Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-28
SENATORS BY PRIMARY.

st. Louis Globe Democrat. many
members of the United States senate
are now chosen practically by popu.
lar vote that the system Is likely to
apply to the majority in the course Of
a few years. The people seem to
have decided that the object aimed at
can be accomplished without the
amendment Of the constitution, which
Is matter Of great delay and diff
Guilty. AS the constitution stands legis-
latures must continue to elect senat-
ors, but they can be SO distinctly In
structed by popular primaries that
their action will merely register the
declared will Of the whole body of vot-
ers In state. BY similar method
the people themselves elect a presi-
dent, the electors acting under the
unwritten pledge that has never been
violated.
At the recent republican primary in
Illinois Senator Cullom received ma.
jority, and will be reelected If the leg.
islature is republican. Oregon holds
senatorial primaries and then submits
the question at the regular state elec-
ton, a method which virtually places
the whole matter directly in the hands
III.
convention has declared in favor OF
this plan. In Idaho the party conven.
tions nominate senators, but this Ia a
long remove from popular decision,
The primary system has made consid-
cradle advance in Wisconsin and Min.
nesota.
BY long odds the south has taken
the lead in senatorial primaries, and
lsa16
this year by the ballots of the people.
In Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisi-
ana, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee and
Kentucky the question of senatorships
is thus decided. A further step will
be taken in Alabama. Both senators
in That state are over 80 years of age,
and, with their approval, candidates
for the senate will be named at the
polls to take their places in case Of
death or disability. In filing vacan.
cy the governor or legislature will bo
! instructed In advance and have moth.
| ing more to do than send in the alter
nate name already selected by popular
ballot. 1t is true that governors and
| legislatures could override primaries
| of this nature, but it would be political
and personal ruin to commit what
would be called base betrayal. Gov.
errors and legislatures who oppose
the primary system with senators or
other representatives should say so
when candidates themselves, and SO
deal in the open with the voters To
whom they owe their own positions.
The agitation for the election Of sen.
ators by the people is going on in ev-
cry state, and the method, by a side
road, is making rapid progress. Elec.
ton by legislatures has miscarried 80
! frequently that it stands condemned in
the general judgment Sometimes
long deadlocks are produced, and there
are instances, as in Delaware, in
which state has long been deprived
Of Representations In the present Mis-.
souri, legislature. in which the repuh.
licans have majority on joint ballot
there was senatorial complication
that gave the party great concern, and
that reached a settlement only in the
last moments Of the session. 1t was so
grave that the majority expected to
control the election, and so override a
legitimate majority as well as ma
jority of the people. Senators elected
by popular vote might be unsatisfac-
4 tory, put in that case the faulty choice
would rest with the peoples Judgment.
and the same tribunal could correct
lit.