The evening times., 1900-04-14
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
SATURDAY. APRIL IA, 1900.
Senators ny Popular Election.

b. the significant vote of two hundred
and forty-two to fifteen. the House Of Rep
resentatives yesterday adopted a joint
resolution proposing submission to the
State Legislatures OF a constitutional
amendment providing for the election OF
United States Senators by a direct vote OF
the people. The revolutionary character
OF this action Is illustrated in the fact that
the resolution as adopted was on reported
by a minority Of the committee, as a sub
stitute for a resolution recommended by
the majority. which proposed 10 make It
optional with individual States whether
they should elect their Senator Oy popu-
lar or legislative means.
This is the third time the House has
passed a resolution Of the kind Twice the
Senate hes failed to act, and so defeated
the purpose for the time being. Perhaps
Il is less likely than formerly to repeat
the performance. All national legislators
and public men generally know that there
is an almost universal and determined de-
mand on the part Of the American masses
that the evils and abuses Of Senatorial
elections by Legislatures shall be pre-
vented in future. by popularizing the
choice Of Senators. That sentiment has
been steadily growing for years.
Advocates OF the old system assert that
TO confer the privilege of naming Senator's
upon the whole constituency they are TO
represent will not cure the vice Of the
existing method. They say that it would
make the tcga a prize to be fought FOR in
conventions. and bring honorable aspi-
rants under the thumb Of the party boss
and his machine, in advance. It is even
held that it might be found easier and
cheaper 90 buy delegates TO a nominating
convention than TO purchase a Legislature.
II We were to admit these contentious. We
should still say that the change ought TO
be tried. In practice the present system
hns been found so utterly and hoUelessly
rotten that nothing in the nature Of sub
sttute could possibly be worse. and a
great majority OF the people are quite viii
ling to take the chances of an improve
ment
As matters stand there is anything rath-
ct than a free and unbiased choice OF
Senators in most Of our States. Where
the conditions do not favor the direct
method Of purchase and sale OF votes. il
comes to much the same thing as far as
the public interest is concerned. The rail-
way and industrial monopolies with their
organized financial allies. are usually able
to pack the Legislature with their crea-
lures. to a sufficient extent 20 dominate
Senatorial elections with the aid Of the
party machine. The consequence is that
there are altogether too mlny men in
the National Senate who. owing their
seats to trusts and monopolies, and Gepen-
dent upon them for future hCnors and IA
yors. are bound to do their bidding in all
matters Of legislation. and nOtOriously do
IT, There have been but few Senators open
TO the suspicion Of having bought their
elections by means OF criminal bribery
II the people of the States are allowed 10
choose their Senators. the power to regu-
late details and to provide against corrup-
tion anu fraud in the operation will be in
their hands. and may be applied. which is
no. now the case. The Senate would be
assuming a dangerous responsibility in
again defeating the popular will.