Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-06

THE ELECTION OF UNITED STATES
SENATORS BY DIRECT VOTE
While Iowa and two or three other states are now
struggling with conditions that turn to favor the
election of senators by direct voe must not overlook
the fact that these conditions the exception and
not the rule is much better to have law based on
the general rule than on the exception
This proposition to elect senators by direct vote,
lis, in opinion of the most serious governmental
problems that it is possible to raise issue, Every
man and woman should give it the most serious and
painstakng study We do not say that it is wrong but
do say that if it does turn out unsuccessful it bound
to be very serious wrong Before deciding to change
it should be debated from every standpoint.
In the first place. it will practically make the senate
and house body 1t makes the election of senator
scramble for votes by men who put themselves for
ward on the people, and does not give the people an
opportunity to select because OF his fitness for
the office It does away with representative govern
en 1t restricts the choice Of the people to one OF the
ef-announced candidates. convention or legls-
ature can if it DESIRES drop all the candidates before
it, and select man who is not candidate, but man
known to have the necessary qualifications for the office
Under the direct primary system that cannot be done
even if the nomination thrown into the convention be-
cause candidate did not receive the required num-
Der of votes The convention must select OF the men
who was voted for on the ticket Thus this system again
defeats representative government.
This is not the time to take up such question This
is commercial era. great number Of men who are
capable of the best solutions of the greatest response
btes have for the past decade devoted their time and
themselves to business. More Of demonstrated bust
ness ability must be enlisted to work for the govern
ment The government of this nation is business mat
ter just the the government Of city is bust
ness matter The national government is simply much
bigger proposition.
.ipcti+ IF
and amid the most profound and sincere deliberations
|of men whose names will be forgotten. The con-
sttutona convention not body to which men could
be elected again. The who constituted that as
semblage not worrying their brains about whether
some provision they working for was going to
get them votes at the next election The greatest
minds in that meeting not seeking office. They
were trying to form instrument for the best govern
ment of great and growing country They did it. The
nation has lived and prospered under that document for
more than century. In the very nature Of things,
some amendments have been necessary and they have
come Outside of one Of these, they have been Incl
dentas and have not changed the fundamentals. This is
not the time to change any fundamentals.
The question Of eecting senator's by direct vote
threshed out 125 years ago, and turned down. It
claimed that there should be two bodies-one elected
by direct vote Of the people and elected by repre-
senatives Of the people The wisdom Of that plan has
been proved by than century of test
Theoretically, the direct election of senator does
not limit the choice of the people to se-apponted
applicant but practically it does The people have
voice in the matter except between the candidates
who put themselves forward It would take away much
Of the responsibility of the legislature.
It has been said that zone of the fundamental
strengths of this is that branch of it
one move removed from direct vote"
Sometimes the country finds itself in condition
that comes very illustrating the truth Of that
statement. In the summer Of 1896 for instance.
This is subject for your deepest consideration.
V1san TO- has Dooy.