Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-14
ELECTION OF u. s. SENATORS
Expected That by 1909 One Hnlf OF
Them VIII he Chosen by Primary
Method.


elected by the people are only handful
in the present Congress. There will be
notable recruits after March 4. At the
rate Legislatures are working on
primary problems this winter there will
be more recruits among the class of
senator's who in 1863 march up to the
presiding officers desk to take the oath.
1t is quite probable majority Of the
United States Senate beginning with
the next administration. will be pro-
ducts of tie direct primary-the near
est possible approach, as its advocates
boast, TO pure democracy.
Hardly a northerner in the Senate can
yet claim to be of that pure democracy
class. Senator Lar ilettc, head and
front of the Statewide primary move
ment in Wisconsin, was not designated
by primary. His successor and his
colleagues successor will be. but the
Wisconsin primary law. perhaps as ef-
fectivc as any yet adopted. unless it be
the oregon law, did not go into full
operation till last year.
The late Senator Russell A. Alger of
Michigan was nominated by his party in
state convention, but William Alden
Smith, who takes his seat was not.
Senator Burrows of Michigan was once
given a convention nomination for the
purpose OF guiding the Legislature how
20 vote. So were Senator Burkett OF
Nebraska and Senator Nelson of Min
nesota. Those were by no means pri-
mary nominations, however. which as
far as senators are concerned, have been
confined largely to the South.
In the Senate of the next Congress
Jonathan Bourne of oregon will stand
forth as the eXcmnlar to many minds
of the most perfect senatorial primary
in the country. Shelby Cullom Of I'LL
nois will be sworn in for his fifth term
of six years-a primary designated sem
ator. All other new term men--saving
q convention nominated senator or two
whose names were designated to their
respective I.eglslatu lures by popular vote
are democrats and hail from southern
States.
But several western States are act
ing The Kansas Legislature is brood
ing over primary law. which will in
clude primary for senator Washing
ton State is about to legislate, both
party conventions having Endorsed the
idea Governor Cummins expects to
get a senatorial primary enactment
from the Iowa Legislature now IN ses
sion
1t is said here that both the Dakotas
will have such a law before spring,
and will vote for senator's in 1908 to
succeed Kittredge and 1fansbrough.
Idaho, too, is trying to get a senator
| ial primary. Minnesota, where mem
bers of the national House have been
nominated by primary in the past three
congressional campaigns, may extend
its law to senators, although no further
senatorial election is in prospect be-
fore 1910.
| East of Illinois and Michigan and
north of the Ohio and the Potomac the
agitation for senatorial primaries has
apparently taken little root unless it
be in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
TO GUST THE TRUST TOOLS.
The system, calculated first of ALL per-
haps, to GUST the representatives OF big
interests and political oligarchies from
the senate, has had, thus far, no con-
vincing test north Of the great sectional
line. That by no means indicates re-
cess!on of the popular demard for il.
The testimony, even OF its opponents. is
that the senatorial primary Is en-
trenched The northern tests have been
confined practically to the campaigns of
Senator Culiom and Standardized
Bourne. The Illinois law is conceded &c
be very defective, chiefly because of It's
convention features as to State and CON
gressonal candidates. Efforts are now
on foot al Springfield to amend the stat
ute. Mr.. Cullom. last year, virtually
ran a lone race. for cx-Gov. Yates was
.I-t.
senator was the orly general candidate
on the primary ticket who had cleaI
majority. Had there been several can
didates for the Senate and none had haC
a majority. there would probably hay,
been great confusion in the Legislature.
The point friends OF the senatorial
primary are striving for, is assurance
that members Of the Legislature vii
be bourd by the popular vote. The Ore
gon law approaches closest to that. Mr.
LaFollette fears most the weakness o
the Wisconsin law in that particular anc
of late has been consulting Mr. Bourne
with a view to having some form OF thu
Oregon pledge adopted at Madison.
The primary systems Of the South
while differing from those In othe
; states because of the different politlca
. conditions. have had Il similar weakness
The question has been raised in Mis-
slSsippi for instance who her member
of the Lcgslaturc should vote for
senatorial candidate who had a plurality
but not n majority of the popular vote
or for some other candidate, who hap
pens to have a majority of the popula
t vote in the county or district. that send
, the member to the Legislature.
> Southern primaries, as rulc, res
more on party regulations and less o
statute law. but most democratic exec
utive committees exact a pledge to sup
port the primary nominees. And in man
southern States provision is made. ethc
by the party authorities or by the Stat
law. for a second primary at which onl
, the two highest candidates are vote
for.
, BY far the most notable norther
senatorial primary ever held was In Ore
gon last April, 1t was under LAY
framed by Mr.. Bourne and members c
the Peoples Power League and adopte
nv n referendum vote in 1900. The La
has unique features, 1t requires pet
lion of 1000 signers to put senator's
J. candidate upon the primary ballot,
Less firewood than usual Is beln
a brought into the village OF Swanto