Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-09
WARNED BY bR|STOW
Danger Seen in Greed of Big
Financial interests.
HAVE TOO MUCH POWER
Election of Senator'S by the People
Favored as a Check
to Avarice.

the pubic threatened by the mon IMAM
by the greed "of men who seek TO con-
troll legislation for personal sain,' Sem
ator Bristow of Kansas this afternoon
argued in the Senate for the adoption of
constitutional amendment that will al
low the people to elect United States
senators directly.
Every great revolution among the ma
lions of the earth has been the fruit of
unrestrained greed and avarice." Mr.
Bristow said 1T was the greed and
avarice of the barons that drove Crom-
well into rebellion. The injustice and
cruelty OF the wealthy classes of France
brought on the terrible revolution that
devastated the most highly cultivated ma
ton among men. 1t was the greed and
avarice of the slave owner that brought
on the war of the rebellion. No. our
menace is not the mob, but the Unsuitable
greed of modern times for commercial
and financial power, and TO correct the
evils that grow out of this condition we
must place more responsibility on the av
eraee citizen, put greater power into his
hands, and hold him responsible for the
proper exercise of that authority
More grasping and vigilant are becom
ing the big financial interests of this
country, MIR. Brstow declared, and the
placing of the election of senators in the
hands of the people is needed TO check
their increas sing power in politics
Trusts and combinations lie asserted.
representing great transportation and
Industrial companies seek to control the
state and national conventions of both
Of the great political parties, and il they
succeed it makes little difference to them
how the election goes or which side wins.
Their representatives contribute Sener-
ously to both campaign committees. and
because of such contributions expect to Sc
cure certain appointments and also to
control the legislation in which they are
,01 into
ests are exceedingly anxious first, to
control the appointment OF federal
Judges: second. to shape the laws when
affect their interests: and, third. to con-
troll the appointment of the executive
officers who are to administer those laws.
Mr. President, these great comblna-
tons of wealth. under the system that
now prevails. have acquired too much
bower in the affairs of this government,
and they have used that power to en-
rich themselves at the expense or the
general public. Unless change is made.
not only in the method OF electlng srn-
ators but also in the manner of selecting
delegates to the national conventions. the
rising tide of unrest and dissatisfaction
that prevails throughout the country to-
day will rapidly increase. Men Will not
become less greedy for wealth and power.
The great financial interests will not
abate their efforts to control. not only
the business, but the politics of the
country.
Deadlocks Now Pending.
The senator from Massachusetts, de-
clared that the political power of gigantic
combinations of wealth had been broken, |
and that they are no longer endeavoring
TO control the politics of the country. |
How can the distinguished senator en-
terrain such a deluson when at this very
hour there are in a number of states
deadlocks in pending senatorial elections,
caused solely by the logged and per-
sistent determination of certain powerful
financial interests to control the election
OF senators from those states? There
never has been a time when these in
terests were more visilant and grasping
for political power and dominion than
now.
Sir I believe we are approaching a
crisis. not only in our commercial and
Industrial life. but in our political affairs
as well. The development of modern
times has made it necessary to place
more power directly into the hands of
the people, that they may not only pro- |
tect the man of small business from the |
2reed of his great and powerful COM
pettor. but that they may also protect |
the integrity of our political Institutions |
Corruption Due to System.
Corruption and scandals are not uncom- |
mon fruits of the present system. con- !,
tended Mr. Bristow.
Delays in election. deadlocks and loss |
of representation by the states frequent |
ly occur During the last twenty years
there have been fourteen vacancies in |
the Senate, some of them covering a
period of several years, because of the
failure of legislatures to elect. Ere |
quently shocking scandal and fragrant
bribery are the fruitaSe of these contro- |
versies Corruption and bribery in sena-
torial elections have become more preva-
lent as the commercial interests or the
country have grown The story OF the
hat has Cd N
investigation now before this body is
shocking to the sense OF decency or every
senator here. yet it is but a sample OF
the legislative debauchery that has oc-
Cured in recent years in numerous sena-
toriai elections.
During the last forty years the Sen
ate has had under consideration fifteen
cases where corruption was charged in
the election of senator's, while during
the preceding eightyfour years of our
history there had been but one such case.
This plainly demonstrates that the sys-
tenn adopted by the trainers OF the Con-
Stitution worked we'll until radical
changes occurred in our industrial and
commercial life. but that under present
conditions it is breaking down and cor
ruption is growing
tory the greed of commerciaEsm, ex-
cept as it related to the slavery ques-
ton, was not developed. now 1t is
menace to the country's welfare AS the
commercial spirit developed. and oppor-
tunitieS increased to use the power OF
government to promote the selfish inter-
ests Of financial and industrial institu-
tons such concerns became more anx-
ious 10 control the Senate. This has
brought about the numerous legislative
scandals that have occurred In recent
wears and such scandals not only will
continue. but will increase until there is
a change in the method of electing SEN
ators
Deaths Reported.
The following deaths have been reported
10 the health office in the past twenty