The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-01-22
THE FUSION CAUCUS.
More Talk With No Definite
Result.
OPPOSITION TO SUBMITTING
QUESTIONS.
Gould and Fogg Advise the Flu
sionists to Stick.

AUGUSTA, Jan. 2l.-The Fusion Legislature
met at Union hall. Mr.. Swan of Minot moved
| to reconsider the vote of yesterday submitting
| a series of questions to the court. He thought
that the opinion would not be any more favor
| able than the one just received, and if they
| were obliged to give an opinion in our favor
| they would not. If you have any desire to
submit to the bogus Legislature, why not do so
| now rather than to wait for another opinion
more partisan than any recorded on the pages
of history.
Mr.. Plaisted of Lincoln said if you are will
ing to submit series of questions to the court
then you are made of different stuff from what
1 took you for. No doubt existed in his mind
that the court would not entertain the ques-
lions, and but one result would follow-we
shall be ignored. He had no doubt that this
body was the quorum from which legal body
must spring. We shall be obliged to treat the
opinion of the court as final and we will not
consent to allow the constitution to be tram
pied upon, even by the supreme Judicial court:
He believed the State treasurer would pay all
bills of this Legislature.
Mr.. Bradbury of Norway inquired If the
Chief Justice had been heard from.
The Speaker informed the House that the
CnleI JuSJlC0 Uel6gfapneu yesterday, Will
determine when the papers are received"
Mr.. Stiles of WeStbrook was bitterly opposed
to sandiag questions IA tho c1e.re-to frofp
us out of the difficulty. He had no confidence
in the court
Mr.. Benner of Waldoboro said he had not
been to the State House since refused admis-
sion last Monday, and should not go again.
Mr.. Rafter of Damariscotta said the same.
Mr.. Wilson of Orono moved that the motion
lay on the table until o'clock, to hear from
ba He tlOu obi thew SlOuld know
what they were moving on before accepting
the report.
Mr. Plaisted of Lincoln thought they should
not move in haste in this matter. They had
better move slow aud know that they were
right.
Mr. Ingalls, of Wiscasset said he was still of
the opinion that the questions should be sub
mitted to the court, and they should abide by
the decision, If we have no doubt about the
legality of our organization, then why not sub
nit the questions to tho court? Why not pro-
coed to legislation? He did not see why the
Legislature in the State House was legal.
Mr.. Wales, of Biddetord, did not believe we
should come together every day and tickle our
selves with the idea that we are a legislature
if we are not. The only ones to lose If we are
not would be those men counted in, and under
the present state of affairs he could not see
how we could stand by them. We have been
at work long time and nothing has resulted.
He did not think we should take advice Of
men who were counted in. Lit Is the interest OF
the State that we have in our hands. Let
us as body Of men submit questions to the
court.
Mr. Plaisted, of Lincoln, believed that the
matter could be brought before the United
States court. We should hang together as one
man. He was informed that Mr.. A. T.
Gould said that no questions should be sub
mitted.
Mr. Perry of Camden, had no respect for the
court. but believed we should ask them
conumdrum and then submit We should not
be led by the opinion of one man but have an
opinion of our own. We have seen this winter
that might makes right. He prophesied that
the ballot box or cartridge box would make
right in few years. This will be when par
ties cease to be q virtue
Mr. Staples, of Parsons6eld, said he was IN
favor of the Questions but had no faith in that
body of men who are styled the SupremeCourt
of this State.
Mr. Clark of Nobleboro, said he was one of
the counted-in members and that by the Just
decision of the Governor and Council he had
taken his seat. He could return to his constlt-