Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-05-18
COMKLING AND PLATT
Resign their Positions as Senators
from New York,
Because of the Robertson Case, and the Sue
cessfuI Opposition to Them.

WASHINGTON, May 16.-The vice presi
dent laid before the senate the following
communication:
WASHINGTON, May 16, $780,
SIR-Will you please announce to the senate
that my resignation as senator of the United
States from the state of New York has been for
warded to the governor of state. have the
honor to be. with great respect, your obedient
SERVANT ROSCOE CONKLING.
To Hon. G. A. Arthur. Vice President.
This communication was received with
great sensation, which was heightened
when the vice president laid the follow
ing before the senate:
SENATE CHAMBER, May 16, 1881.
SIR have forwarded to the government Of
the state of New York, my resignation as sena-
tor of the United States for the state of New
York. Will you please announce the fact to the
senate? With great respect, your obedient
servant, T. G. PLATT.
To the Hon. c. A. Arthur, vice president.
A hum of astonishment followed the
reading of the communications, and Hill,
OF Ga, suggested soto Uoce that this
would be good time to elect officers of
the senate.
WASHINGTON, May 16.-The official
notification to the senate to-day that the
resignation of Senators Conkling and
Platt had been forwarded to the COVER
nor of New York took everybody by sur
prise. A Western Associated Press re-
porter mixed among the sena-
tors to get opinions. The sur
prise was SO complete that the senators
had not not had time to form opinions,
and generally expressed coniectures and
surmises. One Republican senator said
that Conkling and Platt had better be
reelected by the New York legislature
now in session, and that will be claimed
as ali endorsement of their opposition of
Robertson at the hands of the Republi-
can party of New York. The Republi-
cans all feel sure of Conkling's reelection,
but some few have doubts about Plat.
Democratic senators universally express
qualification at the designations. They say
it windens the breach in the Republican
party of New York and increases the
bitterness of the stalwarts towards the
administration. The Democrats now
have majority of the senate, but SO far
as can be learned, no attempt will be
made towards reforming committees.
Pendleton, chairman of the Democratic
caucus, said no such action will be
thought Of; that the committees will re-
main as now organized.
The rumor quickly got circulation that
the Kellogg case might be brought up
by the Democrats in order to GUST him,
but that was officially put down by
Democratic leaders, who say they will
go on, as now organized, with business
as rapidly as possible, and adjourn as
soon as the president has nothing more
for the senate.
Neither Conkling nor Platt were at
the senate chamber.
An ex-senator, close friend of Conk-
Hng's, said to-day that the designations
are absolute and that nothing could pro-
cure their withdrawal. Now the sup
porters OF Conkling state that the resig-
nations were offered because the New
York senators feel that they have been
badly treated by the administration; that
Robertson's nomination was made
at the instigation of Blaine to put
Conkling down; that both senators
and the president protested against this
warfare, against the Republican organi-
cation of New York, but all of their eff
forts failed; the Republican senator's re-
fused to help them maintain the Repub-
hcan party Of the Empire State, and
rather than remain to be put down and
insulted, both senator's resigned. This
is the stroke of policy which it has been
rumored Conkling had in view. Robert
son will be promptly confirmed now.
Republicans went into caucus at 2
o'clock.
The executive session adjourned to
permit the caucus. The Democrats will
not table the resolution to elect senate
officers unless the Republicans should
call it, which they will not do. Tt will
60 over to the next session. Don Cam
eron and David Davis seem to be the
only senators who knew of the COM
ing designations. It is said that
Conkling and Platt will not only regard
their reelection as an approval of their
fight against Robertson but also re-
Duke to the administration. Senators
generally say that Robertson will be con-
frmed tomorrow and the senate will adj
journ by Friday
The theory which has been advanced
that Senators Plat and Conkling are
quite confident of being returned
by the New York legislature is
very generally accepted, but in
some quarters it is maintained that
on account of the legislature having
heretofore endorsed the nomination of
Robertson to be collector of the port of
New York it cannot consistently endorse
the action of the two senators in OPP
posing it. All sorts of rumors are afoat.
Neither Conkling nor Platt were at
the capitol to-day, and, in the absence of
any authoritative explanation from them,
the motive and meaning of their resigna-
tons are subject to mere speculation or
conjecture.
No motion having been entered in to-
days executive session for reconsidera-
ton of the vote by which at the second pre-
ceding session Judge Stanley Matthews
was confirmed, his confirmation stands
fixed, and the presidenthas been notified
accordingly.
New YORK, May 16-The CONNER
cial says: The case of Senators Conk-
ling and Platt is now in the hands of the