Evening journal., 1911-07-05
Peoples Column
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
Reasons for the election of United
States Senators.


Reasons for the election of United
States Senators.
Editor Of THE EVENING JOURNAL.
We propose to give the people Of
the several States direct suffrage for
United States Senators on the ground
that the people of the several States
have misused their direct suffrage for
the members of the State Legisla-
lures. An attempt to reform abuses
by dractic action is always more pop
ular than an attempt to reform them
by elementary action. Saving the
pennies Of direct suffrage for the
members of the State Legislatures is
more difficult and laborious than deal
ing at first hand with the dollars of
direct suffrage for United States SEN
ators.
The debates in the Constitutional
convention indicate clearly that when
the methods of election of the two
house Of Congress were being framed.
conditions analogous to those now in
existence (Which latter have largely
supplied the motive for the proposed
amendment) were not only in con-
temptation. but that these portions of
the constitution we're so framed to
meet them (the vote being pactically
unanimous). The provision for the
election Of United States Senators by
the State Legislatures was an answer
to the question "Why Two Houses?"
The people of those days to whom
the convention confidently entrusted
the purse strings Of the Republic, had
proposed the abolition of the State
Senate. although members of the
State lower House had been convicted
Of Infamous crimes" A check TO
popular passion was sought in a
Commercial" or wealthy" class,
which the people had already come
to regard as oppressors. The State
Legislatures, it was argued If prop
eriy chosen, would be more likly than
the people to give this class proper
representation at Washington. The
citizens of the States would be repra-
sented individually and collectively.
Today while the activities Of an out
growth of the then commercial class
have developed enormously the pow
er. prosperity and prestige of the
United States (to the pride of every
citizen thereof, the lawlessness Of cer-
tain members of this modern kind of
commecial citizen has become intol-
erable. And yet, does any rational
man deny that big business" that
"the interests" If law abiding, are
entitled to proper representation IN
the national government?
II may be easier to disfranchise the
whole class of Swollen corpora
tions" than through our national po-
lice power. to bring the offending
members TO book but It would not
be Just and would certainly be i'm
polite. IF a more exteme example
Of the want of virtue of (ungarded)
direct suffrage be sought than the
case Of election. for Governor in many
States. where the Governor-elect is
under obligations primarily to a party
boss II may be found in the nonentity
Of the individual stockholder in the
management of some of our swollen
corporation friends management,
which curiously enough has been
lauded as representative government
by advocates Of the corporations and
as popular government by progress
sives but which apparently is neither
Cannot the increased fitness Of the
people to govern, from education and
the facilities of modern civilization,
find sufficient outlet in cleansing in the
municipalities and States the springs
of the electorate and in maintaining
the efficiency of the police power
against both crooked politics and cor
rupt big business; but especially
against unlawful business which,
through its control Of the medium Of
exchange, directs all interstate COM
merce? Emlen Hare Miller.
Philadelphia, July 4.