Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-04-19
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Judge ofthe elections and qualifications
of its members and is the only power
with authority TO enforce any judg-
ment thereon. When control Of gov
eminent through direct nominations
andIpopular elections, safe-ganrded by
efficient corrupt practice acts is placed
where it belongs, the people will be the
sole judge of the Uaited States Senate
with authority to enforce respect for
its collective Judgment.
In this direction we are making pro-
gress. Butwe have not arrived, How
far short we are Of this goal is illustrat-
ed by the events Of few days.
Within few days the Senate, albeit
by a narrow majority, voted to "exon-
crate and seat Isaac Stephenson.
Within day or two the Senate's Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections APP
pointed to re-lnvestigate William
I4orimers dirty linen voted five to
three to wash it for him and gave him
and those who "put him over" clean
bill, a minority report will be filed,
however, and there will be a fight on
the foog Whether the BIZ bipartisan
System machine in the Senate has or
can muster enough votes when the
time comes to make this snap judg-
ment Of the Committee stand as the
Judgment Of the Senate whether they
car ''put Lorimer over" again remains
to be seen.
While the Senate has been ''investi-
eating and "exonerating" at Wash
ingtou, the legislature of New Mexico
has been electing its first Senators. 1t
Will be reInembered that New Mexico
IS the new state whose Constitution
was 10 all respects so model in its ad-
herence to the principles Of reaction
carefully preserved all of the constitu-
topal "good things" for Privilege and
Big Business and so carefully excluded
all Progressive principles and devices
likely TO secure some measure of
unqualified approval of President Taft.
Among the old institutions SO care
fully preserved in the Constitution of
New Mexico is that which provides for
the election of Senators by the State
legislature, unhampered by any popu-
lar interference. Well, the Legislature
,.ro,,+ ob,.ut th;S husipasu ~, duo tim
and things were going very well until
a bunch of these Representatives of
the people" were caught IN the act of
taking money for their votes for United
States Senator. Since which time the
legislature of New Mexico has been
working short-handed, the contingent
who were caught with the goods on
being "unavoidably detained"-at the
county Jail.
1t is well that the grafters in New
Mexico were caught in New Mexico,
before some loyal servant of the Sys-
tenn, elected by their votes, could pass
his bribe.stained credentials up to the
SYSTEMS Vice-president in the Senate
at Washington. Once having gotten
that far the System would save the
"elected' regardless and even though
it were necessary to prove by the logic
OF the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections that the self-confessed
bribe takers we're not bribe takers at
al nt, lu
While such incidents are resrettable
they serve their purpose. They serve
to emphasize the necessity for radical
changes in the method Of constituting
the Upper House. They make for
direct nomination and direct elections
of Senators and las in wisconsin, tor
more stringent and effective corrupt
practice acts to protect the ballot in
primaries and elections.
We shall hope too see New Mexico
profit from this object lesson. Now
that she is admitted to the Union and
can fix her institutions quite indepen-
IDENTIFY of the views of Reactiopary
ItoIuSuk anu DJ StSh-Coilloliou
Congress, let New Mexico provide as
has Arizona. and other states for popul-
ar selections sof Senators and let her
also, especially if she is infested by
millionaires with Senat orial am billions,
provide a stringent corrupt practice
law.
Meanwhile too, such developments
are not without some influence of value
even upon the Senate. In spite of I'M
democratic Constitutions there is a
slowly growing popular representation
in the Senate. The forces Of Progress
sivism and honesty are still in the
minority in the Senate. But they are
powerful enough to force Investigations
and even re-investigations. All of
which tends to discourage to some
opn,D1arpa in ITniVpi Sfafpa