The Irish standard., 1903-03-07
ELECTION OF U. S. SENATORS.

For several years there has been Il
popular demand for the election Of
United States senators by Il direct
vote of the people as in the case OF
congressman. 1t is IL notorious fact
that some state legislatures have been
corrupted by wealthy men seeking
seats in the upper house ut Washing
ton, and that several men now making
laws in that house secured their seats
by the use OF money. Some of the
members of the Senate are million
aires who care nothing for the paltry
salary of $1,000 Il year and care less
for the interests of the country at
large. They have axes of their own
to grind and try to influence legisla-
ton for their own personal welfare or
for the benefit of certain corpora tons
whose representatives they are.
Among them may be mentioned Mark
Hanna and Clauncey Depew. Such
men are the champions Of trusts and
special interests and they are selected
by the state legislators who are their
servile tools. Men of marked ability
and honesty who are interested in the
public welfare are rejected in favor
of plutocrats and their agents. A
poor man has but a slim chance of
ever going to the Senate under the
present system of election. a radical
change is necessary for the public
good.
The election of senators by popular
vote is not party question, for it is
advocated by men of all parties who
have watched the proceedings Of the
American barOns in late years. The
lower house is in favor of Il change
and several of the senators them
selves, including Hon. Moses f..
Clapp Of Minnesota, have expressed Il
preference for the election by direct
vote of the people. The majority Of
the senators, however, are naturally
opposed to Il change, and that fact
jecting the legislative method. AS
things now are these big fellows are
responsible to nobody, and hence they
do as they please. They ignore the
demands of the people for necessary
legislation and are more naughty than
the hereditary legislators of Great
Britain who have frequently been in
Inundated by public clamor to pass the
bills of the lower house. The Senate
of the United States, as now con-
stituted, cares nothing for the house of
representatives whose members are
elected by the people.
Behold the manner in which sena-
tors have whitfield away time in the
session just closed. \ lot of valuable
time has been spent in discussing the
admission of three territories to state
hood. Both American parties in ma
tional conventions have favored the
admission of these territories into the
union Of states, and yet the Republic
can senators will not carry out the
pledges of their own party. They put
themselves above party, because they
are independent of the people for the
seats they occupy in the baronial
chamber
The time is ripe for action OH this
important matter. Many of the state
legislatures are yet in session and be-
fore adjournment they ought to pass
resolutions for the election of sena-
tors by the people. Some legislatures
have already done so, such as those of
Minnesota. Kentucky, Oregon. North
Dakota. Montana. Kansas, Missouri
Nevada. California. A resolution is
pending in the legislatures of other
states. and before their adjournment
they may recommend the election of
senators by direct vote. 1t is necessary
for two-thirds of the state legislatures
to do so in order to call a constitution
al convention if the senate remains
recalcitrant and pays no heed to the
wishes of the American people in this
important matter of providing for the
election of senators in the manner in
dicated Some twenty-nine states
have already declared in favor of cleo