The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-05-01

1t Is a common thing to see the SEN
ate held up to obloquy and contempt
as being subservient instrument of
trusts and monopolies. One reads in
the newspapers and magazines the
most bitter denunciations of the SEN
ate as a body because of its supposed
subservience to the moneyed inter
ests. When first came to Washing
ton / shared in the fullest degree this
feeling: but have come to believe
after eleven years service in the SEN
ate that there are really few corrupt
men in it. The vice of environment in
Washington is not so much that of
plutocracy as it is that of party sub
serviency. Ii there is corruption in
the government (and | do not pre-
tend to dispute this), ii is not due to
the corruption of individual men near
ly so much as it is to the corruption
of the party to which those men be-
long, and if we look for the real cause
of the popular clamor against the SEN
ate we will find this to be the cause.
The newspapers of the country, con-
trolled in a great degree by the pluto
cratic influences which dominate the
party in power, have been seeking to
break down and destroy the respect
of the people for the senate, for the
sole purpose of Kidding themselves OF
the last forum of freedom in this coun-
try. The most strenuous effort has
been made to compel the senate to
change it's rules, to adopt the methods
of the house. and "to do business" to
use the current phrase. by passing
legislation demanded without discus
sion and the freest debate. The pur-
LDt, "a -NA t1,n rN1n
knowing just what is being done by
their representatives in Washington.
The house. as | have already said. is
gagged-of its own free will and ac-
cord, of course--and the attacks on
the senate have had the same object
in view: to compel it to shut off de-
bate and thus leave the country with
out any forum in which the great Ques-
tions at issue can be discussed.
1t is not going too far to say that
the moneyed classes who have amass-
ed such immense fortunes have in a
large measure seized on the metrOpo-
Titan newspapers, and the news of the
country is suppressed or colored to
suit the purposes of these same in
terests. The news agencies and press
associations are equally under this in
uuSuCS, 81 tAdl iutlC ID ouly ouC
medium through which correct in
formation as to what is going on at
Washington can be obtained, and that
is "The Congressional Record" Many
newspapers; of course, maintain their
individual correspondents in Washing
ton, and these send truthful accounts
of what they see and hear; but the
bulk of the news which the people
are allowed to read is that which is
calculated to do the least harm to the
interests which are in control.
The "MOSt August Tribunal"
1t is common expression to hear
the United States senate described as
the most august deliberative tribunal
in the world; and to a student of his
tory and governmental affairs these
words are in no sense an eXaggera
ton. 1t is equally common to hear the
senate abused in the most vitupera-
tive manner and it's members charged
with being the tools and agents OF
trusts and monopolies The power of
the senate is very great, and this be-
ing true it carries with it great re-
sponsibilitieS. The senate represents
the states, two members for each
state, regardless of territory, popula-
sation, or wealth. The ninety senator's
representing the forty-five states ex-
ercise, commanding influence on all
,sgoyernmental affairs.
ssButssthere are great inequalities
& New .Yogk, with population OF seven
million two hundred and sixty-eight
tJthousanhA and with wealth almost be-
yond computation, has only two sena-
tOrS,H While. Nevada admitted to the
union in 1864. although it is two and
one-fourth times as large in territory
as New York. has only forty-two thou
sand three hundred population, and
yet has two senator's. 1t is a remark
liable fact that Nevada has fewer people
now than when at was made state
fifty years Hgp. .a'hen Rhode Island
with atWdye hundred and fifty square
miles of territory. also has two SEN