Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, April 24, 1892, Page 10

UMTED STATES SENATORS Should They Be Elected by the Dirsct Vote of the People? INTERESTING TALKS ON THE QUESTION Rosewater, Fitzpatrick and Hopewell F're Phases—Arge ng the Merits The regular bi-monthiy meotipe of tho Live-Issuo club was held in the gallery with William F. Baxter, president of tha clab, in the chair. The subject discussed That the United States senators bo elected by a direct vote of the Lininger Art the afirmative, spoke substantially as follows : “I'ho primitive form of government for tho United States of America wero tne articles of confederation, and the legisiative power for the first twelve years was vested in o congress mado up of delegates elected by the rospective legislatures of the various states that were mombers of the union congress then of the United States was not o represcntativo body of the peopi ¢hosen indireotly through the legislatures who had boen chosen for the most part by lana holders aud men who paia The delegates, or rather members of the first federnl congress, were restricted to three years of service, that is, only serve during a consecutive term of threo years and wera barred from holding any ‘ofze of vrofit or trust under the colonial or state governments while serving as members of congress, and they could be recalied at the pleasure of thelr respective states. “After the adoption of the eonstitution of the United States, promulgated on March 4, 1789, the legislative power of the national government was vested 1n a congress com: posed of two separate bodies—the house of ropresentatives elected directly by the peo- plo and apportioned according to population, and the senate of the United States elected by the lemislatures of the respective states and apportioned in equal numbers to the states that constitute the union, each state having two members or that august body. “Itis a matter of history that tho framers of the national constitution, in adopting thav form of government, had in view the restric- tion of tho people in their primitive capacity. There was aprofound distrust manifested in the people, and an aristocratic disposition to fence out the people gfrom the choice of rep- resontation in the upper e, but a body they could house of the na- that was wise or unwise experience alone could demon- *“While the American union had only a sparseiy settled population and the settlers of the various states were nearly all land owners and free from the influences that now surround the American voter, there is no doubt that the senators chosen by tho logislutures were in largo part the ablest and the most trusted men that could have been chosen in the reepective states, country multiplied in population and wealth, there came a marked change and it became manifest that the senate was gradually be- ing converted into a House of Lord: no longer represented the real popular demo- cratic spirit, but that it represented unre- publican tendencies and in fact had become asource of corruption and menace to popu- lar solf-governmment. ults of the System. “Those of us who have been at senatorial elections and are familiar with the practice as well as the theory of government have found that the legislative branch of our gov- ernment deteriorates and becomes seriously aemoralized by reason of these periodic sena- torial elections. In theory, perhaps, i that the men who repre- lierating coolly and con- sclentiously upon the claims of tho men who aspired 1o #eats in the senato, would be actu- ated only by one motive, that is, as far as possible’ to ascertain who among the aspir- ants was the most worthy and the most capable, who would best represent the state and who would contributo most 1o the glory and the.reputation of the state and of the re- But what is the practice? “Wheunever it is known that the term of a senator is about to expire and that a legisla- ture is about to be chosen charged with the duty of electing a senator of the United States a class of.mew. push to the front for laces in the legislature who really ought to 0 always kept to the rear, of men ot merely ambitious to have 1t said of them that they helped to make a senator, that they had contributed towara elevating the standard of nativnal they aro a class of men veoal and pliant and They go to the legislature with the deliberate design to better their own condi- tlon through bribes received in various forms or with pledges of a offices that iusure for ti for which they have bartered their votes. “The groatest scandals that have ever smirched the pages obrpska are to be found in tne legisiative rocceldings pending the election of United 1 couln cite several Parties who were be all right to at the people, They are a class luw makers, but pointment to federal em lucrative places the history of tates senator. stances, but will refraio, not thought of as candidates, parties who nt themselves before the people suffrages, deliberately bought whole blocks of members, and by a combina- tion of the corrupt with the ambitious, by promises of federal appolutments, by par- eeling out the United States marshalsnips, and postmastersbips did not pres attorneyshups, of congress. belief that our legislatures had been de- based aud corrnptly manipulated at every senatorial olection that begata sentiment mong the peoplo regardless of part: vor of having the senatwors of the States subjected to the crucial test of an election, and when the framers of the con- stitution uuder which we now hve convened in 1875 that sentiment was so powerful that by an almost unanimous vote the convention baa fuserted into our coustitution a pro- vision that the peoolo election when have the right to express their box and have their votes counted and re- This s as far as auy state can go under the present constitutionof the United That instrument smended before we can form which the great body of the peopie of the United States are now demanding on all n Tt scarcely needs to be pomted out that whilo the various states formulated thoir constitutions on the model United States constitution, not & siugle state In this union has ever undertaken or even stfempted to place an iutermediate boay must first be hove for that re- of tho senate. elected by proof that the people themselves siuce the formation of the constitution have hed the conclusion that the aristocratic features copied from or modeled after the overnment, where thoy mmons chosen by the and a House of Lords perpetually power, 15 8n unrepublican part of our political muchinery which sooner or later wust ve ellminated, There Are Defects in Our System. “It stauds o reason that every attempt made in the United States congress to submit Lo the people an amendment placing the slection of senators within thoe aireot reach of tho people Las met with very little favor at the hands of the body thatis to be abolished us a ‘House of Lords' and come down to tue level of the Every state Enghsh system of have & Houso of 80 far bas of the men who for the last twenty-five years, 1 need not go further back, have held places in the United States senate would not been in their seats had their election been submitted directly to the vouers of the respective states. It is no duscredit to the American people int out the defeots of the © know that the United State \tbis time and at all times goverument. of the greatest, ablest and purest statesmen this country, or, perhaps, any other countr; bas produced, but we also know that quite THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, APRIL 24 percentage of the moxnbers of the United States sonate are thers simply beoause they eittor were capable of manipglating the leg- islaturus and paying for thoir seats or be- causo they bad been submervient to large corporations with great wealth and com manding influences in legisiatares, and that their seats are really simply filled by tho de- creo of theso corporations, aad not by tho poopie. Pl kiiow, for instance, that the great state of Pennsylvania has been represented in the senate for & number of years, for moro than a goneration by one iamily. Tho head of that family hold that seat by sheer force of cnaracter and_ability and by prominence 1n the councils of the republican party; the son holds it not becauss of any ability, but be- cause of tne vast wealth at his command and the corporations that aré benind bim. I coula state numbgrs of other oases, but I will refrain, simply pointing out the fact tlat according to my belief tho interest of the people of the United States demands a radical reform in the na tional legislature. 1 believe that ere lona the sentiment will be overwhoimingly in favor of romodeling the senate and making it re- sponsive to the popular pulse. It may be said—and I presume 1t will be said—that this 15 & body for which we should have rever ence; that this part of tho constitution has remainea intact for more thau 100 years: that we Lave gone through many trying ordeals under the present form ahd that & change should nover beattempted unless there is s0me VOry grave wrong or grave abuse. But after all'we must remember that even tho constitution of the United States was a change. It was achange in the forms em- bodied in the articles of confederation and the articles of confederation were a change from the form under which the colonial cov- ernment had existed. The declaration of in- depondence points out clearly that the forms of govornment must necossarily change with tho changed conditions nand wants of the people. We cannot hope 1o continue in tho straight jacket into which we were put bofore steam and electricity were utilizea, before tho steam- boat and railway and telegraph brought tho most distant sections close together, before telephones and clectric lighting, even be foro the press, with its millions of pavers kept our pooble informed about every move- ment n the social, commercial and political of us possess, and [ coula not help but think while listening to my able friend ou the left that perbaps he has not been unfortunate enough to bo very much on the inside in tho workings of our legisiative bodies. Fhe diagnosis that Mr. Rosewater makes soems plain, that s, tho cor- porations control the senators or the uppor body becuuse they can work by devi- ous ways. It is a woll known fact that leg- islators will resori to all sorts of devices to delay lemslation. Iu order to effect their purpose they will make a motion to recommit a bill to & committes or to adjourn and avail themselves of a thousand pariiamentary tac- tics to delay action upon bill, well kuowing that if it comes to a final vote they will have to vote for it. Undoubtedly we would be to a large extent saved from these kiod of leg islators if the senators wore elected by a di roct vote of the people. [ think we noed a cheek, but 1 fail to see how the chock system would be any loss than it 18 now if the se tors wero elected directly by the people. In my opinion it would remain just tho same, “Itis al3o a matver of history, I think, that at the time of the framing of the constitution there was what might bo termod a Hamilton party and a Jefferson party. Mr. Jefferson who had just returned from France, was filled with the doctrines of fraternity and cquality and he desired that tho people should have the fullest sway fa selt-govornment. Mr. Hamilton ropr souting tho other siae had no confidence in the people. Ho had no_confidence in tho ability of tho mass of tho peopls to decide wisely on questions of vital importance to the country. These things were fought out backwards and forwards. “As a country grows it changes its con: tions and so we have made numerous amond- me 1o time. of the sen- ments ta our constitution from 1 imagine1f we traco the bistor ate and imquire into the calibre of senators wo shail find that wo get the best sonatorinl tes whera the strongth of the parties is pretty evenly divided, because d tho best men of both par- ard, In states which are mostly democratic o mostly republican 1t is notorious that men who have compara- timber in those sta in ordor to snce ties must be put forw tively no fitness for the oftico are ol the United States senate, aud they clected by all kndsof peculinr methods. proposed is o good ome. I beliove that only I think tne remed world. 1f we are'to have any changes iu our condition none are, in my opinion, more im- peratively needea than’a reconstruction of the senate upon the basis of self-government by the people and for the people.” [Loud applavse. | Mr, Halligan's Reply. Mr. C. . Halligan, who took the negative side of the question, said: *‘The first propo- sition that Mr. Rosewater advanced was that the senate arose from a distrust in the peovle. Could they believe for a moment or could the houorable gontleman believe that the senato of the United States arose from a distrust of the people! Not by any means. The men who assembled in the colonial congress camo from the people; thoy had the interest of the people at beart. What, then, did 1t anse from! They were about to construct a structuro that was to extend over the whole people, and thoy wanted to do iv in such a manner as would subserve the inter- ests of the people smud would perpot- uate that structure to their posterity. They consulted the pages of history to dis- cover what othor governments had dore and they came to the conclusion that they must have ono legislative body to act as a réstraint upon the other. They said that the great mass of the people should have a representa- tive body, but us tho great mass of the peovle are influenced by their passious, by zeal and by questions that momentarily arise, we must haye something to check the action of the purely representative body of the mass of tho people and they created the senate to act ns a check upon the house of representa- t ‘Thon the question arose how should this senate be elected. If elected by the direct vote of the people then it would partake of Lhe same elements that the house of repre- sentatives is composed of. They said if we do that it will be just about thesamo as if we divided up the house of representatives and they determined Lo make the senuate as inde- pendent from the house of representatives as possible, They made the one to serve asa check upon the other. They alsu gave to the sonato the power to reject bills passed by the house of ropresontatives and they gave to the house of representatives power to reject bills introduced by the senato. This served as a balauce wheel. They foresaw that and they corstituted the senate because it did serve as a balance whool and not bpecause they had any distrust in the people. “Tho next proposition the gentleman ad- vanced was that the senate converted 1tself gradually into a House of Lords. Now, sup- posing the house has converted itself into a House of Lords, what does that signifyi Does it mean that they would not convert themselves tuto a House of Lords if they weroe elected directly by the people? Does it certify that they would be any different from the House of Lords in England?! Did we not take our legislature from the Enghsh house! Is it not a fact thut the House of Lords has been bampered and controlled in 1ts action from time immemorial by tue house elected by the people! The House of Lords, or the upper house in England, is an hereditary af- fair, which is worse than the senate of tho United States, and yet it has never controlled thie legislative acts of England Lo the detri- ment of England, or perhaps it would be bet- ter to say very seldom has it done so, Not the Fault of the System, “Granting that it 1s true, as the gentleman says, that the representatives go there to better their condition; that is all right, pro- viding they go thero also to better the ' con- htion of the people. But he says tnat they g0 there to better their condition by accept- 10g bribes when there is a senatorial elec- tion to take place in the logislature. Now, supposing they do, what does uhat prove! Does that detract from the senate! Is that an esrgument that the senate of the United States should be elected by the people? Let us see. (rant tLat every sena- tor .in the United States semate buys bis seat in the senate through the legislative body, even in that case it 1s impossible for that senate sitting 1 a body at Washington to enact a law that is detrimental to the in- terests of the people uutil it aiso bribes the represontatives of the people sitting in the bouse, and the sanction of the president of the United States would also have to be secured. 'Truo, they tny pass & law by the aid of the lower houso without the presi- dent’s signature, but how do they do it! They do it by the concurrence of two-thirds of the members of both houses, “‘How are the state legislatures elected? By a dircct vote of the peopie, How is it that wo ean @lect men by a direct vote of the woph Who are 80 corrupt as to accept bries¥ hat guarantee huve wo that if we elected United States senators by a direct vote of tho people that they would not be equally corrupt! We have none, *‘Ho says the people of the state do not constitute an intermediate body and that is try. At the present time the forty-fourth part of this union. It is @ small body. parison, senators become subservient to corporate any le:s so ir elected aws they give us, enact new laws, K modify. change, repeal or amend somotbing, history oxamples of governments one must go down that does bring about.” |Loud spplause. | Very Plainly Diagnosed, Prof. Frank A. Fitavatrick made a few re- marks and among other thiugs said: I do uot thiuk there can be very wuch question in the minds of anyone who has listened to Mr. Rosewater in his prcientation of the subject matter of his talk to us this evening, but that all be bas sald hus proceeded from a perfect couviction on his part produced from a more verfect knowledge of the bid- deu wheels that move legislatures thas auy mon of character and standing in the party should bo rominated as candidates for tho important oftica of United Stutes sen- in the conventions and 1f this were dono I think it would result in our having a much botter grade of men in the senato where now wo hayo men whom everybody knows are ob- ators and the battle shoulu be fought ou jectionabla." The meoting was also briefly addressed by J. L. Wooison, Frank L. Weaver, John Wil son Battin and Dr. A. F. Jonas, Fixing the Rosponsibility. Judge dlelvin R. Hopowoll rose In re- sponse to calls and said: I will not under- take to make a_speech on this. question, but 1 may state a thought or two whict the re- marks that bave been made have callod to my mind. 1 was very much interested in tho opening romarks and the speech of Mr. Rosewater. Ho has stated very succinetly mier i which tho election of our senators came about, and his princinal reason for dosiring a change in the mothod of electing senators is the idea that now our senators are olected by tmproper influences, by bribes. Now, I 3 that the majority of our mombers of our state legislatures are men who aro susceptible Lo these corrupt in- fluences. 1am not willing to say that tho majority, or a large proportion of the mem- bors of an ordinary legislature, would be controlled by such_influences. If, howover, it were true who is rosponsiblo for it? 1f and clearly the history and the ma &m unwilling to cona areason for electing tho senators of the United States directly by the people. What 15 & state! It is ouly @ portion of our coun- Would it be advisablo to elect state senators by an intermediate bodyt The smuliness of the states in comparison with the union snows the difference between this com- The gentloman says the United States power, Supposing they o, Would thoy bo y tho peoplei The auestion is not whether the senators become subscrvient Lo corporate power, but whether in thelr cupacily as senators they an ensct laws dotrimental to the intorests of Lhe peo- le. Not how they are elected, but what +The great trouble with the American peo- pleis that they bave a great anxiety to ery lemislature wants to and our statute books are full of the amend- ments of such errors, Now tho senate acts as 8 check upon that tendeucy, and that is what it is for. Wo can find in the pages of imilar to ours, but without our salutary system of checks, in ancient Atheus and Florence, but those governments went down, just as every not provide checks; that does not provide balance whoals for tho government. jt is an easy thiug to say that we should have our laws changed aud moditied and new wmodes pro- vided, but at the same time we should not overlook the evils that these changes often corrupt men are_sent to the legisiature the people who nominate and elect them are di- rectly responsible, But how would the evil be remedied by electing the Unitod States senators directly by the people. If this sys- tom was adopte it seems to mo that instead of aoing away with thess Lnproper methods it would simply relezate them from the legis- lature to the nominating conventions. “When we look back_over the history of our country we see, I think. that some of the greatest minds of our country have peen In tho senate of the United States. Wo all and quite the roverse in many instances. In Favor of the Existing System. fail to see how it wonld be better. stato two senators and threo repre: makes it a matter of strife among our poli in the legisiatures for senatorial positions. pally Lo a very few persons. the facts, | Applause. | M. Rosewater's Rejolud by & direct vote of the people, suid : the posterity that comes after agree to that, Such men as Clay, Sumner, Wabstor and many others that we readily call to mind, have been the very ablest men that our country has produced, and they have -bpen elected by the- legislatures as provided by our con- stitution, and after having werked so well so far where is there a good reason for making the change now urless there would be greater freedom from those improper meth- ods that have been suggested! Now there is a difference between the senute of the United States and the house of ropresenta- tives, und it 1s well that 1t is so. Asa mat- ter of fact, ono is a digrified, deliberative body, the otheris not so much so at least, “Now, 1t seems to me that the only argu- ment is a supposition or a fear, fur which, perhaps, there aro good reasons, that somo senators have obtained theirseats in theso questionablo ways: vet, as a matter of fact, if wo bring it dowa to pure politics and Lave the senators nominated by our political cou- vontions and elccted directly by tho peoplo T “There aroe political questions that must be met and dealt with and it is very. dificult to say what is the best way to deal with them. Take an example. We have from this ta- tives. Ave the representatives from this state so much superior in ability and wisdom to our seuators that they couldoo offered as au argument! As it has been sugzested by one speaker the very fact that the senate soems to occupy an exalted position, to be different, 1o be more deliberative, more in.the nature of a House of Lords than the house of repre- sentatives, and that the position of seuator is looked upon as much more honorable, cal partivs to put forward before the legisia- ture their very best men. As has been sald, men of markea ability who have first gone to tho etato legis'atures, and have shown them- selves capable and worthy of the confidence of their respective pariies, are the men usually that are put forward by thoir parties “I think the history of ouv country shows that the elections made by the legislutures bave 1n the main been from the very bust men in the states, Instead of conducing to the election of abler men and less' corrupt men it seems to me that the tendency would be rather the reverse and that an election by the people would gradually bring the two bodies more on an equality, more upon a par atleast 10 the minds of the people than they are now or than they will be so long as the prosent method of clecting scnators is con- tinued, because if the influences which are brought to bear in the primaries, in the county conventions, in the district conven- tions aud state conventions for the nomina- tion of congressmen, which are open o criti- cism of my friend, Mr. Rosewater, and which recelve thiem, are not the nomination of sen- ators cqually open. to the same criticism? Would the results be any betterif the sena- turs were elected by precisely the same {mple who elect the members of the state islaturest 1 think you will find tbis bribery and corruption is confloed princi- “Most of the men who 2o to the senato of the United Statos are subposed to be the best men of the state, men who have reputa- tions at stake, but by chance thers are a few who go there for mercenary purposes. Thay, of course, do all they can to keop that from being known. It is almost impossivle to pre- vent some undue influences from being ex- erted, yet as | have said I have faith enough in my fellowmen to believe that these mat- ters are largely exaggerated. At'wny rato tual fucts never grow less by heing car- ried from mouth to mouth and coming to the “ears of tho public through the medium of the newspapers they do not always get the exact They always got them large cnough and as they circulato thoy spréad and grow.’ Mr. Rosowater being requested to reply to the objoetions raised by thoso Who had op- posed the election of Uuited States senators “After a hundred years of government we have passed from the speculative and ex- perimental era 10 the era of expericnce. The men who framed the constitution were simply grapplicg with @ theory aua they did- " what they thought best for perpetuatiog free government for themselves and thewr posterity, but after a hundred years we certaiuly oughit to act for ourselves and and provide the ghocks and safeguards which experience suggests are absslutely necessary. As to the denial that the framers of the constitution did not iatend to put & barmer bstween the people and the choice of seustors from dis- trust of the peopie, it is historic that not ouly was there a mavifest distrust of the people but & contempt for the people by many of those who took part in framiug the constitu- - tion, and not afew of them were believers in o sort of demi-gnigjocracy rathor than a pure republican mi:h govornment. Now just look at tho United States senate of todav and the United States senate in woich Web- ster, Clay, Caltiomm, Benton, Douglas and Sumner had sagts, It was composed of men who will be ili#stRous for all timo. What have you got therp today ! “When we had ‘a_population of something like 15,000,000 or 20,000,000 and still had rep resontatives thay, canie from the people, although, perllps, througn the filtration process of a lewslature, we did get tho ablest and best men. What do wa get now ! The filter is of g, mfferent kind. Now thoy are filtered through the murky waters of corruption and fnstead of boing able to count our groat statestut by the score we nave ot only half a dozem bn both sides of the house. Look at the senate toaay. What have vou got outstde of John Sherman, General Haw- ley, William E. Chandler and three or four republicans, and possibly Mills and Carlisie on the democratic side! You have got a lot of moaay bugs, conl barons, lumber barons, silver kings and representatives of all the concentrated wealth of the country, but the common people have no representatives or very few, and when a man does dare to stand up and teil tho truth as regards tho niothods used in throwtling tho legisiation the people demand then he is treated as an out- castand ostracisod; ho does not belong to that charmed circlo, If you were in Wash- ington as often as [ have boen, and T was thore in 1862 for tho first time, you would be very much surprised at the marked change in the makd up of the senato. You tulk 1o me about sending bacik men who have made a record, Here was this man Payue, an oil barou, sent from Ohio nstead of Pendleton. Look at Brgeo and look at other senators that havo bean sent there by America’s plutocracy, Not for t “A gentleman has stated it makes no dif- ferenco how a senator gets his clection, he is exalted and purilicd as soon us he geis inty the senate. W aro told that he is thore us acheck. Yes, Lo is there as a check tpon logislation which is wholesome; a check upon every kind of legisiation that is demandod by the common people, but when it comes to the gislation that the corporate interests doma : then heis no check. I for myself fect thu* the tima has come to makea change. I feel it because 1 am convinced that we are on the eve of a crisis, If we are to retain our form of government we must restoro and in- fuse confidence in the minds of the people that it is @ republican form of government and that it Is going to stay that way, and not an_aristocratic government, modeled aftor tho pattern of Eugland, in_which wealth alone controls aud brains and ability go for nothing. “One thing this reform would do; it would save an immense amount of time that is now wasted by the lezislatures of tho various statos wrestling over senatorial con- tests, Look at the stateof Iilinois. The whole sussian fritted away bofore tne sena- tor was elected. They fight and pull and tug and offer bribes and make promises of posi- tions and there have been occasions when legislatures have adjourned without electing a senator at all. “Itis true that some bad men are olccted to the legislatures by the people. “This 1s due largely to the fact that they are chosen from Littls distriets and very sparsely set- tled gistricts. ‘They come bocause they nre not known and just us soon as the public has zot acquainted with them they do not come any more, - [LaugWter.] But that does not avgue that the peoplo should be doprived of their right to voté for United States senators for the checks will remain just the same as 1f they were elected vy iegislatures. A man to be a senator must be thirty years of age and have: been a full citizen of the United States nine vears; s member of the house needs to be only twenty-five years old, 50 we have provided for ago and some expe- rience. It is not {10 that men graduate from the house to tho,:senate. You will find, as has b stated here tonight, that the sudden acquisition of wealth or subserviency to some big corporation sends a man leaping over the heads of others right into the sen- ate. Ho lands thora and assumes the dignity of one of the loeds.; The Houso of Lords is ion and preferable. 1 have . seen itin ses their appearance ahd decorum ind good aeal more inteilligence on the average than our lords, and this must be smd that being., born o - ihe. places and reaved and educated " to rule they are better. - fitted- to ..do so. -Our men are seldom educatad to fill the places. Thoy may have won & capitai prize in the Louisi- ana lottery, or struck a bouanza, or strnck oil or anything else that makes men suddenly rich and lunds them in the senate to make laws or obstruct legislation the people want, “I have been asked whether the hope :f a senatorial position.is not an incentive for keeping close to the people. Ob, ves, it is an incentive. Senator Stunford wants money lent out at 2 per cent to evergbody who has land to mortgage. He has more land thaa auybody in California. We have been told thau these dignified genilemen never suppori any measurc that has not been well weighed, and yet we have seen soveral schemes matured and weighed in the sonate which finally did not waterialize just because the ciiecks came at the other enc of the capitol. What Would Be Galn “As a matter of fact there is a radical differonce between the House of Lords and our senate. ‘T'he House of Lords cannot oniginate a single bill; not a dollar can they vote out of the exchequer of Great Britain: whereas in the house of lords of America you can get all sorts of schemes introduced and attached as riders to appropriation bills, 1 consider that some ot the objections aro well founded. To a certain extent you would transfer the struggle of sonatorial selection to the floor of the convention, but the floor of the convention 1s au open floor ard ustally the time given is aboul a day, end the littlo corridors und closeis and side places in which legislators ara seen and in which ar- ranguments are made night after night; in which men bet money and 10so1t_purposely, all theso things are absent. Again, supposo after all it was discovered that a man was nominated by fraud, could the party dare stand up with him?- It it did there is a free press ready to expose corruption. There wouid be 10 chance, 10 my opinion, or not one in & hundred, of buying the majority of the dele- gates of a convention, and then tho buyer would have to get a majority of the votes at the ballot box. Ttis true U Mr. Hill was elected and re-electod in Now York as gov- ernor, but Mr. Full provably was elecied be- cause he was about as good a man as the democrats bad to present for the oftice of governor, It is simply a struggle for tue fit- test or the “fightiest,” and the man who has ability and a clean record would come to tho front. Now It is the subtlo, ingeuious schemer that gets to tho front or some soul- less corporation that hus no front or rear [Laughter) that gets in 1ts wovk against any man that is not friendly to its interests, Our senato is gradually and svreiy being filled with that class of men wro represent only wealth, and nokthe middle and better class of ' the people. We must remove the chaies for temptation which now sul ds our law makers Legislators would upt be bribed if there was no incentivo for bryhery, 1f you rewove that temptation you would stop a great aeal of jobbery which candidates for the scuate and friends of the candidates countenance aud support in tying with bogus claimants aud jobbers. You'wpuid have a better class of men in your leglslatures who would legis- late for tho publie gepd. “In my judgmentithere is no need for rev- erence for the conktitution on account of age. The constitution 'Hag' been changed before. Almost every mad in"the constitutional con- veation from Gogrgg Washington down was a slave holder, jutawe have chaoged the constitution, and abolished slavery. 1 would rather trust the gkeat mass of the people than a few people:* Phe safety of nur gov- ernment is in largg pumbers. The best gov- ercd stalos are the New Kuglaud states whore they have town representation. The Massachusetts legistature has more than 700 mewmbers. It is pretty dificult to manipulate such & large ‘body, - "In this state we only have 133 membérs and sixty-eight votes make o senstor. Twenty years ago we only had fifty-two members and twenty-seven voles was o majority and they were not very difticult to corval. But our most numerous legistatures are more easily wanipulated and corrupted thau the people of a whole sate.” —_——— What a craze for ‘cireus entertainments! In New York at present throe first class thoaters bave productions with a circus lean- ing, viz.: “A Night at the Circus” at the Bijou, **The Lion Tamer” at the Broadway and *'The Country Circus” another attiac- tion with the Havor of the sawdust riug, will enter the list of metropalitan amusements, And all this time Baruum's circus is rampant at Madison Square garden with “Columbus, a gigantic spectacle of no circus pretension: #s its chief exbibin 2—TWENTY PAGES. SUMMER OPERA FOR OMAHA | The Season to Begin May 22 and to Run Twelve Weeks, TWENTY-FIVE OPERAS WILL BE GIVEN Contributions Invited for the Actors' Fund ale—Stage Career of n Charming Ne- ing Attractions— Theatrical Chat, braskn Girl A season of light opera has come w0 be a feuture of summer entertainment in Chicago, and Omabw is about to assume this modern air of metropolitanism. It is & rather venturosome undertaking, bo triad here before and proved a failure, but Manager Burgess of the Farnam Street theater is confident that, pro- begin the enterpriso with prospocts and ad- vantages never before enjoyod by an Omaha Ho has a popular the Crawford means undesiravlo aily at tin 4 company on torms that wiil permit popalar prices, which must provail to make summor overa go, it is necessar wagoment of four months. Managoer Burgess will not have to 1n this venture, for if intorest lags here will fill out the season house and back v 10 guaranteo an en- depend solely upon Omaha rawford cir Ho returned from Chicago the other day, and now anuouucos the closing of a contract of comic opera beginning May will bo furnisted by Henry W. Dodd, who, besides managing con- for a season Tho company ganizations Duff, Carleton, rich opera companies. two compauies, one for Chicago and the other Tho choruses and some of tho principals are already at work in Chicago, will be filled out with singers who are now on the road with opera companies and ave fitted to step into their places on short notic r Burgess is assured that the com- pany will have good people because there are plenty of singers anxious for summer engage- ments, and its members will be thorougnly before appearing in Omaha. The com pany will begin its scason Ma. 1t will then ms and porhaps three weeks before opening in cason will twolve weeks or longer if the patronago will warrant it, and then the company will go on . The munager of the Kunsas City thea ters is anxious fora four weeks’ engagement, and the rest of tho season will be put in on the Crawford circuit, ason tho repertory will twenty-tive , and tho bill will ve changed fwice a s an abundance of vari- include such works as “Bohemian Girl,” “Nauon,” “Fra Dinvolo,” “Pinafore,” “I'iree Black Clonks.” irofla? und *“T'rebizon.” larize the enterprize and givo every induce ment for a liberal patronage ihe prices of the They will range f 0 cents for the best seats down to the iusigniticant sum of 10 cents for the gallery. Morrissey and Gustay Hiu- He is now organizing for this city. 9, appearing tour of Ltwo The Omaha weel, which will gi Farnam wilt be reduced. A correspondent of L Bre writes that the coutributions to the Actors’ Fund fair in New York, including cash and goods, amount 10 about §50,000. have given benefits for other charities that have needed many hundreds of thousands of dollars, and now their appeal for bolp is re- ceiving a generous response. President Harrison has contributed anum- ber of rare ola medals once owned by his With thom are autograph let- ters 1o prove thoir genuineness, Edwin Booth has given 81, Jefferson a pawnting by himseif. Florence has prosented & copy of illustrated by her. dead comedi The actors of graadfather. 0, and Joseph tusband, the who worked upon it for sey I'io expense of decorating Mad- ison Square garden, which will cost many be borne by the theat- s of Awmerica. Thesa indicate the eharactor of the con- tributions of members of the profession. The thousand dollars, rical manag. the donation rare or quamt articles to be The dry goods men of Now for 5,000, and the Now York of cash or of placed on sule. Yorlk have signed chacks brolers have done women have donated costiv laces, curios and Painters have given other frionds of tho ous pieces gathered in far countrios. "'he uctors’ fund is raised for tho purpose of relieving sici aud disabled actors, and for the carc of tho orphaued children of actor sed horetofo e by benefit theaters, and the coming foiv is the first genersl call upon the public Contributions, Lo gratefully received by the exceutive committee, cet, New York, Miss Olive May, thelovely girl who plays the part of Bertie's swuetheart in *“I'he Hen- is & Nebraska girl. moved from Chicazo, so that the daughter, who had boen highly complimented and by Mine. Modjeska, wight have proper train- ing and advantages. Sho entered tho Chicago Conservatory and tho dramatic department studied persistently, pearance were so much 1mproved that sho had the satisfaction of knowing after a short time that sho was not onty tno beauty of tha most promising pupil. cauvuses, and have donated Money has been performanci Thirtieth sti Her parents much encouraged worked and mannor and ap- conservatory, Three times did his company before she uccepted, young and inexporienced heights at ouce and would be a Lady Mac- beth or nothing. One afterncon, however, after a_matinco at the Chicago opera louse, where sb the rola of Lois in Jerome' K Jerome's littlo made a hit, hat time that she was not formed by nature for a tragodiennc,and,afier a sum- “Two Sisters” company, she 1t is said that sho will leave the compauy ab the close of the present season, her and Mr, Rovson’s wife, Miss May Waldron, not being ontirely has youth, beauty, ability and thoe prostige of o charming part in ona of tho most successful e duy, 80 there will bo littie dificulty in ber securing another deswrabio ongagement. THEATERS, the relations between edies of the At Boyd's new theater this evening Car- roll Johnson, the Irish singing comedian, will begin @ threo nights engagement in matohless scenic production of the romautic Mr. Johnson, who was orlpinally a famous minstrel, sinco he made bis debut IPairios Well”’ three years ago has gradually forced his way to stands without a rival 1 bis particular lino is a born Lrishman, being u nutive of Carlingford, County Louth, aud by very nature of his suited and refined with comedy work play, ““Tie Gossoon,” deals with tho darker and lighter sides of Tuo scones are all laid scenic beauty somely staged and selaoin seeu 10 an Irish play. white face in *The tho front until particularly that paradiso of The play is hand- has a scenic mounting ‘The Farnam Strect theater comes to the front again this week with & new in & play uaknowa L0 this city opening with malinee this Miue” company has been seou 1n note, east of Omaha, at least once every year for the past threo sea business it invariably does, tells the tale of popularity, which spoaks the merits of & dramatic attraction. melo-drama order. sons and the The story is one of west- eru life, not as it is supposed Lo be, but as 1t the hills of Moutana ladies ana gentlemen, who can teach some of the inhavitants of eastern cities, what nat miner ' who havi fouud a vich elaim, endoavored 1o protect it from the buman sharks, to bo fuuud in all His' endeavors ia this direction are aided by a Deanver gambler. ural honor is. mining settlemcuts. Of course the adveaturos of the three are thrilling. The romantio vein of the piay are furnished by the gambler and the oid minet's danghter, a‘oharacter of the M'Liss type. In the whole play, thereds aot one thing to which an exception could be taken. The company promised is a strong one and is the original cast of this play as producad in Philadelphia three years ago. Of Rhea, who will bo_at Boyd's theater on Monday night, May 2, the Critic says: “Rhea has made the hit of her life as Catha rine [ in ‘Ln Crarinm, Emproess of Russia® (her new play this season). Those of her admirers who have soen her as Adrienne Le- couvreur and Josephine will forcot her beau- tiful rendition of those charaotors when they witness hor masterly acting in this one.” *'Blue Jeans" is the play to seo now by all means. Imorove the chance when it comes to Boyd's theator the last throo evenings of next week. It is strong, original and deeply interesting. The play is unquestionably American, the most genuine so of any dramn on the stage. Thera is nothing traditwoual In it. The characters aro altogother now (¢ tho stage, and thoy have the merit, more over, of being vigorous, picturosque and com manding, There is the typical, ignorant, blatant. yet withal gencral politician who is one of the forces in the machine, who has no notion of the use of politios aside from the spoils of office, and is already to make a speech or to coerco refractory voters. There is the Hoosier himself in the porson of Ben Boone, big, awkward, comical, yet withal capublo of furious passion. Thero is the old sottler, impersonated in Jacob Tuterwoeiler, shoemaker, philosopher and politician in a mild way. The women, too, are extraordi nary in their interest. Thore is June, & el from the poorhouse, perhaps as original a type of Amorican womanhood as tho stage hus over scen. Another is Sue Budaly, & waif from the south, boautiful but with a fiendish disposition, loving and hating with equal ardor, Those are tho principal charac- tors in the play, Among the many attractions at Wonder- 1 this week may be found Hinma Couey Island Life Saver, tho saver of forty- nine “lives, He will givoa lecture on tho subject. Ruth, the Dancing Quakeress. The little lady will dance the Mautelete dance, the dance of the Spanish. Dr. A A. Waite and Mastor Harry in their spiritua! mani- festations. Tierney, tho trish comedian, formerly of Tierney & Cronin. Lane & Verona, acrobats and skaters. Scott, the I°rog sMan, in contortions. Waxworks, jpan- oramic views and many other attractions. Duncan Clark and his Fomale Ministrels will give their second and closing perform- ance at the People’s theater this (Suuday) ovoning. Since their appearance hero last soason the company has undergone many changes and @ first class bill will be pro- sented. Stage Gossip. Dan Rice, tho old circus manager, has un- dertaken to teach Nellie McHenry to ride bareback, and in the near future Miss Me Henry will end her now play, “A Night at the Circus,” by dancing on the back of her pretty white horse while be gallops around tho stage ‘I'ne wife of J, H. Stoddard, the character actor of A, M. Palmer's company, died re- cently. Mr. Stoddard remained out ot the cast in “The Broken Seal,” and his part was played by James H. Hackett, a young ama- teur, who acquitted himself so well that he was permanently engaged by M. Palmer. Moro than a half miliion dollars for and a balf’s presentations of a play presented Ly but two companics are astounding figures 10 bo given out as the profits of a stuge pro- duction, but thoss figures represent a claim which Managers Rosenquest and Arthur of- fer to substantiate by an exhibition of their books to anyone curious enough to nvestigate *slue Joaus' " profits. Judge Garber of California, has refused the application of Mrs, McKeo Rankin for ali- mony in her suit for divorce, on the ground tiat sho seems to be in & position to support herself. Mr. Rankin, in his auswer to his wifc's petition, denies that s income 1s large, and citos the tact that, in order to pro- curo the necessaries of life, e is playing at a low-priced theater in San Fraucisco on a low salary. Mme. Bernhardt gave several perform- ance: tne Motropolitan opera house in New York last week, which marks a new departure for Managers Abbey and Grau. They will attemnt to put all their companios av various times into the Motropolitan until the co npletion of their new theater, nearly two years hence. The firm now has a thea- ter of 1us own in_Boston and is in negotia tion for the purchase of McVicker's in Cui- cago, 'TLeir theater iv New York is to oe- cupy half the block extending from the Casino to Thirty-eighth street, and it is their purposein the futare to present their at. tractions mainly in their own theaters in the three principal cities. “Polly Midates,” Annie Pixlev’s new comic opera, was written by A. C. Gunter, the author of ““Mr. Barnes of New York,” eight years ago. Its production came about in a curious wi Mr. Gunter had written a play for Miss Pixley, the principal character of which was an whom Miss Pixley did nov care to imperson- ate. After considerable aiscussion of tho matter Mr. Gunter agreed to take the play back if Miss Pixley would undertakoe to act in o comic opera which he would deliver to her. Mr. Gunter then turned the play into n book entitled “A Florida Ilnchanument.’ The most expensive prizo ever offered for the purpose of finding out the namo of tho most ponular woman in the country will bo on view at the Actors’ Fund fair. This will be » diamond wkhich 1s of the actual value of $8,000. It bears the namo of the Cloveland Uiamond, and is known by every prominent jeweler in tue world. It is tabulated and listed among the great diamonds of cuviliza- tion. The word “gift"" is usod hera in its usual significance in connaction with eharity fairs; that is, it will be “given away” afier the owners have received §5,000 for it averybody can vote by paying $L a vote for itand the woman who receives the greatest numoer of votes will have the diamond, pro- viding 5,000 votes have been received. Teo management of the Madison Square garden, New York, has arranged with Abpuy, Schoeffol & Grau fora Patui musical and operatic festival on May 10, 12 aad 14, Mme. Adolina Patti will be assisted by her own opora company, togother with a chorus of 1,000 voices, and an orchestra of 100 musi cians. Sigoor Arditi will be the conductor for Mme, Patti, and William R. Chapman will bring towether an immense volumo of malo and female voices, The Motropolitan Masical sociery, the Rubenstein and the Melopia of Plainfield, the KKingston Philhar- monie, the Rubinstemn of Poughkeepsie, and othier musical societies are numbered among tnose who wiil bo heard at the festival. Crane seems to have made another hit in New York in his new play, *“I'he American Minister.”” Most of the personages of tho play are Americaus, but the scenes are for- elgn, Mr. Crane st the outset appears at tho American embassy in ltome, whero he represents the United States as minister mado up to look very mucn as Heury Ward Beecher did at 50, The story told is that upon his arrival o ciphor dispateh from Wasbiugton concerning the threat of war over the New Orleans massacre has been ro- ceivad by bis predecessor in ofiice, a man whom the stress of debt and embozzlemont has induced to steal the message and so delay it @s to make it affect the stock murket. The new minister has, Lowever, a sou, sure to by convicted on circumstantial evidence should the matter become public, and so the fathor, in order to discover Lhe dispatch, participates in the carnival, tlirts with countesses, atteuds @ state ball, and indulges in other foolery and considerable American buncombe. A writer in The Theater asks: Havoy ou over noticed the Gale pout! It is the cutest thing out, and. tike all good thiugs of lifo it 1s wortn & little extra exertion for the privi- 1oge of enjoying it. When things go wroug about tho stage, or when there isu hiteh in the workings of the mechanical aceessorics of tho arama, Miss Gale does not Haro uv and get mad all over, froth at the mouth, or mako the atmosphere around Ler bluo by the use of vindictive adjectives, but sho merely displays her displeasura by proaucing ono of whe cutest and sweetest ittlo pouts that over gracod the femipine featurcs. I caughton 10 it some ume ago during one of the per- formance of *“The Hunchoac Something happened to mar the effuct of the scone, and at the end of the uct Miss Galo walked off the stage with her face ornamented with one of tho prettiest pouts that mortal wan ever witnessed. Since that time I bave studied every conceivable scheme Lo bring that pout into existenco. I bave caught the stage wan- ager at an uoguarded mowent and csused nhim to prematurely ring down the curtaiu have started the noble army of ‘‘supers’’ on the stage at the wrong cue; | have caused the Lime-light to spurt and diooutat inauspicious woments, and | have persuaded the gas man to suddenly transform the brilliancy of tho sunshiue iu pitchy darkness. It is impossible to renumerato tho dovilish devices I have studied and practiced solely for the pleasure of gazing on that bewitching litle pout. nish sort of woman .| " tho thing, The express company 1nsists on NO TRICK T0 ROB A BANK Omaha Banks That Have Suffered Losses ab Their Employes' Hands, ROBBERIES THAT ARE NOT MADE PUBLIC Story of a Janitor Who Found Five Thous #and on the Side but Had to D gorge—Remi o of a Cashiol They wero seated vis-a-vis, and between them sproad the expanse of a broad table, Two groups of dishes littered with commante of food were gratetul witnosses to an elab- orate meal, and the character of the restaur antassured a good round charge. The young men had done tho propor thing by the luner fi man, and they were also filled with that sat isfaction which comes to & mau oconseious that bis follows know ke has spout b monoy lavishly and with apparent nnoons corn, They had dispatched the menl and gives themselves up to the comfortable languor which falls upon a man who oan eat a roiish- able midnight lunch in tho knowledgo that ha need not bo at tho ofiica bofore . Thers 18 no other pleasurablo sousatior quito as soothlug to the asper- tios of life, and if a leisurly smoko follows the dainty morsels the acmo of masculine enjovment is reached, Thieso two young men wero well along with thair cigars and had evidently roached the ' meditative stago. The fashionable cut of their coats suggested tho bank clork, an im| pression which proved correct. Unuer these conditions men goneraliy dis ouss their conquests (real or imaginury) among the fair sex, bocomo reminiscent of larks not entirely blameloss, or talk shop, The two diners, as tecamo their ago and oc: cupation, dwelt upou the harmloss topic of business. ‘T'ne elder had the confident air born of su. porior knowlodgo and experience, and his manner toward his companion had the tinge of a petty condescension. The youuger man Wwas a novice in his calling, with tho inquisi- tiveness of a boginner intorested i bis work and anxious to learn it all in a weck. He had the popular notion that the machinery of s bank 13 so perfect that theft by employes it next to impossible, at least without immed ate detection. His companion knew bette! Ho may have held the exalted position of an assistant tellership, which brought with it some confidencos from his superiors, and ho coula not resist tho tomptation to impross the novico with his imaginary importance. ‘T'ne conversation which followed reveatod anumoer of thefts und losses among Omaha banks that have not hitherto teon mado pub. lic. It indicated that the robbery of a bank by its employes 1s not only an casy matter but actunlly oceurs oftener than is suspected by outsiders. It 1s not nccessary horo to give the queries of the novice. “Why, iU's ono of the ecasiost things in the world,” said the young man of the suporior air, “for the men omployed in a bauk to rob it. Of course you know all adout how Panl Tait got away with a $.000 sack of gold from the Merchants' National, because it was published in the papers, but the banks have a groat many losses that don't gat out. Iv's gatling *o o banker to own up to su things, because thoy ave roflections upon his stability. Now there was acase at the Nobraska National not so very longago. Whon the cash was couuted up one day it came out £,000 short, A carcful examination of tha books showed that it was not an error in the accounts, The money had actuully disup: peared and there was no trace of how it had Dbeen spirited mway, for everybody pleaded ignoranca Detoctives ~ were engnged and twe employes were shadowed night aod dav. Nothing came of it and attention was turned to the janitor. Tho eviderce ugainst that individual became strong enough to haul him up. He disgorgea all ho had left and tha matter was hushed up. It s¢ems that the teller overlooked a sack of gold one night when putting tho cash into the vault. Tho janitor discovered 1t when be came to cloan up the bank, and ho simply carried it away Now that Ioss was a matter of accident, but vou can see how eusily two men might de- sign and carry out such a robbery. For that matter a teller can do it alone under favoring ciicumstances. “A case up atthe Commercial National shows another scheme. The clerk who kept the record of depositors’ balances had a con- federate on tho outsido. The confedorate opened an _account ut the bank. He mado deposits avd drew checks s though engage 1w business. Of course the paying teller do- ponds on the balance clerk If he has any doubt abput there being funds on hand to meet a check, and a balanco clerk can easily let a depositor overdraw ms uo, count by reporting a large and fals amount to his credit, Orainarily 1t is noteven necessary to tamper with the books,butin this case tho balance clerk had the nerve to taka a vacation, and be changed the fizures on his book to prevent discovery vy his substi- tute during his absence. In some maunor the bank aiscovered tho swindle, but not until 1t had boen robbed of over #40). Tho clork had kept this schermo in operation for about two yoars, s0 vou can imagino tho chances of detection that he van. of the other banks had an expsasivo ience with mo oxpress compang,” he ocontinued, and the absence of nawes and do- tails may be accounted for on the supposition that his own bank was concerned. “*An oxpress compuny messougar deliverod a number of sacks of money to the bank, and went away with a recoipt for five sacks signed by the te When the money camo to be couated later at the bank, only four sacks, could bo foun There may or ' may not have been a firth sack. That is the mystery of the amount named in the receipt, and the bank declares there was a mistake, Tuoy ure still quarroling about it 10 officers of somo of the banks bave adopted a rule that the presidentor tho cashier, and not tho teller, snall recvivo aud recoipt for money delivered in bulk, ~Somo of Lho ofticers havo a habit of turning ovor such money 10 a teller without hasing him count it or receipt for it. Supposs hu\h«’)ul‘d hold out a package and maks way with it. Pho telier conld deny that he nad received the missing monoy. What proof of theft could the baok producef “inone of the banksa while ago thore was @ shortuge in tho cash o tho amount of €50. ‘Ihe tolior scratched his bead and seratched numerous figuring tablets until ho concluded that sack of silvor doltars had disappeared, Tho shortago eautinued soveral aays, when the missing sack was found in the vault but partly concealed. 1t was ovident that some one had placed it under cover, Tboonly ex- planation was thatone of tho vlerks, improv- in 4 cbance opportunity. had tried 1o con- ceal the sack with tho intention of snesking itout of the bauk at some opportune time late: “Then the youngz man of the superior air wandered off into anarration of cusos in which Omaha banks bad been bled by out: siders by fraudulent warchouse receipts snd othor devious schemes. And as Lo polt wrose 10 go the young man with the importance of un Assistant toiler again assured his compan- jon witn contidential earnestuess that it was not a difficult eut to rob or cheat an Omaha bauk. S Spectacles, Dr. Cullimore, Ba @ building. - Adulteratod Maple Sugar, 1t is said, according to the New York Pribune, that people in the west ure 50 accustomed to adulterated maplo sugar that they will reject the genuine artl with disdain if they happen to come across it. A western firm that manu- facturcs an Imitution urticlo endeavors ko give it something of tho genuine fluvor by boiling a pieco of maple wood in it. Some scientists, however, say that the poculiar flavor of maplo sugar is duo to thoe prosence of impurities in the sap,and that if these impurities could be elimin atod the sugar would taste exactly like pore loaf sugar. Thus gradually is sci- ence taking all the old time flavor out of 1i Pretty soon it will be giving us an improved buckwheat flour, with no more laste than a piece of chalk