The Washington herald., 1909-06-02
SENIOR LAWS WIN
IN FINAL DEBATE
Georgetown Societies Argue
System of Election
]. SPILLER GETS 500 PRIZE
Last Of Series of Three Events Held
in CASTOR Hall Before Appreeiative
Audience Lawrence o. Murray,
COmptrOIler Of the Currency, An
nOunces Decision of Judges.

The Senate VIII continue 70 worry along
Just as it is. elected BY the State iegis-
latures instead Of by popular vote, and
adrift from the apron strings Of direct re-
sponsibility 10 the people
This much was decided last night in
Castor Hall. Of Georgetown University.
II was also ceeided that the senior de-
batting society OF the law school had won
the final prize debate from the Juniors,
and the James spiller. 'Os. OF Texas. had
won the 500 prize offered by the faculty
for the best debater.
The debate was the third Of a series
Of three between the societies, held in
the year now ending. At each OF The
former two, the Two best men were
chosen by the judges to participate in
the final event Lawrence D. Murray.
comptroller Of the currency, said IN an
nouncing the verdict OF the judges that
It was one Of TIE best debates ne had
ever heard al the university. and made
him proud OF his diploma from George
town The other judges were J. Holds
worth Gordon and Morgan H Beach
The question was: Resolved, that
United States Senators should be elected
by the direct vote Of the people" The
seniors, James Spiller, OF Texas, and
Charles A Lethert. Of Minnesota. up
held the negative. and the juniors. Lee A.
Rover, OF this city and Thomas F.
O-Mara, OF Indiana, argued for the AFR
native. Royal T McKenna, 'S New
York. was chairman Of the evening and
introduced the speakers. Al appreciative
audience occupied the hall. IN the inter
rals between the heavy cannonading the
college orchestra played selections.
Senate on the Grid.
AIr. Rover, in opening hostilities fo-
The affirmative. put the United States
Senate on the grid and roasted il TO a
urn The upper House was successfully
taken OF and put on by the three speak
ers who followed.
Nr. Rover declared the present system
Of electIng Senators did credit 20 the mer
who framed il up. but was obsolete now
n the face OF the greater population OF
the country, the increased facility OF
communication, and the more perfect un-
5erstanding and mutual faith satertaineC
BY the people Of the community. Hs
called attention 70 the fact that the othel
officers Of the government were elected By
direct vote, such as governors, even th'
members OF the lower House. and asked
why the pill that was good enough fol
them wasn't good enough for Senator'S.
AS things ara now said the speaker
the Senator's are responsible 10 TO one
Even the legislature which elected then
has IN many cases changed by The tins
they take up their duties as lawmakers
For six long years they are turned loose
free from responsibility 10 the people
Is this not q strange anomaly in this
government OF oUrs?
Anticipating the argument that the
manner Of choosing the members Of The
upper House is designed TO foster con
servatism. Mr.. Rover maintained thai
he people were capable OF seeing Il
that # the power OF selection were
placed in their hands directly
The Great Defect.
1T nay be he continued. that cor
ruption in the Senate is no more preva
lent than in the House, and that TIT
muck has been thrown TOO freely. Bu
the great defect with the present sys
TEN is the tendency toward aff1liatioI
4
poration interests"
The Senate was taken OF the griC
and allowed TO cool by Mr.. Spiller-
Granting that the upper House ha
been turned into q milli0naires' club
granting that II has been converted into
baroniaI castle" he said, is this IN
way to remedy the defectZ'' He contendet
the remedy should be applied 10 the peO
pie who elected the legislatures whici
elected the Senators The men who de
cIded at the constitutional convention OF
the manner Of selections Of Senators. h'
said. included some Of the best states
men the world has known, men Of ever
creed AID political philosophy. who. il
their wisdom, had fOTeSeen the conditions
OF the present day, as well as those o.
their own. He declared the difference II
the mode Of election 10 the two House!
vas devised as balance and check. n,
lower House representing the people di
rectly. and the upper House the sovereign
rights Of the States Assuming the pro
posed change were made, he foresaw +;
host OF disconcerting issues raised be
tween the States and the Federal gov
ernrnent. and the gradual tearing down o
the Constitution itself
Outlines Differences.
AIr. O'AIara, for the affirmative. out
lined the fundamental differences be
tween the two bodies as four in number
the age Of members, their length OF serv
ice. the size Of their constituency, AM
the size Of the legislative body. With n
proposed change, he declared, these essen
tial differences would not be interfere,
with. and the distinctive functions Of III
two bodies world therefore not be I'm
paired Speaking Of the state legisla
tllre, he said:
III It selects the man the public would
the system is a useless waste Of tim
any money II II selects different man
The true feelings OF the people Of tn
state is not represented by its repre-
sentatives.''
That the Senate does and should rep
resent not TIE people, but tie corporal
and political capacities Of the State. wa