Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14

can reap a harvest in gold. PATRIOTISM !
is nothing to them. The common people |
are anarchists and the poor have no right |
to ask for bread. Fair legislation by con- |
gress is inimical to their interests. They |
must have special favors and privileges
or they cannot gain their unjustifiable am
billions. The house of representatives.
being responsible to the people direct and
therefore close to their common. interests
cannot be easily reached by these human
vampires. Thus they seek that honored
body. the senate, and there perform their
soulless work
These special interests or commercial
dragons, with their wealth, invade the
legislatures of the state, and through the
use of their ill-gotten gain and the COM
mission of the most shameful crime, de-
bauch the members and succeed in having
their servant or agent (often called
great corporation lawyer elected TO the
honorable position Of a United States SEN
ator.
If perchance these special interests are
unable to control the election of senator,
they are often able TO defeat the election
of any candidate. Thus the state is de-
prived of its constitutional representation
in the senate. BY this power they often
compel compromise and by the aid of
their unlimited power foist onto the state
unworthy men.
The state of Nebraska has suffered as
much as any state In the union by such
practice. 1t is needless to specify the sena-
tors. 1t is safe to say that Nebraska has
produced few members of the upper house
In the last few years worthy of the name
of senator. Nebraska has the men, but the
commercial interests do not want men.
They want agents. BY reason of this un-
fortunate condition the senate of the United
States is today nothing more or less than
the hired man of the commercial power.
Thus the injury to the people is twofold.
The laws enacted by congress will not
afford protection to the masses. The senate
must not dlsobey it's master. No law can
be enacted which will afford any permanent
relief to the people IL such law is obnoxious
to the ambition of the special interest. 1t
may be true that the senate may be COM
PEELED by popular acclaim, as 1t is today, to
| exact some remedial legislation. But de-
pend upon 1t, such relief will be only tenn
porary. The senate under present organiza-
ton will not destroy its creators The Po-
| ltical Boss may retire for the moment, but
he will rise again when the public wrath
subsidies. The present system and the COM
merclal lust create and maintain him. One
cannot live without the other.
IT, perchance, a good law is enacted, the
senate through its constitutional rights,
selects incompetent and unfit public officers
to enforce the law Therefore IL a law be
enacted which may afford relief TO the peo-
| pie, the special interest through his crea-
ture, the incompetent official, will prevent
its enforcement. The people of Nebraska
need no special reference to prove this
statement. so 1t matters little whether the
law be enacted or not, the result is the
same. The created win not often defy the
creator.
| 1t must be concluded that II the foregoing
is true that there is something radically
wrong with our system of electing United
States senators. We readily see that every
reason advanced by the constitutional
fathers for the creation of a senate is now
being thwarted. That instead of the sen
ate being a protector and balancing power
of the nation, 1t really has become q
menace to our welfare. The trusteeshiI
has been forgotten. The senators are act
ing for other interests than the public wei
fare. They act for the people who create
them. The right of equal representation Il
each state has been denied and one funda
mental principle of the constitution ha.
been recklessly disregarded. The remed,
is not in doing away with the senate. Thu
senate is of use to the country. 1t must
however, return to the purpose for which
1t was created. The election of senator
must be taken away from the legislatures
of the states. The senate must be mad
directly responsible to the people. It mus
be removed from the influences whicl
dominate and control 1t. The people mus
have their rights restored to them. TIL
system is wrong now and no relief cal
come from It, The commercial interes
cannot control the people as against thei
own welfare. legislature may be cor
rupted, but the state cannot.
1 do not believe that our government
can prosper II we perpetuate a system
which deprives the people of their inheri
rights of government BY suffering sue
injustice the common people will lose thei
love for our government. and factions wi
arise which will eventually destroy tn
government.
Change the method of selecting the sen
ate and We will go back to our old-tim
prosperity, Combinations In restraint @
: trade will cease. Legislation will b
3 enacted which will benefit the peopl,
Outrageous graft and plumber will b
! checked. The senate will return to II
3 time-honored place. Political bosses wi
4 lose their occupation and the people wi
. come into their own.
believe that In this one problem lies tn
! solution of our whole economic question.
e Make the senate an honest legislatiy
body, which II would be II the peopl
: elected II, and the commercial craze woul
d die. Business would resume its naturs
I course. The small business man, an
tradesman would be protected by legisls
: ton, not thwarted.
Z Elect senators by the people, and no stat
$ will be deprived of its equal representatio
It in congress.
h Elect senators by the people and men {
I character and ability will seek the office
n Elect senators by the people and we wi
|. have the same brilliant senate as of Ion
d ago.
e Elect senators by the people and we wi
e have better government officials
e Eject senators by the people and sa,
: the legislature from corruption
10 I believe the time lie not far distant whe
e again the states will be called upon
ratify the sixteenth amendment TO O,
: national constitution.
n Every other amendment has proven
'r fertilization and strengthened the liberti
E of our people, and this. In my judgmeu