The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-02-19
Where The Constitution Long Since
Led.


There are many expressions which
furnish a kind of rabbit foot luck to
those who use them, and among them
must be placed this: Triumph follows
where Georgia leads"
Last Thursday the disclosure was
| made before q senatorial investigating
committee in washington that Mon
tana judge had been offered 100000
for legal work in the Clark senatorial
contest. The fact that legislative cor
ruption had reached the point where
the courts were drawn into the yor-
tex as well as legislators, emphasizes
the necessity of changing the election
of senators from the legislatures to the
people All over the union the de-
mand for popular election is growing.
and it is likely that before long the
old method of electing United States
senator's will have been abandoned in
favor of a new and better method.
And fight here it is that Georgias
lead will be followed Without wait
ing for the slow operation of law, but
acting upon the emergency. Georgia
has developed political reform far in
advance of the other states of the union
and stands ready to furnish models for
all who may need them.
In this work The Constitution has
taken that leading position to which
its prestige entitled it. Our readers
can remember the day when the nom
ination of n governor was manipulate
ed from county to county in the inter-
ests of men who happened TO have con-
troll of the state committee. A period
of several months would be required TO
cover this time of county action, and
in order to influence the majority, the
strongholds of the favored candidates
fired off their shots during the first
few days. Having created an i'm
preston, the enliading went on, until
the effort to reach the popular Will had
proven itself to be farce. II was at
this point that The Constitution pro-
tested with such strength and vehem-
ence as to compel attention. The peo-
pie were aroused against the manipu-
lations of machine politics and the lit
tie mass meeting system was forced
to give way TO the primary held stimuli
taneously throughout the state. in
which all candidates were placed
upon an equal footing, and in which
the people exercised their inalienable
right
Having thus successfully led the
way against bOssism and manipulation,
The Constitution called for the ap-
plication of the same principle to other
elections. and especially to that fO@
United States senator. This cah
found its response in the senatorial
campaign Of Hon. Charles f. Crisp,
one Of Georgia's greatest sons.
The history of that campaign cannot
be forgotten. The Constitution led the
fight for a vote by the people. Mr..
Crisp went before the people; but rely
ing upon Georgia Hearts, he won his
way. and so completely whipped the
fight that the field was abandoned 10
him.
Thus was established forever in
Georgia the right OF the people to Sc
lect their own officers.
The Constitution regards these two
victories in behalf of the people and
against manipulation as the greatest
and the brightest feather in its cap.
Now that the right OF the people IS
so universally conceded, The Constl-
tuition congratulates them upon their
good luck, and offers the example OF
Georgia to other states.
The next senator from Georgia Will
be chosen at the ballot box by the peo-
pIe. and in that action The Constitution
long since led the way.