Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-11
ELECTION OF SENATORS.


very soon. Pennsylvania has long been
in favor of the plan-in fact, away back
in 1877 it was one of the two states to de-
clare for the election OF SENATORS by di
rect vote.
The state threw it's whole influence in
favor of the Corless resolution in the
house of representatives, which was
passed by vote of 24O to Is and is now
pending in the senate. and resolutions in
favor of the new plan of electing sena-
tors have now been adopted by the fol-
lowing states: Arkansas, California,
Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, H.
inois, Iowa Kansas. Kentucky, Louis
lana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi,
Montana Nebraska. Nevada, New
Hampshire, North Carolina, North Da-
kota Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania Utah,
Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
At the last session of the legislature of
Pennsylvania, committee appointed to
investigate the status of the matter re-
ported that in all probabili the United
States senate would not take favorable
action upon the resolution adopted by
house until the legislative assemblies of
two-thirds of all the states have declared
in favor of the plan.
This committee reports that all over
the union there is a positive demand that
such a change in the manner of electng
senators as has been outlined be adopted.
The committee further reports:
In addition to these reasons for a
change, there is a widespread and grow
ing feeling in some states that money
end valuable considerations are used to
secure the eletion of members of the
legislature pledged to vote for some par
ticular candidate for senator, and that
offices, or the promises thereof, have also
been used to secure votes in the legisla-
ture for a particular candidate for the
United States senate. All this tends to
demoralize the political life of the ma
ton. to the creation of political machines,
and the destruction of the rights of the
people.
The report further declares that thu.
election and control of members of the
legislature in the interest of certain par
t;cular candidates for the senate has
reached such a pass in most of the states,
fitness to make laws or vote upon the
questions which arise in matters of state
legislation, but solely on account Of
whom they will vote for as United States
senator; that this ought not to be the
case in any legislature, but it has be-
come 90 general it has greatly impaired
The usefulness of many of our state legis-
1,1o ~,
jured the reputation of those states
where such condition of things prevails.
The only argument advanced in favor
OF the present system of electing sena-
tors is that the delegates to a political
convention to nominate senators, would
be exposed to the same forms of bribery
as now prevail in the legislatures of
scme states, says the report The answer
to that proposition is, that when the peo-
pie have the opportunity of voting
against an unworthy candidate who has
used money or offices in order to secure
votes in the convention, such NOM
ination is not an election as in the case
where majority of the joint assembly OF
the legislation have voted in favor of 6
particular candidate, but merely nom
ination to be ratified or defeated by the
people at the polls. In any event, it would
seem as if the time had come for thu
state legislatures of the people, to pas
Upon the question as to whether United
States senators should be elected b.
popular vote, and that it should no longe
lie shelved or defeated by the Unite,
States senate. Continuing, the repor
says:
For the reasons above adduced and 70
others which could be offered in supper
Of the general proposition that the tim
his come for the election of United State
senators in each state by popular vote
or at least to allow the people of eac
state to determine whether their repre-
scntatives in the United States senat
shall be elected by direct popular vote G
" the legislature as at present, you
committee would respectfully recon
mend the adoption of the resolution here
to attached requesting congress to ca
convention for the amendment of tt
constitution in accordance with artic
S Of the constitution.
Along with the presentation of Il
report. the following declaration from IL
governor of Pennsylvania was consit
cred:
am in entire sympathy and hearth
approve the proposition to 80 amend Il
federal constitution as to permit the ele
ton Of United States senators by a dire
:-ute of the people, in the same mann
as state officials are now elected. Cal
GGates fer the legislature are now t,
ls.en selected by reason of their SUI
.oSed friendship or opposition to Son
candidate for the United States senat
.-aeir qualifications to properly legisla
+ r the districts which they represe