I thought you said they were "statemen" back in 1912. Are you now conceding they were awful back then? Make up your mind.
>> The 17th improved nothing but only made things worse <<
Disagree entirely. Things got better numerous times after Senators were elected by popular vote. The U.S. Senate c. 1925 under President Coolidge was FAR better than the appointed one that existed back in 1912. Another excellent example was back in the 70s and 80s when Reagan Republicans defeated Dixiecrats in numerous southern states. That wouldn't have happened without the 17th. Man of those southern state legislatures were rigged to be Democrat majority, (regardless of what their citizens wanted) well into the 21st century.
Could be that the corruption also had something to do with Progressivism. Just a bunch of self-entitled liberal pricks who thought then knew what was best for us, and thus willing to do anything to get power over us.