for United States senator when their
votes were needed. The goods"
were bargained for In advance and
had to be delivered when wanted,
though not without ample compen-
sation. This shows a pernlcious and
rotten state OF affairs.
But the remedy is not 80 easily and
quickly obtained. First, a resolution
submitting the amendment must re-
ceive a two-thirds majority OF both
houses OF congress, a difficult matter,
particularly In the senate. Then It
must be ratified by three-fourths Of
the state legislatures. or course the
effort will not be looked upon with
favor among the m~illionaires OF the
senate as they loll indiffcrently upon
their senatorial dlvsns. But there il
a way to reach them. The agitation
should be started at once In every
state in the union and as the terms
OF senator's expire acquisition should
be put before them In a way that
will compel its consideration. II
they do not favor the change, choose
some one that will. In this way
their indifference will be changed to
deep concern.
This il not a Populist idea. Some
Of the most conservative Republican
and Democratic papersi In b ecOuntry
earnestly advocate the change. There
IL no good reason why senator's
should not be elected by the popular
vote Of the states. In some states
the choice Of the party for United
States senator's Is determined by the
state conventions, which shows n
desire TO get the popular expression
as nearly as possible. But this Is not
sufficient protection against bribery
and corruption. 1t Is safe to soy not
one Of the Republicans In the last
Montana Legislature who supported
Clark voted as his constituents de.
sired him or as ne was instructed
Under ordinary circumstances would.
mt it be the chief aim Of n represen-
tative to ascertain the will OF his
people and then bow to- II? But the
circumstances were extraordinary In
the last Legislature. Every primary
and every county convention should
adopt n resolution demanding the
election OF United States senator's by
direct vote OF the people, to the end
that d~ead-locks, bribe- givers and
brlbc-takers may not thwart the will
Of the people and at the same time
enable legislators to give some oi
their time to the affairs of the state,