Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-02
The Oregon Story.

odel, Is 206; Cartwright. IL, 2l4; Watts, IL, 206
Lsswell. IA, li9; Klippel, IA 1876 and Cronin, a.,
l57. The Cooper ticket had about $40 votes.
| After the result had been announced, Gov. Gro
yer said that protest had been fled sgainst ssu-
| ing a certificate to Mr.. Watts, and that he pro-
posed to bear an argument upon that question,
and would sit in the Supreme Court room at 1890
A. NJ, the next day for that purpose AT that
time Senator Kelly appeared with others prepared
to argue the case at great lenghh on the part Of
the democrats. The republicans made no argu-
ment, but filed protest against the assumption by
the Governor of judicial powers in attempting to
pass upon Mr.. Watts eligibility. In the protest
they cited the law and the precedents as they I'M
derstood them on which their objections were
based. Senator Kelly and the other attorneys
continued their argument from 80 in the morn
ing until II at night.
A PRECoNCERTED PLAN.
On the day the canvass was made, and mmedi-
ately after Gov. Grover announced that he would
hear arguments the republicans prepared a writ
ten demand citing the statute of Oregon as au-
thority and asserting that the Secretary of State
should make out at once two certificates of cleo
ton and deliver them to the republicans about
whose success there was no question, attaching to
them his signature and the seal Of the State, and
that he should present them to Gov. Grover for
his signature. This request was handed to the
Secretary of State at his residence on the same
evening, and he agreed to furnish the certificates
the next morning. When called upon the next
day he still declined, giving as reason that the
Governor had the tsbulated statement in his office
but prom ised to do it soon as he could procure
a copy Of the statement, which he thought would
be by noon Of that day. AT noon he still post
poned making out the certificates for the same
reasons given in the morning In the evening he
promised that be would certainly furnish the GER
tifcates by 10 o'clock the next morning. AT
about IL O'Clock on the morning Of the 9th the re-
publican candidates for electors called at the ex-
ecutive Office for the purpose of having an inter-
view with the Governor. Gov. Grover replied
that his office was occupied, but that he would
find room for them, and showed them to a COM
mittee room opening out of the Senate Chamber
in the Capitol building. When asked when and
where he would furnish the electors their certih-
Gates, he replied, an this room at the hour of II
to-day" The republican electors did not leave
the place They soon discovered evidences of
Grover and the Secretary OF State and Patrick
Cronin. About half past II the Secretary ofState
formally delivered the room in which they were
to the republican electors, saying that it their
room and that the key was in the door. He said
1t was customary for the electors to have room
to themselves, and that they had right to control
it in their own way.
Before noon Laswell, Klippel and Cronin came
into the room, and the door-there being only
one--was closed just as the town clock struck
Il some kind of signal was given on the outside
Of the door. 1t consisted of short, quick rap.
The republican electors had observed that Cronin
watched the town clock, which could be plainly
seen from the room, and that a moment before
II he went toward the door, and placed his hand
upon the knob. On hearing the signal he opened
the door few inches and received from the hands
of the Secretary of State through the small crack
an envelope. Closing the door, Cronin retired
few steps into the room, took slip Of paper out
of the envelope, and read substantially as follows
"Ths is to certify that at election for the office
Of Presidential electors, held in the State of Ore
gon, Nov. 7, 1876 w. ii. Odell received Is ,206
votes, j. c. rtwright IL, pa votes, and f. A.
Cronin IA ,lj7 votes" lie then stopped short in
the reading and did not resume Mr.. Watts re-
quested Cronin to read the statement again in or
der that he might make a note of the votes, but
Cronin put the paper into his inner coat pocket
Cronin has asserted that Cartwright approached
him with the intention of snatchng the paper
from his hands. This is denied by the witness
Cronin is said to have held the paper very tightly
with both hands while reading it, as if to guard
against It being taken from him.
LOOK AT THE CERTIFICATES DEMANDED.
The republican electors then asked Cronin if
those were the certificates from the Governor. He
said that they were. He then requested to
exhibit them TO the members of the college, and
that 1t was necessary to produce them in order
that the college should know how to act. This he
repeatedly refused to do. Cartwright then moved
that the republican elector, organize the college
and nominated Mr. Odell as chairman. Mr.. Odell |
as Preslden mt, then appointed Cartwright Sec
rotary. The members of the college then seated |
themselves at table in the centre of the room, |
Cartwright and Odell being upon opposite sides, |
and Cronin at the right of Odell, and Watts at |
Odelfs left. Cronln was again requested, both by
the president and secretary of the college, to place
the certificates on the table for their inspection |
but he declined peremptorily to do So Cartwright
then moved that he be required by the president |
of the college to produce the certificates. The |
motion was agreed to, whereupon the president
demanded of Cronin that the certificates be hand
ed to the secretary Of the college, that they might
be read for information. Cronin again perempto-
rily declined TO produce them and said that he |
never would.
Mr. Watts then asked the privilege of making
statement 10 the college, which be did aubstan.
tally as follows; 81 was present at the Office of
the Secretary Of State on the 4th, and heard the
announcement made by the Secretary of State,
and then took down 10 my memorandum book
the vote as announced" Watts then took out his
memorandum book and read to the college the
vote as announced by the Secretary of State. He
declared that in accordance with that announce
ment he received l0i9 votes more than Cronin,
and that he knew he was one of the highest three
who were voted for as electors, but inasmuch as
there doubt in the minds Of some as to his
eligibility he would ask the privilege of resgning
After saying this he presented to the president of
the college written resignation, which was read
and by vote accepted. Cronin then said: "By
accepting Watts resignation you refuse to recog-
nize me member of the board" The presi-
dent OF the college replied Voting for President
and Vice President of the United States is a very
important business; if you have any right to be
here and TO act as member Of the college we
w6nt to know it," Cronin then arose and said
you refusing to act with me in this electoral
college," The president of the college replied
"No sir; we cannot proceed in this business until
We know by what authority you claim to sit in
this college. When that authority is produced
we will then decide upon your right to act" Mr.
Cartwright thtn said, You must not 20 away
from this table aud ever say that we refused to
act with YOU 10 this college. Ii Won have any