Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-12-28
washington, D. &, Dec. s5.-A SEN

ate selected by a method wholly n
.tagonistic to the devious Ways OF or
binary politics. A senate composed
of men whose primary qualification
for the honor is q record service to
the public Inc achievements reflect
ing honor upon the nation. A senate
through whose portals 1t will be more
difficult for a politician to pass than
for the p%roverbial camel to pass
through the needles eye.
Has there ever been such a senate :?
Will there ever be? Or. il 1t merely
a dream of idealistic experimentalists
in governmental affairs?
The answer to the first question is,
No. The answef>to the second ques-
ton is. Yes perhaps. To, the third the
reply. must be made that obviously 1t
Is a dream of idealists, but 1t u be
added that 1t is far more tangible
than most ream for it, is about to
be tried out.
The senate of the Irish Free State
Is to be this unique legislative body,
If peace ome to the Emerald Isle
and the Irish have an opportunity to
work out their own political destinies
under the new constitution Of the
pertinent will be watched with the
closest interest throughout the world.
and particularly from this side of the
Atlantic.
The Irish senate, the constitution
provides, >is to be composed Of two
members representative of each >ac-
credited Irish university and Of -56
members representatives at large Of
men of attachments in. Ireland. The
senators will be elected by popular
vote, but the candidates from among
whom the people will make, their
choice will be nominated in a most
unusual fashion. Three times as
many candidates as there are sena-
tors TO- be elected will have their
napes on the ballot. OF these NOM
inees two-thirds will be selected by
the Irish chamber Of deputies, a body
corresponding to the lower house Of
congress in this country, and the 9TH
or third will be nominated by the SEN
ate itself.
The term Of office OF a senator ID
fixed at IL years, twice that of an
United States senator. 0ne-fourth of
tho membership Of the Irish senate is
to be elected every four years. where
as In this country one-third Of the
senators are chosen every two years.
Qualifications Of Candidates.
But It Is IN its provisions as to, the
qualifications Of the candidates for
the senate that the Free State con.
stltution. IL Of especial interest. II
stipulates that before q man can be
made a candidate he must have
done honor to the nation BY reason
Of useful public SERVICE" or he must
! because of special qualifications o.
attachments. represent important as.
poets of the nations Nfs."
r. Iy~Anr' ov,nh e10~o{<o kSo~u TO- g.. "a.
ceivable that a politician might gel
into the Irish senate, but 1t would moi
be by playing the. game of politics, Of
being q politician. He would have
to .havs Z record Of achievements Ii
ether fields more likely to commend
him to, the consideration Of the pub.
lie. Mantfestly,, too. the senatorIa
candidates would owe no eallegianc,
to parties, nor could their nomina,
tions be dictated, or controlled b,
party bosses or special interests.
Men who attain to seats In thu
Irish upper house may be .represen,
~ltative Of almost every line of huma,
endeayor--art.; science, literature
ffntnce, education. medicine, tn
ministry. the law, and what not. The!
priests, painters. publicists, farmers
professors. labor leaders, captains o
Industry. doctors, lawyers, mer
chants. chiefs" but II Is a fair gambl
THAT the percentage OF. the men q
the law Will not be so high as 1t is Ii
1.-THE personnel Of national Legislator
lin these United States.
Men will not seek the 2. senatoria
ltoga In Ireland for the sake Of the of
flee. end tho power 1t symbolizes. The,
Twill strive for, pre-eminence III thel