The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-10-15
The senate No Place for Grim
imals.

The following article handed us by
a friend with request to publish, is
taken from the Washington fost
Though the Senate has met and ia
ken action the lesson contained in the
article is none the less useful. The
gentleman is familiar with Washing
ton circles and probably could appre
ciate it all the more:
The editor of the National Re-
publican is of the opinion that the
thirty seven Democratic Senators, to
be fair, should go no further than to
appoint a President pro TEN. for the
sole purpose Of swearing in the three
outside Republican members. That
done, the two parties being equal in
strength--counting Malone as pur-
chased Republican-there will then
be first rate basis for compromise
in the disposition Of the offices and
committee honors.
This is one Of the jug handled
propositions for which the RepubE-
can leaders are famous, one which
they would never make or accept, if
the relations of the two parties were
changed, and yet one which we
should be willing enough to have the
Democrats accept if it did not un-
fortunately involve az Endorsement
of the methods pursued in the New
York Legislature by which Conk!ing
was defeated and Miller and Lapham
elected.
If Mr. Arthur should die before the
expiration of his term, a Democratic
presiding officer of the senate would
become an influential factor in poll
tics. but otherwise, 1t would make
but little difference whether Mr.. Bay
ard or Mr.. Anthony was chosen to
the position. Whatever advantage
there is in it, however, in a political
sense, the Democrats are entitled to
take.
So far as the patronage Of the Sen
ate is commemorative dollars dis
pensed-an equal division between
the parties, based on an agreem ent,
would result to the advantage of the
Democrats. There has been no time
since the Senate passed under their
control that more than one half of the
patronage has not been given to Re-
publicans. So, as a question of gain
to either side, the organization of the
Senate is Of small consequence.
The question to be decided, how
ever, before Messrs. Miller and Lap
ham can he admitted is, were they
fairly and legally elected. On the
authority of large number of their
late party friends we are able to de-
clare that they were not. Mr.. Conk-
ling and Mr.. Plat have both said SO.
So too does, or at least down to a
very late date, did the editor OF the
Republican. We have the files OF
his paper to show that money was
| poured out like water to defeat Conk.
ling and Platt and Crowley and to
elect Depew, Miller and Lapham
We have also his frequent declara
tions to assure us that large mum
Der of Legislators were bribed to vote
against the Stalwart candidates, with
offices known to be at the disposal Of
distinguished friends of the ther
Garfield administration.
i Now, if Miller and Lapham were
elected by bribery and corruption
they do not belong in the Senate o
the United States, nor should the,
be allowed to enter it fully habilita
4 ted until the charges under which
| they labor are disproven.
They have no right to vote for Of
ficers Of q body In which they hav'
no legal scat; nor should they b
permitted to attaint Legislation BY
participating. in it II they are, Al