New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-23
HARRISON SURPRISES HIS PARTY.


HARRISON SURPRISES HIS PARTY.
&c n,rrrRlY DENOUNCED AND COMPELLED TO
He ,+nn,Aw HIS REsoLUuON-wILsoNs MILK
,~p WATER SUBSTITUTE.
Inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUEEl
,,,l,ox Nav 22.-1he popular Indignation
-. heeu aroused throughout the country by
in'' -,oIutionary proceedings of the Democrats
, , - in reopenng the electoral controversy IS
"'' % make itself felt in Washington. Every
~ LrinOs TO some of the Democratic representa-
So. tho indignant denuncations OF their con-
;,nonts for the policy they have pursued III refer
$50 - tho Potter resolution and the votes they
80 % IL. and many of them have become greatly
alarmed. e-.,,,
One of the men who has been most unhappy from
hs starts Carter Harrison, of Chicago and to-day ne
rss unable TO contain himself any longer Ikea Duh
china shop he plungedintO the House with res
olution which he had carefully drawn to set himself
,;gbt with his indignant constituents. Mr. Harr-
,on had not consulted with his party friends in re-
card 10 his resolution, and he very soon discovered
hat he had stirred up veritable hornets nest.
The Democrats denounce him in the btterest
language privately, and call him all sorts OF
imnolite Names 1t long time since the anger OF
the Marty leaders has been stirred TO such depths
AGAINST one of their own associates. Mr.. Harrlsons
resolution was very harmless one IL the Demo-
Gratis were really honest in their declarations that
thew do not intend to make the Potter investigation
The basis Of revolutionary proceedings IL simply
proyded for an inquiry into the alleged frauds III
south Carolina and Oregon, if a majority OF the
Potter Committee should fit TO make -4ch an IN
yestieaon and declared that the titles OF the iresl
dent and Vice President to their Offices were settled
by the XLIVth Congress, leaving to the present
Congress no power to disturb that decision
HARRISON sTIRs UP A STORM.
The Democrats none of whom had been consulted
sbout the Introduction of this resolution, were
almost beside themselves with excitement and in
aiCnation Tie Speaker pro tenn, Mr.. Sayler,
nromutly ruled that inasmuch rs the original sub
iect matter had been decided by Speaker Randall
and the House to be a question of privilege, the
Harrison resolution must also be entertained. Mr..
Finley, of Ohio, a Representative who makes an
unaccountable amount of noise on small capital
.of ability and who has been especially active IN
setting on foot the Potter investigation, at once
moved 10 lay the Harrison resolution on the table.
other members desired TO have il referred 10 the
Potter Committee. None Of these motions were put
20 the House, but the acting Speaker, Mr.. sayer.
submitted the question whether the Harrison rcso-
luton was one Of privilege or not.
The roll-call began and every eXpedlent was eX-
hausted by the Democrats in order that they might
gain time for consultation. They had been taken
entirely by surprise and knew not how 10 proceed.
The House was not during this call. in unusual dis
order and vet the Speaker directed the Clerk to sus-
pend the call three times and sent for the Sergeant
alarms nominally TO restore order, but really to
give the Democrats time for their caucusing. Eff
teen minutes for deliberation were gained in this
way
The Democrats were divided in their councils.
Some of them were in favor of having direct vote
on the resolution, but were strongly opposed.
Mr. Potter showed great anxiety, and with other
members of the Investigating Committee, read
through the Harrison resolutions with unusual
In the meantime Mr.. Harrison marched UP
and down the aisles with his hands III
his pockets, the object Of the concentrated
assaults of the indignant Democracy. lie at least
has perfectly happy. He could afford to listen to
the denunciations of bis party associates In the
House knowing as be did that be was making
strike for the denomination in his own district
stnke which in his own opinion was sure to win.
BY viva yoce vote the Democrats had decided
that Mr.. HarrisOns resolution was not question of
privilege. When the yeas and nays were called for,
many OF thGDemOcrats refused TO vote, among them
some OF the most prominent members OF the House.
Some Of the members OF the Potter Committee voted
in the affirmative. The result of this vote was II in
The affirmative and 80 in the negative the Republic
names This vote shows how ready many of the
Democrats are TO twist the rules, particularly for
any purpose they may have at any time
IN view Every one Of the fifty Democrats
who voted to-.ay that Mr.. Harris0n's resolution
was not question OF privilege voted on Monday of
last week that Mr.. Potter's resolution was such
question; and yet one would be able 10 show
what there was about the latter which would give
il any higher standing uudeT the rules of the House
til The former. 10 - lamentablc fact that the
iaaicrity of the House Of Representatives gen
erly colstfnes the rules ~ such way as To enable
u 10 cary any point 1t may he contending
for. This used tO be true TO some extent Of the Re
pu6liears IL - true 20 much greater extent of
When the result OF the vote was announced the
porn; wps made at once that no quorum had voted.
AZ. Harrison. with. whom his party friends had
l9O,led necessarily FROM the time he introduced the
resolution, said, amidst deafening cries for order
thy be- did not desire to delay public business and
Welding TO thc solicitations of his Democratic assU-
ciatss wond withdraw hIs resolution.
Way THE EEPUBLIcANs WE'RE SILENT.
i"r acuon OF the Republicans in refusing 10 vote
on til' resolution onght not 10 be misunderstood
With the exception OF General Butler and Mr. Fort
every Republican who was in the House on Mopaa,
of last week had voted that the Potter resolution
war not question of privilege. Consistency there
fore, which means more with Republicans than with
Democrats, would have required them TO take the
same position in regard to the Harrison resolution
But a negativeyote to-day would have been inter
preted by the Democrats, and might have been
understood by the country, to mean that the Repub-
leans themselves were unwilling to declare that the
title of the President is unassailabe. On this point
the Republicans unanimous, and after brief
consultation, therefore. it was thought better in
order that their position should not be msunder-
stood, to allow the Democrats TO settle this matter
among themselves. Besides, the resolution was in
uoduced to help the Democrats out of tight place,
ana not Tor the benefit of the Republicans. Nobody
accuses the latter OF any desire to throw discredIt
on the election of 1875. Even those mombers ~