The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-12
COL. QUINN NAMES
THE WINNING MAN

For more than generation there has
been a growing dissatisfaction with the
method OF electing United States SEN
ators, and during the past ten years this
feeling has become acute.
Already the legislatures OF thirty-one
states have passed resolutions calling
upon the national congress 10 submit an
amendment 10 the federal constitution
providing for the election OF senators by
direct vote OF the people. The national
house OF representatives has five times
passed similar resolutions. and each time
these have been killed in the senate
THE asitatian for a change In the
method OF electing United States SEN
ators Is based upon the belief that that
body has ceased TO be representative Of
the best thought and best interests OF
the country-that, as a law making body
its pulse has ceased TO beat I'm unison
with public sentiment.
I'm a word the American people In
some measure have come to suspect and
to doubt the integrity. and even tho
patriotism Of our highest legislative body;
and IL Is no answer to all this 10 aver
that the people are unduly alarmed and
that certain word pictures OF the United
States senate are overdrawn
THE fact is-and II Is a lamentable
fact-that the majority OF the electors Of
this country today believe that there Is
something wrong with the United States
senate; and. whether or not there is good
foundation for such belief. the only safe
thing 10 do Is to remove the cause of this
suspicion and to restore public confidence
I'm the senate.
How best can this be done? The al
most unanimous verdict Is that IL must
be done by change In the method of
electlng United States senators Until
such time as tho senators themselves
shall consent TO submit an amendment
TO the constitution thA; sill bring this
about, II will be the duty OF party or
ganizatlons TO come as near to the primary
method OF choosing senators as is possi-
bic under existing laws
I'm that portion OF this country where a
nomination by the Democratic party Is
equivalent to an election. candidates for
the United States senate are named by
the electors at primary meetings after
canvass OF tho state and n discussion OF
the fSsues IF the merits ef candidates In
this way, the senator's elected from the
southern states unually represent the
wishes and the votes of a majority OF their
constituents
For the first time in the history OF this
state, II Is proposed by the Democratic
party To follow this method of selecting
candidate. This state Is represented to-
day by one man who, perhaps to a greater
degree than any other man I'm public life,
is regarded as the mouthpiece and de-
fender OF certain special interests, and by
another man who apparently represents
little but his own pastirne and pleasure.
| 1T Is proposed by that element OF the
Republican party In Rhode Island which
has financed the last few machine cam
! paigns to supplant our senator OF leisure
| with man who has all, at least OF the
Objectionable features OF our senior soma
tor. IL this man should be chosen 10 join
| Senator Aldrich his election would in
deed be a case OF out-Heroding Herod.
what Is the duty OF the Democratic
party OF Rhode Island in this situation?
There are thousands OF voters In this
state who claim not TO he in sympathy
with our present representation In the
senate, nor with the arbitrary and unre-
publican manner In which those represen-
tatives are selected by the Boss and his
lieutenants; and there are additional thou.
sands who claim to be dissatisfied with
and tired OF the political conditions that
prevail locally In our state.
''Yet. these men. nominally Republicans,
have withheld their support from our
party in senatorial years upon the plea
that Il has refused TO give any intlmation
as TO what manner OF man cur party
would select II II were intrusted by the
people with the necessary control OF the
state legislature.
'It Is now proposed by the Democratic
party OF this state to test the sincerity OF
these thousands of voters, and at the
same time to place our organization in
the position OF being willing TO show it's
hand. ready TO name its man before our
assembly candidates are nominated
ready I'm n word, TO do all that any hon
est clean and patriotic body OF Rhode
tsfurdcrs cam do tt-reseHe- tfeiE- state
The Democratic party, assisted by
those who agree with II that there should
be a change, purposes 10 do this by nom
mating at this convention the man whom
II will elect TO the United States senate In
the event OF it's being In control OF the
| grand committee.
Criticism has been offered OF the pro-
posed plan to nominate other than a
| straight party Democrat. Some OF this
| criticism has been honest and sincere. and
| from the mouths OF men OF undues tlonable
Democracy; but most Of 1t has come from
"A pretty safe rule OF the Democratic
| party OF Rhode Island TO follow Is to do
| the thing opposite TO that which - ad-
vised by those whose chief object for the
past Ave years has been the disruption OF
our organization.
"If the personal reference may he par
doned. ] Yield to no man In this conven-
| ton In my loyalty to Democratic princi-
| pies; but the best type Of Democrat today
Is he who recognizes true democracy un-
DER NnAteNor FORM IL may appear. There
| arc men In the United States senate bear
ing our party name whose Democracy
| consists only I'm the title; and there are
men in that body bearing the name Re
| publican who are as Democratic I'm prin-
ciple and In action as any member OF this
| convention.
Shall II he said Of the Democratic par
| ~ OF Rhode Island that IL refused 10 rec
| ognize public worth and private character
because they did not bear its party label
Whatever difference Of opinion there
| may be between delegates TO this conven-
| tion aE TO who should be nominated. there
| Will be no hesitation or doubt I'm the mind
| OF any honest Democrat when AZ comes to
a choice between the nominee OF this con-
vention and the man who will be named
| by our opponents.
III have arisen, Mr.. Chairman. TO present
to this convention the name OF "A man
who II big enough and broad enough. and
loyal enough. 10 disregard party lines To
place country above party-a man who Is
willing 10 Join VS. I'm this fight for better
things I'm and for Rhode Island. and who
Is willing TO fight under our banner.
"He does not make ~ n condition OF his
acceptance that ma shall forego our -parlY