The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-01-21
THE SENATORIAL CONTEST.

q man tor United States Senator who
is not their choice, is given in an
other column. On the first ballot on
Thursday evening Ramsey had Sc
cured fifty votes. Out of twenty-aine
members If the Legislature who had
personally pledged themselves to vote
for Governor Davis, but twenty-five
kept their pledge, A demand was
thereupon made by his friends, and
also by the friends of Gen. Wash
burne and ex-Gov. Austin, that the
next vote should be 4 vtau voce one.
They did not want to bolt, but they
wanted it to be recorded just how
each man voted. This was contested
by Senator Ramsey's managers, who
well understood that an open vote
would be the exposure Of his pur-
chased supporters. An adjournment
followed, without another ballot
The next evening, out Of the eighty
three Republican members but fifty
four were present and voting, and of
these Alexander Ramsey obtained
forty-two, giving him his usual one
majority. A nomination made with
less than majority Of the Legisla-
ture present was farce and was de-
nounced as such by the oldest and
ablest members Of the Legislature,
but Senator Ramsey's friends were
determined to force nomination and
did 50.
When the vote was taken in the
Legislature on Tuesday nineteen Re-
publican members stood like true
men, and gave their votes for Cush.
man K. Davis. In this they will be
sustained by the highest and best sem
timents Of people everywhere, with
out regard to party. They thought
more of the proper discharge of their
duty than they did Of the clamorings
of a horde of men whose only con-
Germ is the gathering in Of the fat
things which come from the continu-
ance in power of an official patron.
In Friday nights caucus members
(not supporters of Governor Davis
declared that Alexander Ramsey was
not their personal choice for Senator,
that he was not the choice Of their con-
stituents, and that if he were elected
the Republican majority in their coun-
ties would be swept away, and yet
they announced that they would abide
by the decision Of the caucus. What
is this thing-this Caucus-to which
men bow in such abject submission =?
What is it that they place higher
than their consciences, higher than
their duty to their constituents, higher
than the success of their party? It
is piece of machinery, depending
for its successful working on its secre-
cy, by means of which skillfal and
interruptions politicians secure and
maintain their hold on place and pow
er in defiance Of the will Of the PEG:
plc-it is "a tool to manufacture ma
jorities and to organize plumber. -
The election of a United States Sen
ator is one of the most important du-
ties for the proper discharge of which
a member of the Legislature sub
scribes to solemn oath,
and yet he holds the observ.
ance Of this oath secondary to the
dictates of a caucus in the manage
ment of which he knoaos corrupt
means have been employed. The
JOURNAL has, from the first, opposed
the caucus, and sees in these adnis-
sions by those who submit to it
against their better judgment add
tional reasons for maintaining that
position.
All honor to the brave nineteen
Republicans who refused their sub,
mission to a custom more honored
in the breach than in the observance.
IF they made mistake in consenting
to caucus and another mistake in
entering it, there is no reason why
they should make the still grave1
mistake of voting for the man who
succeeded in manipulating that eau
Gus and whom they believe to be not
the man for the position which he il
making such desperate efforts to re-
| tain. Two mistakes will not justify
third. Let them stick-stick until
either they elect the candidate for
whom they are now voting or compel
the selection Of one more acceptable to
the Republican party and the State
than Alexander Ramsey.
TIRE ATENINGS OF WAR IN EUROPE.