Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-04

from Maine. At that time stated my
position upon public questions, and
called attention to some features Of
the Primary Law ane to some acts of
certain politicians that tend to violate
| the spirit and purpose Of that law in
the nomination and election Of United
States, Senator.
| 1 had hoped that the suggestions
then made would prevent any further
return to the old, discarded methods
in politics, and that the people would
be left free to calmly review the past
records and present positions of the
candidates, and make their choice at
the primaries without the prejudice of
improper influences. / knew that the
Primary Law and the direct election Of
| United States Senator'S by the people
was offensive and obnoxious to the
| old-time politician, and that he was
doing all in his power to bring about
a return Of machine politics and the
reign Of the boss in government; but
little thought at that time that it
would be necessary to call the atten-
ton OF the common people to the fact
that the Primary Law was in danger
Of repeal, that the right of the people
to select their servants was being
denied and ignored, and that the will
of the people was to be defeated.
Eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty" and the hour has come when
| the people should be awakened and
aroused to the perils and dangers that
confront them in the coming Primary
| Election. The issue is something more
than the mere personal triumph Of
| any candidate or the success of any
political party This is a government
of and by the people. and as Webster
has well said. The last hopes of man.
kind, therefore, rest with us; and If it
should be proclaimed that our example
had become an argument against the
experiment, the knell of popular lib
| erty would be sounded throughout the
earth"
| When the American people threw off
the yoke Of kings and established q
republic where every voter was a
sovereign, they adopted for their
guidance a written constitution, &C
cording to which government was di-
vided into different departments and
each department made answerable to
the people. They established a ma
tional House of Representatives, the
number of congressman allotted in ac-
cordance with the population, which
body has grown to be large and UNI
wieldy, composed Of 435 members.
They are elected directly by the people
at the ballot box-a new election TAX.
ing place every two years. or neces-
sity, this great body of law makers is
more or less moved and Influenced by
the passions and prejudices of the
hour, and much Ill considered and
nasty or vicious legislation passes
through this body, under the impulse
of excitement and misinterpretation of
public opinion.
To place a check upon such legis-
lation, to avoid hasty action, to
minimize the enactment of ill-consid-
cred laws, the Senate of the United
States was created under the Con-
stitution. Its membership is made UP
of two senators from each state, max
ing at the present time the number of
ninety-six. These senators have hith-
erto been elected by the members of
their respective legislatures The pur-
pose and result Of this provision of
1.-THE Constitution was to make the