For the first 100 plus years of American history, senators weren't elected by the people.

They were chosen by the state legislatures.

This was supposed to buffer the Senate from the masses and bring an extra level of prestige

and dignity to the office.

But when the framers of the Constitution came up with that system, they failed to account

for some of the pitfalls, including what would happen if two political parties butt heads

in the state legislature over which senators to send to Washington.

By the turn of the 20th century, that initial oversight was spinning out of control.

In Missouri in 1905, the election process became so contentious that it ended in this major

fist fight in the state legislature.

And George Haines, one of the greatest historians of the Senate, described it this way.

The Republicans had tried to turn back the clock literally in the chamber so that they would

have more time to promote their candidate.

And this so irritated the Democrats.

The Democrats picked up the ladder they had been using to reach the clock and threw it out the window.

Then a massive brawl broke out.

The fist fight followed.

Desks were torn from the floor and a few slotted books began.

The glass of the clock front was broken.

The pendulum itself was still swinging.

One of the members picked up ink bottles and hurled them one after another after another

at the pendulum.

...