The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-01
CONTENTION OF AFFIRMATIVE.
Outlined by the First Speaker from
Trinity,

/ the nptnOu OF selecting united states
| Senators would in no way endanger the
| Federal Constitution, nor impair the
| original purposes for which the Senate
was established. We would still have
two houses and the relations between the
Senate and States would not be dis
turbed. The Senate would still repre-
sent the States in their political capaci-
ties. Nor would the system of checks
and balances on which the two house
idea is founded be disturbed, Senators
would still represent the State as n
whole, while the Congressman would
represent only his district. Thus every
measure would still have to run the
gauntlet of two diverse interests.
THE third purpose for which the
Senate was created-equal representa-
ton of all States in the upper house
would be better secured than now. Do
you know that five States are today
without equal representation in the Sen
ate owing to inability of their Legsa-
lures to elect? Do you not know that
in the last seven years fourteen States
have been denied equal representation
owing to dead-loeks in legislatures If
the people elect them. then these legisla-
tive dead-locks will be things of the
past"
The speaker argued at some length,
showing that the conservatism of the
Senate would not be destroyed by the
popular election of Senators.
But there are two kinds of conservat-
sm-a true conservatism which is care-
full and considerate at all times; and a
conservatism born out of class interest
that blocks all legislation unfavorable
ito corporations. The latter conservatism
ought to be gotten rid of and would
be gotten rid Of by the election of
Senator's by the people,.
Mr.. Stewards second proposition was
that changed conditions since the for
nation of the constitution demand the
proposed reform.
The commercial classes now own far
the greater portion of the wealth OF
our country and are beginning to own
a great portion of our government So
great has become the power of corpora
tons over the Senate that a successful
manipulation of railroads or stock boards
is often regarded as the most essential
Senatorial equipment; and Plutocracy,
the uncrowned king stalks boldly into
the Senate, there to further his unhai-
lowed ends. The Senate now contains
many men of great wealth, s0me-an in
creasing number-are Senators because
they are rich. A year or two ago there
We're twenty-seyen millionaires in the
Senate almost every third Senator
millionaire.
My third proposition is that the peo-
pie demand this change
For twenty years the public PRESS has
been calling for it and over half the
legislatures have petitioncd for it and
80 important has it become that it has
found its way into two national plat
forms and it is incorporated as plank
IN the Democratic platform Of North
Carolina
Prior to 1872 only nine resolutions
had been introduced in Congress asking
for this change: but from 1872 to 1890
1t was proposed thirty times: and since
1870 the number of such resolutions has
grown almost inntImer.able. Is it suqplis-
ing. sir, that after twenty-five such reso-
lirtions had been offered in the Fifty-sec-
ond Congress it should pass without
dissenting vote2 And again it was pass
ed in the F6fty-third Congress. But
all this time the Senate has stood inn
penetrable as Chinese wall against
this reform, not even allowing it to come
to a vote. This, gentlemam cannot be
deemed a mere within of the hour. 1t
has been before the people for twenty
years, and all parties vote for it i'm legis-
latlres and the lower house of Com
gress. SiI's, if this continuous and har-
moniotIs demand coming from an intelh-
gent public press, from oyer-burdened
State legislatures and from the peoples
direct representatives doesn't indicate
a sober state of the public mind, pray
tell me if the people ever get sober?
And do you know the people have al
ready got tired of this waiting bust.
ness?
MY fourth proposition is that to de-
NY the people this demand lis TO deny
them capacity for government: and
this YOU practically do by advocating
the old system.
The whole tendency of governments
from che days of Abraham to- the pres
ent has been to remove proxies and to
repose trust and responsibility in the
people themselves. AT the outset of
our government universal suffrage did
not exist in "A single State in the Union:
ard for nearly fifty years the Legislature
was the great reservoir of political power.
1t elected Presidential electors, Senators.
Governors and all State officers. Only
two officers were allotted to popular
vote, one for Congress and one for the
State Legislature. Property holders
alone could vote for State Senators But
not so today. The people elect directly
their State lawmakers, their Governor.
their Presidential electors, the most of
their State officers and in some instances
their Judiciary. In every State the ten
dency has been to give the people conn
plete and direct sovereignty in selecting
their lawmakers. Have they proved
unworthy of this trust? And would You
have us return to the old method of
eiecting Governors and Presidential cleo
tons by the Legislature? No, sir.
hundred years experience has demon
strated that the people are the safest
repository OF powers and responsibility,
and | maintain that to compel them
10 employ proxies instead Of exercising a
direct voice in selecting their law-mak-
esrS is contrary to ufOgfpSS for n II l4f0-