Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-02-25
SENATOR ROOTS rALLAuous REASONING.

T1N OPPOSING the resolution providing for the
election Of senators by popular vote Senator
Root delivered great speech In one sense Of
49, the word yct speech considered carefully,
that does not credit the Root Intellect Of logic "If
the people" said tho senator not 10 be entrusted to
elect auablo to the legislature then by what pro-
cess of reasoning are we doducc the fact that they
Will Doc competent In selecting United states sem
aors"
The argument might be answered by asking another
question. II the people bo bamboo1od and corrupt
ed as easily as legislatures under the present
syttom why s It that beneficiary of the present
system s violently opposed TO giving the people the
right TO elect senator's?
Granting the entire body polite ls os corrupt the
various state legislatures that recently been caught
with the goods the fact remains that It viii be vastly
moro dIfioult for the vicious candidate TO corrupt
whole stat, than for him to corrupt two three
NJ men drawn together IN sitting he himself has pains
mdnpy devised. Just the average legislation ls pre-
disposed 10 his conscience aud Intelligence until the
temptation 90 do otherwise s put before hm just the
average eccor is predsposod vote his conscience and
Intelligence untl temptation do otherwise Is PUT be
fore him The vicious candidate put this temptation
before the members Of tho legislature without much
trouble Il becomes impossible when It IL necessary to
reach several hundred thousand electors
But there is stll another phase Of this important
question wen worth considering. However often the
people In their Judgment in selecting public Of
ncIas ths fact stands boldly that where the oppor
unIW liz given, they Just quick to rectfy their
mistakes Where elections by direct the drefct
corrupt official Il speedily retired. Instances In
proof Of this contention sufficiently numerous to
be instantly recognized without pressing tho point fur
ther
And because Of this recognized disposition the
part Of the popular electorate It is admirably argued by
the supporters OF poular senatorial elections that the
senator realizing that nothing stand between him and
his constituents viii a vastly different than
under conditions when has recently occurred
one Of them knowing his grasp the political
Of his state and his hold the legislature boldly de-
claimed that he dld not give Il rig what the people OF
his state thought Of him.
Mr. Roots reasoning Is fallacIous In the 1t
is easily conceivable that the people voting direct for
senator, would occasionally make mistake; not more
frequently than under present conditions however But
It is also plainly that under the conditions pro-
posed they would be in position to speedily right that
mistake, something that IL impossible be-
cause Of the ability Of the politicians cloud legislative
election with local issues that the
atorla election to follow viii be completely lost sight Of
The Of Beyerdge Indiana accentuates this point
admirably
It s significant that the strongest arguments against
the election of senator's by direct only strengthen
reform.