Gilpin observer., 1908-08-13
Popular Election Of Senators.

Next to the corrupt use of money, the
present method of electing United States
senators is most responsible for the OBJ
struction of reforms. For 100 years after
the adoption or tho constitution, the de-
mand for the popular election of senators.
while finding ins reased expression. did
not become dominant sentiment. A
constitutional amendment had from time
TO time been suggested and the matter
had been more or less discussed in a few
of the states. but the movement had not
reached point where 1t manifested it.
self through congressional action. In the
Fifty-second congress, however. reso-
luton was reported from house COM
mittee proposing the necessary constitu-
tional amendment, and this. resolution
passed the house of representatives by
a vote which was practically unanimous.
In the Fifty-third congress similar res
oution was reported TO. and adopted by
the house OF representatives. Both the
Fifty-second and Fifty-thlrd congresses
were Democratic. The Republicans gained
control of the house result OF the
election of 1894 and in the Fifty-fourth
congress the proposition died in commit
tee. AS time went on. however. the sem
timent grew among the people. until II
forced a Republican congress to follow
the example set by the Democrats, and
then another and another Republican
congress acted favorably. State after
state has indorsed this reform. until near
I
themselves In its favor. The United
States senate. however. impudently and
arrogantly obstructs the passage of the
resolution. Notwithstanding the fact that
the voters OF the United States, by an
erwhelming majority, demand It, And
this refusal is the more significant when
II Is remembered that a number OF SEN
ators owe their elections to great corpor-
ate interests. Three Democratic nation
al platforms-the platforms of 1900. 1904
Al -. -.
the constitution which will put the elec-
ton of senators in the hands of the vo-
ters. and the proposition has been in
dorsed by number OF the smaller par
ties. but no Republican national con-
vcntion has been willing to champion
the cause OF the people on this subject
The subject was ignored by the Republi-
can national convention in 1900; II was ig
nored In 1904 and the proposition was
explicitly repudiated in 1905. for the re-
cent Republican national convention. by
a vote of S66 to ia. rejected the plank
indorsing the popular election of sem
ators-and this was done in the conven-
ton which nominated Mr.. Taft. few dele
gates from his own state voting for the
plank.
The Gateway to Other Reforms.
"Shali the people rule?" Every remedial
measure of n national character must run
the gauntlet of the senate. The presi-
dent may personally incline toward a
refc"m: the house may consent to IT,
but long as the senate obstructs the
reform. the people must wait. The pres
ident may heed IA popular demand: the
house may yield to public opinion but as
long as the senate is defiant, the rule OF
the people is defeated. The Democratic
platform very properly describes the pop
ular election OF senators as 1.-The gate
way TO other national reforms" Shall we
open the gate. or shall we allow the ex-
plotting interests to bar the way by the
control of this branch of the federal leg
islature Through Democratic victory