No argument, but it's also important to recognize the popular sentiments that led to those. Direct election of senators was the equivalent of term limits today--a popular move against cronyism and corruption. And the progressive movement in general was a reaction to the excesses of gilded age capitalism.
The Lost Causers on these boards sometimes hold up the unequal railroad rates charged to southern (and western, for that matter) farmers vs. northern manufacturers as evidence of the persistent yankee conspiracy against them. But the whole subject of railroad rates was hotly debated and was a major progressive platform plank. Railroads fought the government long and hard (see Wabash v. Illinois) until the progressives established the ICC.
It is also important to remember that the Progressive movement was supported by many rich industrialists, who were against competition.