The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-18

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NJ. Man NJ nominating United States
Senators By primary election Is now ~
vogue In South Carolina. Mlsslss'pP''
I .o,,,s,ana, Florida, Alabama. Arkansas
Virginia kentucky, and Tennessee 'sssse
SIN a modified form Minnesota, WIS
cors,n and Nebraska have also taken
up the direct nomination method ahu
there seems to be no doubt thae 'ho
urinary will more and more sufp'''''.
the legislative caucus as the coht ro'iins
+orco h senate elections" remarks the
New York Tribune.
The Tribune thinks the plan st''ps
tho members OF the State Lesls'atule
~ a power nominal!y conflded 70 theh
by the Constitutions just as the Sa-
tional Convention system denies 70 ING
rvec,oral College the power to choose Il
y,,csidont or Vice President. Inc eng
& attained by the primary 1aea, ~ NV
c,-,,.,;on of the Tribune, "ostenslpig cor
fic,s with the intent and letter OF 'he
Consti,u,ion" but it also observes ttlal
no. nconlo arc becoming more and more
{oalous of their power and less and less
l,clincd TO delegate 1t to lntermcdla-
ries S.nce, therefore, the House OF Hep-
resentativcs has more than once passed
an amendment to the Constitution or
derng the election of Senators by direct
vote, only 10 have it killed IN the Sen
otc the Tribune believes Tho spread of
the primary system of nominating Seha-
tore suggests that the end desired may
be at least partially attained without
actually altering the text OF the Con
sttution."
wo are Indebted to the Charlotte OBJ
server for this summary which adds
by way of comment;
There is every reason to believe that
earnest opposition to an actual c1ahse
in the Constitution, such as that Sug-
rcsted. %lll'"c6ntinuc for some time to
come, but II the primary plan cohl'nt I,
,es TO grow in favor IN the future as ~
has done in the past, 1t Will make llttle
practical difference what the letter Oh
the law Is 1t Is of small account VINO
cnsts the ballots SO long as the people
select the man for whom they arc cas,'
This they now do in many States; and
as the Tribune remarks the system Is
gaining ground and popularity from daS
TO day.
AS the Tribune has !ntimated, 1t Is nc
more n usurpntion of the constitutional
prcrogutivc of q State Legislature &c
select nominees for the Federal Senate
by primary election than 1t Is usurpa-
ton OF tho prerogative of Presidential
electors to nominate candidates IN party
convention. The electors have the con
stitutional right to vote for whom me.
choose, but If they should fail to Vot
for the man whom kieir party ia'
nominated. they would take chances Q
being lynched. One of the Virginia cleo
tors remarked but recently that he vote
for Judge Parker not because he Wante'
10 do so, but because he was compelled
10 do so. quite true, but he had IN
constitutional right to vote as he pleased
The fact Is the people arc greater thai
thn Constitution. and they will evad
1t when they so elect. In many State
they want to vote direct for Senator
and they do It IN spite OF the Consiitu
ton why should we elect all olhe
officers by direct vote and elect Sena
Tors In Congress through the Legsa
ture?
Again. In some of the States the pes
pic would not tolerate the ffteen'
amendment and they found way
eyade 1t, and render it of non-effec
And the highest court in the land HI
declined IN every test case 70 nterfer
The people are greater than the const
tuition,
The fact is the Constitution shou
be 50 changed as TO allow the peor
TO elect their Senators by ballot al
81 the Afteenih amendment should be !
pealea. Far better TO have no law
given eubjeet than 10 have law tn
Is a dead letter.
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