The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-16
Popular Choice Of senators and
Popular Representation
In the Senate.


About month before that Democrats,
national convention in Chicago which
inaugurated the dreariest period in th'
partys history. the comparatively un'
known WILLIAM J. BRYAN published II
q college paper called the Nebraska
Literary magazine n compendium of his
philosophy OF political reform. IL fol-
lowed an article entitled How Flsie
and Went Botanizing. and contained
this paragraph
-. The prcscu; method 81 s.rCtinc nitei
States senator's Is not In harmony With our theory
OF popular government Whatever may have been
the reasons FOR It's adoption, We have reached
Q tin- when Inc selection Of United states Sena-
tors should he placed IN the hands ~ the people.
When this l. done the electors viii he able 10
enoo<~ the public servant WHOM they desire. ard
also 10 prnlsh him u he betrayS his 'rusi. VI
present cnYTorae Influences are Anie IN dictate
the selerton 81 senators The popular election
Of senators besides nen: u,or. responsive "a
public sentiment would dn away With pTo;rac tel
deadio~L. art leave the Legislature 10 deal with
State matters
The demand for Senators by popular
vote. therefore. goes back AT least To- TN.
genesis of BryanIsm, and 1t was coinci-
dent with the cry for the fire." coinage Of
silver al sixteen To one. IL did not get
into the arry's platform %: 1888. or in
1870 when Mir BRYAN was again nomi-
mated for President with auti-imp"rlal-
ism as the paramount ISSUE. II appeared
-. 10 - in,
that Of 1875, on which Mr.. BRYAN ran for
q third time. This i Its form m 1875:
We favor the election ~ rni'-i States S-n
ssor. by direct vote ~ me people -,i regard
This reform a. the gateway 10 Other national re-
forms
Tho Democrats" platforms this wear
IN New York and New Jersey and
doubtless IN 81 her States, Contained
planks on Ii" line 81 Mr. BKYAN'S sug-
gestion fourteen wears ago in the Ne
braskI Literary .NGgdcUc New York
Democrats say:
We favor Inc norul,r -l-c'ioa Of n'-d states
Senators
The New Jersey platform rec 'CniLe-
the fact that the proposed chan 20 IN the
manner Of clectinC United S'nte- son
atorS can come only by institutional
amendment. II SAYS
We decllrs our cont -rupn TINT rIu
,-ns shollL h~ given nn ppn"-t my - pas upon
. consu'uuorll nrerd7rcrr 10. ting for ei-r
ton o, senator hy popular vote
Last night at ~. dinner # tho National
- HT.,L
Foss Governor -ei.ct II Nias-a" F'ls"'t~
echoed Mr. BrY,NS words IT," sen
ate Itself must tn, r".iI-d laid Nlr foSS
Our Senators must be more Responsive
N the u Il of the p-rpI'
The election OF two Senators from
IL prescribed b. the ConstIru-
ton IL must remain the method
Of election until tn" constitution Is
amended in tn" regular va. Tn"
Brvanite idea - advanced not the
breadth Of one hair line nv nero rcp"'i.
tual demand for senators ~ popular
vote Not only Intellectual but p"fni-
cious ar" the attempts to nulhfy IN"
requirement by means OF
such c"asive devices as preferential
ar primaries Such expires
sions can never be- binding upon tho
State legislators unless they choose TO
surrender Their Constitutional function.
and every attempt To get around IN"
Constitution bv devious cNps-ilents -
e aIIse IL tends 10 weak en-
public respect tor that instrument and
public conf iencc N I'S c'licl"n"v. Gin
the cont ar the call oi the New Jersey.
Democrats for IN" submission To m"
States OF y constitutional amendment
making ros-. bl.. the election oi Senators
b. TorrIlar ct" - correct H. every
|: l. T.-u"otiIrl - tn" Con
stitutlon IT H. a I"gItInat" proceeding
pn the Part OF those who ,hiny that vay
il pro- oscS the ONLY IaHIul mcthoi Of
reaching ~" desired result
Iia proposed Amendment -, TO 20 from
Congress to IN" States for ratification.
what form should IN" ioiu' resolution
take. IN or,'..i To- rmbOdv M" views orig
.ally pr"scnr-i by Nj HEY'> "a lNsg
- 10 making the United s'fat,-> ~"uat"
NOR. harmon oIis with the theory 81 ,ri-
llar government and more r,-SuDr-rN b.
81 10" ia. jtIaflons of publ" S"uirin.i'.
Something ih" this occurs 10 Us
JONI RESoI ITIO>
.. r.. emf 'rc Constitution ~ Tho nl'-i
E... 'r. .--.'> mt IiDn', NJ Ti~r,,r,pri.
f.,s.. .'frr NJ ''1'r.I ~ r.1C,ss,
4'-snr' .,r. .- srrH Hsusy ,,tng
'rsr.H. '.a' .. Z wing arf',l~ j. Proposed
a. H-.... 700 .na .r..'' ton u the mite
Snte. wi .rrr rtr..a D, ne I~.'-Iatu-r,
~ Three . - '.. c.-r,. -tn'r, shall ~
: AID r" 10" .."0'' ,r. ..r.-r, %. . .a,r' - m.
consii,t tlpr
.ARTioLE A}I Tns senate II INC niucd