Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-10-01
THE SpALWA ARTS.
Some Speculations as to Why the Crowd
of Stalwarts Called on Old "320' st
Mentor-Political Deviltry on Foot.

Some speculations as to Why the Crowd
of stalwarts Called on Old "329' ct
Mentor-Political Deviltry on Foot
WASHINGTON, September 30-There
is profound sentiment growing here
that the visit OF General Grant, Sena-
tor Conkling, ex-senator Cameron and
other distinguished Grant leaders to Gen
eral Garfield at Mentor has a hidden
purpose which as yet has not been dis
closed. Those who know these dis
tinguished leaders know that
the social relations existing between
them and the Republican Presidential
candidate are not OF such character as
would induce any one OF them TO
Go Around the Corner TO Gail Upon Him.
The statement is made here that old
Simo Cameron has been with Garfield
for three days at Least, and that the
Winnebaco Chiei planned the meeting
at Mentor, and that its object means a
COOL deal more than any desire to pa
tronizs candidate whose inevitable do
feat is as clearly written upon the wall
a was the warning To Belshazzar.
The theory advanced by Republican
OF prominence is that the purpose is, in
a certain contingency, to induce Gar
field to Withdraw from the ticket The
contingency Is
Republican Defeat in Indiana.
While the Republicans have no hope
thar they can carry Indians according
to the present outlook, the intention is
to use money without stint or scruple.
III the State can be bought, we'll and
good for Garfield, for in that event the
leaders apprehend the tide will turn,
and that there will still be left chance
to carry even bad candidate through.
Should Indiana be lost, however, defeat,
under the ordinary form of election, is
conceded in advance by the w;sest Re-
publican politicians, aud the next timing
to do will be to
Make the Best ofa Desperate Game.
Without any intention to be an alarm
ist, or even create sensation. / repeat,
as nearly as memory can serve me, the
views OF Republican OF good sense,
communicated to me to-day, and with
out any desire to believe that party ends
will be subserved through any such des-
perate recourse Said he:
''The defeat Of the Republicans in In
diana presages clearl y to my mind the
defeat OF General Garfield in November.
His candidacy
Has Not Turned Out to Be Strong Ono
There is no reason, though, why the
Republicans should lose this e.ec-
ton. The Constitution provides that
each State shall appoint, In such
manner rs the Legislature thereof
nav direct, a number Of Electors equal
to the whole number Of Senators and
Representatives to which the State may
be entitled in Congress-, &c. Now,
every Northern State but two has Re-
publican Governor and Legislature.
The exceptions are New Jersey and ln-
diana. The Legislature OF every other
Northern State could be convened, and
prescribe either that the Electors be
chosen by the Legislature or by Con.
gressional Districts. This would give
tine Republican candidate
Over Two Hundred Electoral Votes.'
"But would not this be a dangerous
blow at, the liberties OF the people!
auoth your correspondent.
al am giving no opinion IA to that. L
am only saving that the Republican
party has it in its power under the form
of the highest law-the Constitution-to
elect its candidate. Let me quote you
an extract from Senator Morton's speech
on this very subject, delivered in the
United States Senate on the 18th OF jan
uary. 1875, upon a pending resolution
instructing the Committee on Privileges
and Elections to examine and report at
the next session OF Congress the best
and most practicable mode OF electing
the President and Vice President. He
said:
"Fhe Appointment Of Electors
is placed absolutely and wholly with the
Legislatures Of the several States. They
NAV be chosen blythe Legislature, or the
Legislature may provide that they shall
be elected by the people OF the State at
large, or In districts, as are Members OF
Congress, which was the case formerly
in mauy States; and it is, no doubt,
competent for the Legislature to author
ize the Governor or the Supreme Court
of the State, or any other agent OF Its
will, TO appoint these Electors. This
power is conferred upon the Legislatures
of the States by the Constitution OF the
United States, and
Cannot Be Taken From Them
or modified by their State Constitutions,
any more than can their power to elect
Senator's OF the United States. What
ever provisions may be made by statute
or by the State Constitution to choose
Electors by the people. there is no doubt
OF the right OF the Legislature to resume
the power ut any time, for it can neither
be taken away nor abdicated. In the
early Presidential elections the Electors
were chosen in many States by the Leg.
islsturss, and 40 late - 1924 In Dsla-