Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-12-24
Iron our regular eOusspondsn''l
WASHINGTON LETTER,
wIsHRsyos, u, O.. Dec, 20. 1919,

fOlllchl huhif5 hio hhaaW'hb S""f~ w
q lively shaking up, Ia Congress ana OUT
after the recess, Congressman are now
leaving for home 10 discuss Christmas
dinners with their families, and 10 hola
sweet communion with their constituents
but when they come back there VIII DO
something else to discuss, and We shan
have something TO talk about here, unless
the signs Of the times lare oil wrong
There are indications that the quetness
that has prevailed 30 far 10 Congress Is
but tho calm that precedes Storm
Among the first things to come up amer
the recess are the contested election cases
the Kellogg case IN the Senate and the
ease OF McCabe against orth IN the House.
The latter case was supposed to BIO about
to 40 by default for lack OF effort on the
part OF the contestant, who, owing TO Ill
health land family bereavement, has
done nothing to obtain ibis lseat' buthe
now comes forward aud has filed an aiil'
daylt with the committee, which VIII
probably open tho whole case, There II
said to DO ample evidence Ito show taat
Orth has no right TO the seat, and " IL
not unlikely that no will have to retire.
II Is an important case, because, II Me-
Cabe IL entitled to the seat, II makes the
Indiana delegation Democratic. In view
OF the schemes talked Of by tho Republic
caus to steal the electoral votes OF New
York aud elsewhere, the Democrats VIII
DO lucky to have some power In their
own hands by controlling u majority OF
tho State delegations, so that they can
chose the President II the election finally
goes into the House,
As to the Louisiana Scnatorship, II IL
pretty certain that Kellogg-"Brindle
Bill" as they call hlm-will have to CO.
The subcommittee recently returned
from New Orleans, and Is about ready to
report the evidence taken. 1t has been
already discussed by the full committee,
and there Is no doubt but that u majority
report declaring Kellogg not entitled to
the seat Will be made shortly after Con-
grcss reasscmbles The evidence Is con.
elusive that Kellogg not only paid for his
clccdon, but that the Legislature voting
fot him was not legal quorum at the
time the vote was taken. II does not fol-
low that Spohord Is entitled to the seat.
Upon this point the views OF the COM
mittec cannot be positively stated, but 1t
Is more than likely that the seat will
simply be declared vacant and new
election follow. There certainly never
was q greater scoundrel In politics than
Kellogg. And 1t Is forclblc illustration
Of the Inconsistencies Of politicians to
note the crookedncss Of the Republican
party in relation to the Louisiana election
of 1876. Tilden carried the State by
nearly 10000 majority, yet the electoral
vote was given to Hayes, while Packard,
who received 1000 moro votes than
Hayes, was declared defeated; and then
the Legislature, which Hayes refused to
recognize, and which never had legal
existence. was permitted to seud Kellogg
to the Senate. That was twisting things
around with vengeance.
There will shortly commence the I've
lest intrigue for the Republican Presiden-
tlal nomination ever witnessed. With
Don Cameron at the head of the National
Committee representing Grant, and such
an INSCRIPTIONS trio as Conkling, Blaine
and John Sherman schemlng and wire
pulling for themselves as candidates, 1t
promises to become one Of the most cor
rupt contests on record. Don Gamer
on is worthy successor for Zach. Chand'
Ter. His traits and training, and the ira
dition Of the Cameron school of poli:i-
clans, are in beautiful harmony with the
theories illustrated in the Official acts oil
his predecessor. Besides he has a "barp
and is always ready to use It,
The Republicans make terrible wry
face over small dose Of their own medi'
cine. 1t was a slick job they thought tc
steal the Presidency by the counting out
process. But now they lose the little
State of Maine by the same process, there
is a bur-lood on the face of the moon
Undoubtedly the Governor and council
who are mostly ex-Republicans, have! fol,
lowed the strict letter Of the law, and
taken step towards correction Of the
loose methods that have grown up under
continued Republican practice. Yet after
all, and granting the election was carried
by bribery and corruption, Of which there
is no doubt, 1 believe it would have beer
better policy to let the Republican party
enjoy monopoly of the methods Of Madi.
son Wells and his associate ballot thieves.
An opposition Legislature in Maine, how
ever may act as wholesome check upon
the schemes to steal the State Of New
York by Legislative manipulation. Poor
old Hannibal Ham'in sorrowfully admits
that 1t will. PH0No.