The St. Louis Republic., 1906-01-02

esee1eout 4skD H. 8oyne% Voo0 The Senate st1u
denus. and tAus Invite Disaster apoe ieself:
Cesninly tie csocested eRsst would Be worth
putting to tie trial Howevef. II = to he iageni.
oas ssssapts - eject popular centzol q Senatorial
elections by schemes for controlling the Iegsaturss
choice rather than by Eecousse to amendment that
Mr.. Haynes gives his principal attention: and his
elaborate treatnent a ths subject and collation. a
experiments il eonssitusio.al Inv anil csssom give
his article high value and importance.
After discussing an Of the devices ef The State
whtch have experimental toward the control Of
legislatures. Mr. Haynes gives his approval to q
suggested plaa to vote upon Senatorial candidates
in direct primaries. and print upon the otscial
allot st the general ssate election the names Of all
candidates who receive . certain number Of votes
'say 1000 or 50o In the primaries: ami 10 let the
result Of the general election constitute . popular
instruction to jhe Legislature To choose frUm them
. Senator hy the Australian ballot. each member
to vote on the first ballot for three the list and
On the second for one-"r two the case may he
out Of the three highest - determined by the first
haliot. Among the benefits to TX. expected from
such an elective proccss he submits worthy canili
dates would tend 10 MULTIPLY AMI the choice would
no longer te . choice Of two evils This scheme
has been criticised academic Yet it has much
I" commend II f"r practical experiment The con.
s;:tuoaali'y Of limiting the Legislatures range Of
choice {" the candidates srnt mp hy the people may
te que>iicnet: hut. says Mr.. Haynes even II such
Limitation were not riglly enforced the list OF
nominees with such backing c"ahl fail to have
u large measure Of influence
Commenting upon the tendency toward porula-
control Of Senatorial eerfions he declares: While.
the form Of election ny the Legislature IL retained
its spirit has been radically changed In No State
the Union 7
proceed TO the election of Senator with that en-.
ishtenesl Independence. that freedom If individual
discretion In the choice. from which the Fathers m.
ticiIntcd such benciicent results. Everywhere the
legislators approach the task under the domination
Of party. ansl IN every State where one wcllslis
"p'ned party is in power the result of election
y certainty even before the Legislature con.
vener Not only has party spirit claimed this esec
ton for Its "wn hut the party's choice for Senator
Is often made before the members of the Jhpsisla.
'ur~ are elected and is cisruded upon that body
by tho State Convention. . Everywhere the
movement. for the direct primary rs gaining ground.
Ansl he concludes by remarkine that unless the
Ecna'e can speedily give some evidence Of rexponsi
'hl'y Z" public opinion the century will ssm
le young wien the people. tired of trcache IN the
part "f their representatives. will aside the e.
.abshed mode Of election.
1t may r.. added that the present Senate n n
persists IN dcfynS the insstence of the public up-
IN great measures for control Of the railroals re-
vision Of the tariff. and cirhns Of private nonc-
li's. will s2naliy influence the nation toward the
radical constitutional change which the time. ar
defining. The issae between the people and the
E"wers represented in the n,achinemade and sele
Senate was never more acute. and . |
f"fai failure ~ reform legislation which I. morn
man likelihood. Judged by present Indications.
'ii not i"rhah!v Precipita;" the question Of Sena
"a' election vitality int" public discussion and the
forum of politics.