Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-21
THE ELECTION OF SENATORS.

THE ELECTION OF SENATORS.
This paper believes that the elec-
ton of senators by direct vote would
be serious blow to the very vltals
Of this government. The way the
representatives and United States
senators are now elected is the best
possible solution that can be made OF
this problem. One is elected direct
ly by the people and the other by the
representatives of the people. This
country is entirely too big to be gov
erned by an initiative and referendum
system. In little places like Switzer-
land, which is about one-fourth the
size of iowa and with an entirely diff
ferent class Of population, 1t might
work with certain kind OF success.
But it is absurd to think of IN con-
nection with such country as the
United States.
Under the caption, "The Mode If
Electing United States Senator'S
George R. Bishop, in the current num-
Der Of the Forum, writes:
On January 18th, at Albany Mr.
Root then just elected United States
senator for New York, the term
beginning on March 4th, made a
speech to members of the legislatu: e
in which, on subject much discuss
ed during the last few years, he ex-
pressed a decided opinion-in these
words:
81 am opposed to the direct election
of United States senators, as am
opposed to the initiative and referen-
dunn, because these things are based
upon the idea that the people cannot
elect legislatures whom they caa
trust
He had previously declared that ne
believed in maintaining the two
grants of power of the constitution:
the national power, at its full limit
and power Of the states; and was op-
posed to everything that tended to
weaken or discredit the authority CT
the state legislatures.
1t is matter of common knowledge
that there are numerous manifesto
tons Of Impotence over political and
social conditions; an Impotence that
voices itself In the demand for change
In electoral systems and methods.
From Mr.. Roots words we are justi-
fed In inferring that he refuses 20
believe that such change--the passage
OF new laws or the amending of con-
-
the attainment of those benefcent
objects Of government which the ex-
perience Of ages has taught mankind
can be won only by ceaseless vigil
lance and unremitting effort on the
part of patriotic and philosophical
citizens; that he does not believe
that machinery can be looked to for
the attainment of those objects. When
he stands steadfastly by the terms Of
our national charter, we may assume
that he does this on mature reflection,
and with full knowledge Of the peril
that impended in the convention of
1887, when the small states which had
conceded for the house of representa-
tiyes a proportional representation, de-
manded equality in the senate, and
the larger states at last yielded o
their ultimatum. In that crisis In the
convention, when 1t was still uncer-
tain IL the larger states would yield.
1t must have been solemn moment
when John Rutledge, the South Caro-
linian, almost despairingly exclaimed:
HAD we not better keep the govern
ment up a. little longer, hoping that
another convention will supply our
omissions, than abandon everything to
| hazard?''
At a time when many have faith
In mere machinery, in the possibility
Of finding some royal road to-. more
perfect conditions, when the impatient
and unrefiecting are clamoring tor
change in methodist may be worth
while to recall that crisis; to bring
before our minds just the situation in
the convention in Philadelphia, when
the mode of electing members of the
senate (the Second branch") was uu-
der discussion.
On June 6, 1857, John Dickinson,
delegate from Delaware, outlined
views which he more explicitly ex-
pressed in motion made on the next
day; while Delegate Pierce. from
Georgia, favored election by the peo-
pie of members of the house of rep
resentatives (the arst branch'O, and
by the states Of those Of the second
branch this in his view would result
in citizens of the states being repre-
scented both individually and collect
lively. On June 7th. Mr.. Dickinson
moved, THAT the members of the sec
ond branch ought to be chosen by the
individual legislatures; which motion
was seconded by Roger Sherman. The
mover proceeded to give the reason
for thfs:-that the sense of the states
would be better collected through
their governments than through the
people at large: and he wished the
senate to consist of the most distin-
guished characters. James Madison
amplified this; explaining that the
use of the senate would consist in its
proceeding with more GOODNESS, with
more system, and with more wisdom,
than the popular branch.
James Wilson of Pennsylvania-wbo
later became one of the associate JUS
tees Of the supreme court-feared
that If the two branches rested on
different foundations, one chosen by
the legislatures and the other by the
people at large, dissensions would
arise between them; which apprehen-
sion led him to doubt the wisdom of
the motion. On the final vote, thrne