Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-03-09
BY THE PEOPLE.
How to Elect Senators Discussed
by the Lyceum.

DY tnG AsyCCu"s
The Lyceum met last night at s o'clock
with Col. V. S. Lusk in the chair.
The query committee consisting OF
Capt...T. W. Patton, Col. LIN. Hatch and
]. W. Starnes, who had served for FIVE
months, at their request were relieved,
and new. committee composed of w. S.
Cushman, Col. T. B. Long and Major W.
H. Malone was appointed. This COM
mittee retired and selected the fol-
lowing: "The experience of three Ashe-
vile women in Boston," for three weeks
hence.
The subject for the evening was an
nounced: SHOULD senator's of the Uni
ted States be elected directly BY the peo-
pie ?" "a ~
Capt. T. W. Patton, the appointed
speaker, made the opening address. He
paid tribute to the trainers of the con-
stitution as to wisdom and patriotism
He referred to the circumstances of the
thirteen colonies. Ee spoke of their in
dependence at the close of the Revolt
ton and the necessity ofhaving federal
union ofthese colonies. Hence, provid-
ing for national congress. the parlia-
ment of England with it's two houses,
was held up as a suggesting pattern;
but instead OF he houses of lords being
appointed by the king, our senator's,
two from each state, are elected by
the legislature, and the house of repre-
sentatives is elected by the people.
The speaker then showed the difference
between the United States of 1888 and
the United States of 1892. Times have
changed and changes are needed in our
times. Pure democracy demands that
senators should be elected directly by the
people. Capt. Patton justified this
change by the general spread of educa.
ton in our times. Under the present
law, it is much easier for a millionaire
to buy legislature, and to gain seat
in congress. than it is to buy the
people in popular elections. He there
fore took strong ground for the election
of the senators by popular vote.
Mr.. Bassell followed Capt. Patton or
the same side, endorsing the main argu
ments and impressing some new ones o.
weight.
Col. Long'arose and made few re
marks favoring election of senators b,
the people.
Tilr,an R. Gaines favored the law a.
it now Standardization of senators by
state legislatures, while the house of rep
resentatives are chosen bv the people di
rect-the senator's representing the soyer
egn states and representatives the peo
pie.
Major Westall did not want to stant
in dead mems shoes, and advocated tn
change of the. constitution so that tn
people might elect senator's.
H. B. Stevens then took the floor an,
argued strongly against the change. H
maintained that the danger Of the pres
enr age is clamor for changes and COZ
ruption of the popular vote DANCE
greater than in legislatures.
VIM. Ward thought England was no
D.. the model for free America. He though
e the trainers of the constitution initiate
: to toogreat degree the English govern
S ment.
Mai. W. H. Malone spoke in compl
). mentary terms Of the success of the l.,
F.. ceum. in getting up a subject and O
), casion 20 full of interest as the preser
+ meeting, and thanked Capt. Patton fc
:, the able opening speech which he mad
e Then the Major announced that he b
). lieyed the Roman saving: "The voi'
d of the people is the voice OF Cod" H
> believed that the people should chang
o the constitution so as to allow the pe
!. pie to elect their senator's.