Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-03-01
IN The Method OF ELECTING
united STATES SENATORS.
A Constitutional Convention Sua-
geSted for That Purpose. The
Present Method is Regarded as
Faulty by all but Those who OC.
Cupy Seats in the Senate.

Inc question OF the popular election O
United States senators is before the Iowa
legislature. A resolution was introduced
asking the governor Of Iowa to write the
governors OF other states to name repre.
sentatives to an interstate conference
looking to joint action on the part of the
states to secure the calling of a constitu.
tional convention which shall submit an
amendment for the direct election of
senators. The two.thirds vote in con.
gress necessary for the submission ol
such an amendment can not be obtained
but the legislatures OF twO.thirds of the
states may call convention for proposed
amendments, and if these amendments
are ratified by three.fourths of the states
they become part of the consti, tuition.
The Chicago Tribune expresses doubts
as to the advisability of constitutional
convention. The Tribune thinks that
the delegates to such convention will
not be. inclined to confne themselv to
the single subject OF the method of elect
ing senators. The Tribune suggests a
way in which it thinks "a state NAV have
"more of voice" in the election of sena.
tors. 1t says:
at is in the power Of the Iowa legis.
lature to pass law providing for the ex.
preston of senatorial preferences at the
primaries. If any considerable number
of voters attend the primaries and ex.
press OF preference the legislature will
act in accordance with it, though not
legally bound to do so. That will be the
nearest possible approach to direct
election OF senator's. Such law can be
enacted this year, while it may require
many years to get constitutional cor .
vention."
The Tribune's plan has been tried and
eas not always worked successfully, saws
Bryan's Commoner. There is on the
Nebraska statute books similar plan.
The Nebraska law provides that at the
general election voters may express their
preference for United States senator by
writing the name of their favorite on the
ballot. The legislature is not bound to
follow these preferences and, in truth
has never needed them even when a
considerable number of votes were cast
for a particular candidate. AS a rule
comparatively few OF the voters take the
trouble to express a preference.
1t is difficult to understand why the
Tribune says that this plan lis the near
est possible approach to direct election
OF senator's" 1t is plain that the people
favor this reform. True, they can not
secure the consent OF congress, as at
present constituted, but sooner or later
this reform will be accomplished. The
constitutional convention seems to be
practical, although there may be some
difficulty just at this time TO persuade
two-'hirds OF the states to call the pro.
posed convention. 1t is to be hoped
however, that the lowe legislature will
adopt the resolution and that the pro.
posed conference will be held. That will
provide means for testing the senti-
ment.
The present method OF electing sena.
tors is doomed. To bring about a re.
form will require time. but the senate
will yet be made responsive to the pub.
lie will, and the only way to bring about
that desirable result is to make the sen.
ators dependent for election upon the
vote OF the people.