Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-21

stop the clock. The democrats tried to
prevent this, the republicans tried to bring
it about. A fist fight and all-around row
started, desks and furniture were torn
up and destroyed. the clock was bat
tered with inkwells and broken. the
whole assembly became yelling, fnfuri-
ated mob that would have done credit to
the cellar scenes where met the Jacoblns
in the French revolution.
Similar scenes have been enacted
time and time again IN many other
states. and these particular instances
are not cited except as an illustration OF
what very often happens and what may
any of the states Of the Union. And In
stead Of such things becoming less ire
quent, they are becoming more frequent
Ten Cases Since 1879.
Prior to 1872 we had had but one case
of alleged election bribery connected
with a seat upon this floor. Since that
time we have had ten, to say nothing OF a
number Of Investigations before state
legislatures which never reached this
body. Take as an illustration the matter
now before the Senate Let US look at II
q moment aside from any question OF
technical guilt and aside from any par
tic,,lar ones moral responsibility lor
n4DDCnGO,
tration of the vice OF the system unoer
which we now elect senator's
'.If there is any state where the sys.
tenn under which we now eject senato.s
might be fairly tested 1t ought TO pc III
Illinois. Illinois is one of the great CON-
rich in natural wealth and strong In the
splendid strain of citizenship which makes
IN her population Within her territory
is one Of the most marvellous cities IN the
world and on her bosom sleep the asnes
of the truest child of clean and wnoie-
some democracy ever born upon the
earth. No commonwealth Is better mt
ted in tradition, in pride OF history, In
the intelligence and manhood OF her peo-
Pile to meet and discharge the duties
which properly pertain to the state.
Brings Shame to State.
"Yet her prominence nov and during
the last year is not due to her great
wealth, her industrial prowess. but to
that scandal and shame which has been
upon her by reason OF a sena-
torial election. The legislature met,
spent weeks and months in the vain effort
to elect. The whole body became de-
moralized. Men bartered their honor
like the courtesan of Babylon and at
last performed the task amid charges and
CTlIuIudllOuS anu re-
between the legislative
reminding one Of the days
when the prong of Cataline was the
scepter of power at Rome.
And now we are solemnly told by a
committee Of this body that so shameless
were many of the members Of that leg
islature that they cannot be believed on
oath, and at the present time the legisla-
ture of that great state, by reason Of
. hat Al IL
and surveillance of a grand jury. No
wonder that one of the old and honored
members of this body, a veteran in UNI
selfish devotion to his country. a man
who stood stainless in the maelstrom of
filth and corruption which stained the
regulations Of such men as Colfax and
Garfield and Blaine-not a demagogue
not a sentimentalist not a sensational
ist-said as he listened to a recital of the
facts with reference to that election, Il
have begun to despair Of the republic :"
The duty that develops upon a state
legislature in the election OF United
States senator, Senator Borah con-
tended. is exceptional and unnatural
and incOngruOus."
Demoralizes Legislatures.
Not only is it aside from any duty
or function naturally attaching to
legislative bodies. but it works to the
great and almost constant embarrass-
ment OF such a body In its important
and natural work." he continued. 1T
has demoralized state legislatures
more than any one single matter with
which they have had to deaf The
OF the legislature should be
elected upon the sole question Of their
fitness for the duties OF state legisla-
ton. After they are elected they should
fn1 m tl,nt
fant work with an eye single to the
moral and Industrial interests OF the
state. disentangled OF the purely po-
litical task of performing the duties
Of an elector. Our states are coming
TO be almost as important in the field
Of legislation. IL they do what they
should do. as was Congress in the be-
ginning Of the government. When
by their varied interests and
their moral and industrial
equal to the thirteen states when Con-
yress first assembled.
LET us leave these legislative bodies
81 the great task of building up these
Institutions and formulating the purposes
ind policies which attach SO closely to-
life of the citizen. Let us relieve them
rom that which often prevents for a
whole session any attention whatever TO
'tate matters. which often controls leg
slatures even from one session to an
,ther, which dominates their selection,
which leads to vast expense the people
must at last pay, which leads to faction
Ind strife"
Wishes of Nations Founders.
Declaring that he could not imagine any
condition that would induce him to favor
/. constitutional amendment that would
,rinc about fundamental change in
he plan of the United States government,
Senator Borah argued that the change
proposed was only carrying out the
wishes Of the trainers Of the Constitution
while they wanted the people to be