The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1908-04-27
United States Senator'S By Popular Choice

Oregon sautes-the direct primary law by
which the people given the opportunity United
Senator by popular voeand the other pedgng
ted to the Legislature to rafy their choice
The following article taken from the Bee explains
the working of the law Had such been
State when admitted into the Unon would been
given the of the otten borough well
who familiar with the fact that the State of Nevada received
that unsavo title almost absolutely through men, usually
cpetbagger being United States Senators furnishing
necessary price:
Oregon has laws which California should copy They give
the electors of the State virtual control of the choice of United
States Senators through the Legislature.
One of these laws merely permissve in FORM but practice
it efectna through the of public opinion provides
that candidate for nomination membership the Legislature
may at the time of filing his petition include the other
Of two specified statements"
Statement No declares that if elected he "wil always
for that candidate for United States Senator who has received the
highest number of The Peoples for that position the gen.
era election next preceding the election of such Senator
Statement No sets forth that elected the candidate will
consider the popular for United States Senator nothing
than recommendation which he will be liberty wholly
disregard
This law being simply permissive open constitutional
objection The candidate need file either statement
inclined But the result has been that since the the
oy of every Legislature has been composed of signed
Statement No l. And member who had thus pledged himself
to the public has dared to violate his promise
This good law goes hand in hand with direct primary by
which the electors of Oregon indicate their preference for United
States Senator and for State and local officials The enactmen
In illustration the operation of these Oregon laws the
following election cards. taken from the advertising columns Of the
Salem Journal:
desire to place my name before the Republican
primaries for a denomination for County Recorder.
ID. r. Drager
/ hereby myself a candidate for the
Republican nomination for Representative at the pr-
maries, April II.
II nominated and elected shall always vote for
the Peoples choice for United States Senator
Hal ID. Patton.
1t will be noted that the pledge reads Peoples choice not
the parys choice the candidate for United States Senator
receiving the number of at the primaries throughout
the State whether he be Republican Democrat who entitled
to the support the candidates for the Legislature who sign State
candidates have much chance election
in districts either strongly Republican strongly Democratic
where might sufficient for candidate of the prevailing party
pledge himself support the choice of his party the primaries
There should be direct popular election of United States Sna
every State the Union But this be accomplished
short of Amendment the Federal Constitution which almost
impossible obtain else through National Constitutional Con-
venon very difficult bring about and uncertain its results So
the best thing appears be the direct primary and pedng
candidates the Legislature be by the popular choice
at the