Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-10-13


legislature, may be correct or ii may
not. Certainly TO enlarge the body
in hope of getting a more useful
one, Is taking very indirect and
improper way for the purpose.
There would be no assurance with
an enlarged senate that any great.
or proportions of its members would
do right than do now. AS indicat-
ed above and SO often said In these
columns, there never will be BODY
devoted to the interests of the pub
lie, until the people wake up TO the
necessity of electing such. The
remedy is easy if it is applied-that
is to choose men who will represent
the people and not corporations and
saloons. This will not of necessity
follow from having more members.
In fact more care and diligence
would then be necessary than even
as things are now.
The simple truth in the whole
matter is that members of the legis-
latare are elected with more regaId
as to whom they will vote for for
United States senator than for any
other reason and when we stop this
insane practice, other matters will
regulate themselves. Does the AID
VANCE think it better to do this than
to go INTO an experiment that to say
the least will be costly and very
probably dangerous? Just think Of
how many pages and clerks it would
take to wait on a senate composed
of one member from each county.
and then shrink back from the awful
proposition you make, Bro. Nc
Dougal. -Parkersburg State Journ-
al.
We usually agree with Bro. Nor
rls, as on most questions his views
re right, but this time we must
positively dissent.
AS long as the state senators are
selected as they are now, a few of
the larger counties will control the
legislation of the state. This isn't
right; it is not fair, nor is 1t Just.
Some remedy is badly needed and
we know of none more reasonable
and fair than to have a senator for
each county. Isn't it true, Bro.
Morris, that seven of the large coun-
ties of the state, namely: Ohio,
Wood, Harrison, Kanawha, Fay
cite, Cabell and Mcdowell, control
the election Of fourteen out of thlr.
ty members of the state senate? The
members do not always live in the
large county, but the will of that
county is always obeyed, and the
representative of the small county
IN almost every case represents the
big county whenever conflicting in
terests are at stake. In this district
Mcdowell county in republican con
yentlohs land democrats have no
earthly show has greater vote
than Mingo, Wyoming and Wayne
combined, so that the three last
uamed have no voice whatever in
naming senator.
Under existing conditions entire
ly too much political power is left
In the hands of one bunch of politi-
clans. This causes delay IN enact
ing needed legislation, AZ well S
broken party pledges. There is
no doubt in our mind but that a
few senators from the big counties
at the last session of the legislature
thwarted the will of majority of
the people by killing with their votes
measures that should have been en-.
acted into law.
Each state in the Union without
regard to size) is allowed two L. s.
senators. Would ii be right for
one L. 5. senator to represent three
or four states? We think not; Meth.
or do we think one state senator
should represent three or four coun-
ties. The body, with a senator for
each county, would be a more repre-
sentative body. There Is no earth
~ reason why this larger body
should lack conservatism or anv
other good quality possessed by the
the present body. But on the 9th.
or hand it would be less liable 10
corruption.