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Brisbane, Arthur, 1864-1936

"Editorials from the Hearst Newspapers"


You should not tolerate the selection of Judges of the Supreme
Court, United States Ambassadors, Federal Judges throughout the
country, and all the great executive forces subject to the
approval of the trusts that notoriously make, break and destroy
laws.
A small trust can buy the Legislature of the State of New York.
But the biggest trust can scarcely buy New York's six million
inhabitants. And, thanks to our secret voting system, we are
protected even against ourselves and our own selfishness.
If a trust buys the ordinary voter it cannot be sure that it gets
what it buys.
But if a trust buys the legislators it can count votes and secure
delivery of the goods purchased.
Use your influence to curb the power of the trusts by taking away
from venal legislators that power to sell to trust managers the
Senate of the United States.
This subject you should discuss with your neighbors. You should
urge it upon all of those voters with whom you come in contact.
You should influence legislators in your State to vote for a
Constitutional amendment causing popular election of
Senators--and no legislator will resent your suggestion if he be
an honest man.
Everybody knows that the United States Senate to-day does not
represent the people.


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