New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-31
4 SEN1T0R UH0 PUT HIS FO0T IN IT

Wouldn't il be well for Senator Mcdonald,
of Indiana, TO step down. He is not-and he
must by this time be pretty well aware of it
himself--a success rs cOntroyerslaiIst On
two or three occasions during the past week
he has put himself forward somewhat aggres-
siyely in a running debate, and in each case
has been badly damaged. Not that he
was rash and inconsderate in his at
tacks; on the contrary, he exhibited the
greatest discretion in selecting his OppOr-
tunlty. On one day, both Senators from
Massachusetts being absent, he hurled conun-
drums at them concerning the election laws,
which went unanswered for twenty-four hours
and on another, in the absence OF Senator
Anthony he introduced a memorial rejecting
upon that gentemau's political conduct, and
offered q resolution of inquiry concerning
the basis of Congressional representation in
Rhode Island. Upon both these points he
was met; first, by Senator Burnside, who
assumed the responsibility for the acts
charged upon his colleague, and III few
words yindcated them and exposed the alb
surdiiy OF the accusations and second. by
Senators Anthony and Blame, who not only
made - complete answer to the inquiry con-
corning the basis of Congressional representa-
ton in Rhode Island, but gave the Indiana
Senator some additional facts AM figures
concerning the representation IN other States.
which stirred up Mr.. Ben Hill and disturbed
the serenity of other Democratic Senators.
Mr. Mcdonald undoubtedly meant well He
meant to distinguish himself and help his
party His speech III which he called the
Massachusetts election methods in question
had been carefully prepared and almost aS
extensively heraldrd as MIR. Eaton's purpose to
"iump on Blaine or Mr. Ben Hills threat
to fay Blaine aliye.n But ne got more than
he barganed for.
His charge was that the money paid out of
the Federal Treasury to election supervisors
in Massachusetts last year was used under
" the false preteDce of providing for a free
I" and fair election In the absence of both
Senators from that State he asked if they
could "say that this was necessary TO secure
ga free and fair election Of members Of Con-
"gress n Senator Dawes answered him the
next day that the application for the appoint
ment of the deputy marshals referred to was
first made by "a Democratic candidate for
Congress III that State, and that il was
not only done for the purpose of secur-
ing free and fair election, but that,
in the belief of Democrats as we'll as Repub-
licans. it did secure it.. After little squirm-
ing on the part of Mr. Mcdonald, Senator
Hoar asked leave, rs the question had been
put to both Massachusetts Senators, TO say a
word but the morning hour having expired,
Mr.. Mcdonald prudenty answered to the re-
quest for unanimous consent, / think we
"mlght as well stop here Senator Hoar did
make brief statement, however, in which he
brought the gentleman to book on his aSseT
tions, and directed attention to the issue he had
raised which was that the Democratic party
in future do not mean to have such elections
as the one in Massachusetts, in 1878, where
they had Federal supervision, but do pro-
pose to have such elections as they had in
South Carolina and other Southern States,
where there was no Federal supervision. SO
the Indiana Senator had his question an
swered by both the Senators to whom it was
addressed, and answered 50 much more fully
than he anticipated that he was fain to take
refuge in the Senate rule concerning the
morning hour to escape portion of 1t. He
thought he was discreet in putting his conun-
drums to absent members; it was an indis-
erection to forget that they might come back.
Later on, the Senator pranced into Rhode
Island affairs with an attack on Senator
Anthony's relation to Federal appointments
which was quickly brushed away-and resO-
luton of inquiry into the basis of Congress
sional representation in that State. Upon the
latter point he said that Rhode Island with
only $4,000 voters had two representatives In