The Washington herald., 1909-02-09
SenatOr LOdge,s Fsrorite BugabOO.

Senator Lodges eulogy OF the late VIII
lam B. Allison wss marked by some
characteristics observations on present ten
denotes toward the popular election OF
United States Senator's. Mr.. Lodge. as is
well known, is a strong adherent OF the
Legislative system or election. and to that
system he attributed Iowa's good fortune
in being represented in the Senate for
thirty-slx years by statesman Of ALI
sons calber. In sending Mr.. Allison to
the Senate for six terms. the legislature,
said Mr.. Lodge. truly represented the wiz
OF the people It would be a sorry DAY
when the country suffered the loss OF
such continuity OF service. such directing
and guiding force. as was gained by Mr.
AllisOn's long public career. IT is such
careers as his which has made the Sen
ate what II has been in our history" Mr..
Lodge continued. and II, under the pre-
tense OF making It more popular, we are
subjected TO schemes which open the
door wide 70 those who would commit
fraud. ard to those who would spend
money without stint. we shall not only
see the popular win distorted. travestied.
and defeated. but the country viii be de-
prived OF the Iong-eontinued services OF
such men as Mr. Allison. which have
been and are Of inestimable value to the
United States"
II the present members Of the Senate
had al been elected by popular vote. and
the proposal were TO substitute for that
mode Of election the legislative system
now prevailing. every word OF Mr.
Lodges invective would be as applicable
to the legislative method as 10 the popu-
lar method. For what evils AR. Lodge
foresees in the popular election have al
ready been glar!ngly manifest in the
legislative election. wherein the popular
VIII has often been trsvestied. distorted.
and defeated money spent without stint
and fraud committed. The return Of
Allison 10 the Senate. term after term,
was an example OF the legislative system
at its best; Senator Lodge looks about
him in the Senate chamber every day and
sees benehciaries or that system at its
worst What ground has Senator Lodge
for assuming thar the people OF Iowa, &
they had had opportunity for voting on
the senatorship. would have refused 70
honor Allison with six elections? Or that
the popular choice OF Senators. now
adopted in Iowa win turn out statesmen
OF distinctly lower oualIty2
Turning TO the House OF Representa-
tlves. We find many examples OF long and
uninterrupted public service founded on
popular confidence in men who have 20
60 before the people every two years.
And IN the Senate We may find numerous
Illustrations OF legislative hckleness. for
not every Senator OF ability can com
mand legislative election until the end
OF his days. SO We confess Mr.. Lodges
objections to the popular election OF sena-
tors-that # viii encourage the use OF
money, and deprive the Senate OF the
continuous service Of its best men-do not
strike US as at al conclusive. since they
apply with equal force TO the legislative
mode Of election Iowa-s legislature kept
Allison in the Senate because the people
Of Iowa wanted him kept there. and when
they had a chance to vote for him at the
polls the result was the same. Mr.. All
sons career gives poor support to sens-
( tor Lodges thesis