The L'Anse sentinel., 1905-07-29

the general assembly and operate II
through their chosen clique.
The subservient members know this,
but they also know that any attempts
on their part to assert their independ-
ence and attempt to take away con-
troll from the dominant clique would
bring upon them the effective displeas-
ure of their local bosses. So they per-
nit the few to run" the house; TO
work 1S hours a day while they loaf
around, willing to work. but having no
opportunity offered This enforced
leisure, as have pointed out, carries
its curse with 1t.
Perhaps the most welcome sound 1
ever heard was the crash of my gavei
which adjourned sine die the last gen.
eral assembly of which was mem
ber. I had served in the house half
a dozen terms, and had been speaker
two of them. AS left the statehouse
that last day fellow member said to
me:
"Will you come back next term?"
mo" replied. II want little
time before die to find my old belief
that most men are decent"
When l first came to the legislature
l had large confidence in mankind.
entertained the opinion that the world
was always getting better. / ended
my legislative career almost con-
firmed cynic. That was few years
ago. Since then things have hap
pened. There are indications every
where that point to changed condi-
tions and new moral forces in legisla-
lures. Boodling Is not so popular as
1t was once. because the ordinary citi-
zen is learning how to pick out
boodler and what to do with him when
he is discovered.
But the most encouraging indication
of practical legislative reform Is the
growth of public opinion in regard to
the election, of United States senator's
by popular vote. When the duty OF
olocting national senators is taken
from the legislature there then will
la no rightful claims that members of
general assembly must be elected by
party votes. Then state legislature
will be entirely local body. having
ernment.D 1t will be to the state what
common council or board of alder
men Is to city. and it's members can
be elected without regard to their po-
litical creeds.
This separation of national politics
from state affairs will do much to for
ward the ron-partisan election of
members OF a legislature. and when
the day comes that independents and
nonpartisan organizations send ma
jority Of Independents to the state cap
itol the great nonpartisan organiza-
ton of graft and Doodle will hurriedly
dissolve
But SO long as the legislature elects
United States senator's. the members
OF the general assembly should be
elected as republicans or democrats.
Only few weeks ago a United
States senator said to me:
1T will be many years before we are
elected by popular vote. 1t will take
long time tc work TIP public senti-
ment to the point where the national
congress will be compelled to take ac-
tion which will result in taking the
election of senator's from the general
assemblies of the state. very much
doubt IL there ever will be any change
from the present method of electing
senator's. You see. every year this
movement for independent or nom.
partisan action in the election Of city
and county officials is growing strong
er. 1t will rot be so very long before
this movement will threaten the pres
ent method OF nominating and elect
Ing members of state legislatures. But
the same arguments in favor of non
partisan candidates for mayor and al
dermen will not have force when ap-
piled to legislatures. Our general as
semblies elect United States senator's
and we must, fer the safety of the ma
ton. have opposing political parties
represented in the senate and house.
So II Is just as necessary that these
parties be represented as parties in
legislatures-senatorial elections must
lie partisan affairs. not nonpartisan.
Now. until you can get party pride and
partisan politics out of legislatures
you cannot change the present method
of electlng senator's
And yet scme of the smartest roli-
ticians in the country are advocating
popular election CT senator's. and
smart politician is oae who finds out
which way the people are heading and
then cuts across lots to get in front
of the procession to lead It,
Hard Working Newspaper Men.