Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-08
Mr.. Lodge on Senatorial Elections.

Senator Lodge in his eloquent eulogy
of the late Senator Allison. said:
1t is the fashion just how TO decry
legislatures. but we shall wait long be-
fore find any form Of election which
will represent truly the real VIII. not
only of the people OF "A state, but of the
people of all the states. as did the leSis-
lature of Iowa during those years of Mr..
.AlliSon'S service.
1t will he sorry DAY fpr government
and people alike when we lose the perma-
hence and continuity. the directing and
guiding force. which such careers and
such service Mr.. .tliSon's have given
To the Senate. 1t is such careers his
which have made the Senate what it has
been in our history, and if under pretense
of making il more popular we are sub
jccted to schemes which open the door
wide to those vino would commit fraud
and Ia those who would spend money
without stint. we shall no: only see the
popular will distorted. traveSted and de-
feated, but the country Will be deprived
of the long-continued services of such
men as Mr. Nilsson. which have been.
and are. Of inestimable value To the
United States.
The Massachusetts senator forgot that
had MIR. Allison lived he would have en-
tered upon his new term next month by
the choice of his constituents expressed
at a primary. The question of the new
mode came up. and Mr. Allison practically
was challenged to submit his case to
popular decision. He accepted and. in
spirited contest against able and
popular man. won. The republicans of
Iowa showed their appreciation of his
long and eminent services by renewing
his commission. Mr.. Alison's last cleo
ton was a vindcation of the new mode
Of election. showing that the people can
be trusted To reward a good man.
Mr.. Lodge forgot. too, the case of Mr..
Morgan of Alabama. who entered the
Senate in 1877. and remained there until
the end. His last election was the result
of a popular choice. and the vote practi-
cally was unanimous. The people of Ala
bama knew his great worth. and in ODE
dience to their own interests. well as
to the wishes of the whole country. in
dorsed him at the polls. He did not hest
tate to submit his claims in the new way.
His last election justified the change of
procedure.
If Mr.. Lodge will pardon personal
allusion. il may he said that he would be
sure of election by the new as he has
been by the old method. The people of
Massachusetts. speaking directly in his
case, would render the same decision the
legislature several times has done. There
i no state in the Union where the people
at the polls would come nearer to wise
decision in the matter of senatorship.
In the two cases mentioned we saw the
perfect working of the new method of
clecting senators. The people of Iowa
and of Alabama instructed the legisla-
lures. and the instructions We're obeyed.
Admirable men had been chosen at the
polls. and ali that remained was formal
declaration ny the legislatures. No time
was taken from the lawmakinS duties of
those bodies. No complications, with the
senatorships as factors. were possible.
The business was transacted in a few
hours. without parley bad blood or scan
dal
If il is said that Mr.. Allison and Mr..
Morgan became senators under the old
manner of election, and are to be ac-
credited to that manner, it is fair reply
TO say that they might easily have been
chosen the first time by such manner
as has since been evolved Both were
men of popular address. though very far
Mr. .AIIison's elections to the House were
accomplished by the everyday appeals
to the voters, and he never lost the fac
ulty. And Mr.. Morgan was always eff
fective on the stump at home. 1t will
not do To cite either against either
the right the ability of the people TO
speak directly as To senatorial choice.