The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1910-05-13
Direct Election of Senators

i The Boston Sunday Globe publishes weekly symposium o
opinions subject Of interest by number OF prom
practical of that city vicinity says the Portland Ia
Last Sunday the subject the direct election OF senator's
people instead by legislatures and out OF nine articles on the
ect all written by of local prominence and DISTINCTION SIX
decidedly of the change such as has been erected III
One says Every advanced for the eecloh u
governors by popular vote can be urged with the same
half of This reform will bring the people mo mo-.
immediate with what has become the second most Power
branch of government the supreme court being the hrs An
orefathers had idea that fortunes would grow ~
proportions the liberties Of the
people by their control Of legislation but such condition exists
Members of legislatures are owned soul by interests
and the often been bought Il believe that We
you buy part Of the people, can not buy all the people
With direct naming of by popular vote such purchase Wou
be practical npossblity.
third writer says "The the better. 1t is change
much be desired candidate for any office OF representative
character should before the people whom he desires to represent
to get it He is responsible to them alone Without their trust ana
confidence his office mockery and sham The people cannot
be easily controlled by Objectionable influences to which many eg
atve majority has surrendered
A fourth letter says big textile and rail
road kings elect the senator's OF Massachusetts OF New England
No man. however able or eloquent or gnnded can nope 10 DC
chosen unless he satisfactory these mogus OF business
and they demand that he shall them and not the rest OF the
people consideration OF their contributions to campaign funds
United State elected today by the interests by
tca rings which live the fat fried from the interests The
pie have therefore made up
ing urged that this change should be
made of respect the fathers If that be good doctrine Mass
aet should go back to the stage coach and the taow Dip
Aother contributor believes that relieving legislatures from
aora elections would from those bodies the for
the lack of the peoples confidence them Senatorial contests
gender well founded dstst Of legislators Popular election OF
will bring the senate closer the people, will eliminate
who would dare face the people for Endorsement and will
make responsive to the will of the people
sixth opinion that the people should select and elect rather
than combination of political managers and their selection ratified
by legislature Combinations effected this process directly
adverse the best interests of the people
These expressions pretty we'll cover the ground upon which
for the change that has been effected in Oregon The
arguments against popular election of the
other three writers that costly for candidate and that the
United States constitution the The first objection been
good deal exaggerated The second has been successfully over
Oregon by the Statement No of primary The
legislature still elects but the people will elect only the
legislature majority of will pledge themselves elect
popular Thus people senator's
1t useless to wait for constitutional change be
effected for The senate always against and three
fourhs Of the legislatures will demanding Sol
the Oregon the best the only way 1t has proved
cessfu is hated by the politicians by the representatives of
by the machine leaders, they determined
the people having thus gained the power of eecng their
senator's will surrender it. and that end will defeat all or