Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-01-13

amid three cheers DIV the iusioniSts.
The Clerk then proceeded to appoint a
committee on speaker. The vote for
speaker showed only ~ votes, and again
Mr.. Hale made the point Of order no
quorum present. The Clerk overruled
his position and declared J. c. Talbot OF
East Machias, elected.
The House was then organized by the
election of officers, and at every possible
point, Mr.. Hale raised the objection, ''no
quorum present" Notwithstanding no
vote showed quorum, business was car
ried on as though everything was legally
done.
Mr.. Hale qualified with the fusion
members, in order to defend the rights OF
the minority, and to make the record
show how illegal was the body. lie
doubted every vote, and insisted that the
number voting should be recorded.
After the organization, he again made
an appeal for the disfranchised cities
The matter was referred to committee
of elections, yet to be appointed. He
also endeavored to have the case of Farm
ington considered, but that also was as
signed to the unborn committee.
Mr.. Young of Brunswick then quail
fed. in order to assist Mr.. Hale, and he
also made a strong appeal for the dis
franchised communities. No heel was
paid to their warning, and the opportu-
nifty for Greenbackers and Democrats to
show an honesty Of purpose was lost for
ever.
Without attempting to do any impor-
tant business, the House adjourned.
Thursday morning the bogus House
was called TO order, and Rev. Mr.. Wales.
the bulldosed Biddeford Universalist cler-
gyman. othciated as chaplain.
Instead of calling the roll, as is the
rule in all deliberative bodies, the Clerk
proceeded to read his record. A roll call
would have disclosed no quorum, hence It
was dispensed with. When he had
finished, Mr.. Hale called attention to a
large number of omissions, which were
ordered TO be corrected by the Speaker.
Mr.. Hale then stated that sixty Re-
publican members elect were ready TO
qualify, and called their names. They
were conducted to the Council Chamber TO
take the oath. The President Of the SEN
ate. acting Governor, declined to qualify
them. until he had consulted legal author
| ity. Then the House adjourned. Friday
he declined to assume the duties o. the
position Of Governor, and since, rs there
was no quorum, no business has been
done.
The Senate organized Wednesday,
with majority of certifcated members
in attendance. so far as appearances go,
this is legal body. 1t is question
however, if a majority of its members
were Illegally certifca,ed, whether or not,
il can enact binding law. before its
legal membership has been ascertained.
The House is certainly an illegal body, as
no quorum has been disclosed on any
vote. and the declaration of Gov. Garce-
lon that 76 men had signed the roll did
not make a legal quorum even if the
members were in the House, which fact
is doubted. Gov. Garcelon did not count
the names subscribed, bu; made his dec
lara.ion from information conveyed TO
him by the Clerk.
The situation, at present, is an anom-
slous one. We have no Governor, no
Council, no Legislature. Friday. General
Chamberlain made public orders that he
had received from Governor Garcelon, di-
recting him to take charge of the public
property, and to protect it. Gen. Cham
beriain then assumed control under these
orders, and he is master of the situation
until a legal Governor is installed. He
has refused to recognize President of the
Senate, I.amson as acting Governor, and
report saws he would only recognize him
at present as a Senator elect. All fac
tions and parties have confidence in the
General, and under his dispensation, JUS
tice must eventually prevail. 1t seems
as though this complicated tangle must
be unrayelled by the Supreme Court.
Tuesday night it was reported that
Thomas b. Swan of Mechanic Falls and
Moses Hartman of Kennebunkport, had
issued cards. refusing to act with the flu
sionists, in organizing the Legislature.
Those who knew these two men gave
warning that this was trick or a trap,
for they were certain the men had not
made such declaration from sincere mo-
tives. Wednesday mornings Standard
contained affdavits from both, declaring
that each had been paid one thousand
dollars by Republican agent to desert
the fusionists. and that they took the
bride in order to expose Republican fraud:
Thursday, on being pressed. they charged
Wallace h. White OF Winthrop with
the bribery. Mr.. White Indignantly de-
MES the allegation. Fusionists will re-
mark that a criminal always pleads "not
guilty" The majority of our people
will, however, bear in mind the common
law principle that every man is presumed
innocent, until proof of his guilt has
been established. Mr.. Swans affidavit
is not conclusive proof, nor is the fact
that he exhibits one thousand dollars in
bills which he declares 10 be the identical
money paid to him. A man who will
cut and sell five varieties from one old,
wild grape vine, would neither be above
taking a bride nor declaring he had done
so when none had been offered. A man
who, when greenback candidate for
Office declared that he possessed a letter