The Washington herald., 1913-02-16

The fact that tutional amend,
ment for the f Senators by
the direct vol people has al
islatures and froeatly will soon be
ratified, makes it unnecessary to point
to this unfortunate occurrence in West
Virginia as another argument for the
proposed reform. 1t is worth while to
remember, however, that dishonesty in
Legislatures has been the exception
rather than the rule in the political
history of the United States. In the
last quarter Of a century, hundreds of
United States Senators have been
chosen in the old-fashioned way, and
yet only three serious instances Of al
legged corruption have been presented
the Payne case an ohos the Clark case
in Montana, and the Lorimer case in
Illinois. Even during this winter
nearly a score of Legislatures have
elected Senators without the breath OF
scandal. The West Virginia inciden,
stands alone.
1t is useless, however, TO argue that
few occasional lapses from virtue on
the part of State legislators do not
necessarily vitiate ,the old system OF
electing Senators. The change is COM
ing. We are soon to adopt new meth
ods and only experience can determine
whether the change will be for the bet
ter. We are apt to learn, as happened
in the case of Stephenson, of Wiscon-
sin, that when rich and ambitious
man desires to enter the Senate he
will find occasion to use his wealth to
create public sentiment in his favor.
This can be done by organization,
which costs money, and by legitimate
methods of publicity, which are also
expensive but effective, as witness the
popular brands of soap and biscuits.
1t is also probable that time will DEM
onstrate that money can be illegiti-
mately used with less danger of dis
covery when spread over State than
when confined to the comparatively few
members OF a Legislature. As a mat
ter of fact, the case in favor of direct
elections by the people has not yet
been proven. 1t will be an experiment
at best. and those who believe that the
constitutional system was wisely de-
vised will at least have the right to
hold to their opinion until the actual
operation of the new plan shall have
demonstrated that it is an improve
uent.
Complications, if not scandals, are
certain to arise. There was a deter
mined but unsuccessful effort to frus-
trate the choice of the people in
Maine and in Illinois, where there is a
Senatorial primary, the Legislature has
not vet elected any candidate One OF
the strongest arguments in favor OF
the proposed change was the occasional
failure of a Legislature to act, thus
leaving the State unrepresented in the
Senate. The new system will, OF
course, make this situation practically
impossible. because the choice of the
Senator will be decided at the polls. If,
however, there should be question as
to the legality of the election and an
investigation be demanded, the result
could not be determined except at great
cost of time. trouble, and expense. In
brief. we have yet to see the new sys-
tenn a complete success. We can only
hope that such radical departure from
the established plan of government will
prove an advantageous step in political
development.
The paramount interest OF these
questions in the public mind is shown
by the fact that at three notable din
ners i'll Washington i'll as many weeks
the theme of the principal speakers was
the present drift away from constitu-
tional government No other subjec,
discussed was given sucf, close atten-
ton.