The daily gazette., 1881-10-10
SECOND EDITION
THE SENATORIAL CAUCUsEs.

The Democrats DecfaisG to Flee,
| Mr.. Bayard President pro tenn,
and Then Swear I'm the New Sena.
| sors-The Republicans to Protest
WARRINGTON, Oct. s.-The caucusea
to day have settled three things: First,
that Senator Bayard is TO be the Presi.
dent pro tenn. of the Senate; second, that
the Senators elect will be sworn in as
soon as Mr.. Bayard has been elected;and
third, that the election of Secretary oi
the Senate will not be regarded as a
matter of immediate consequence. The
Republicans expect to make political
capital out of the situation. They had
no idea that the Democrats wonld AXE
any compromise by which a Republican
President pro tenn. would be elected. In
private they admitted that the Demo
Gratis would put themselves in ridicu-
lous attitude II they consented TO make
any arrangement; but the willy Senator
from Vermont impressed bis associates
with the idea that there was chance
for posing before the country. His pol.
Icy was to approach the Democrats with
propositions respecting the President
pro tenn. These propositions were cer-
tain to be rejected, ii considered at all.
Then would follow, not fight, bat q
protest. In one thing the Republicans
were agreed, and that was that the
6libustering which Mr.. Dawes conduc.
ted last spring we great mistake. Be-
sides, to filibuster now would be to run
the risk OF losing the sympathy which
they hope to get,
The programme of Senator Edmunds
was carried out. The Republican Sena-
tors secluded themselves in one Of the
rooms of the Capitol at II A. M, and
an hour later the doors were opened.
Mr.. Edmunds was the master spirit of
the concern. He advised nothing but a
protest against the election of Demo-
crat as President pro tenn, Land that pro-
test was not to be hidden IN caucus, but
to go to the Ecountry. A committee to
confer with Democratic committee
was appointed, and Senators Edmunds,
Allison, Logan, Sherman, and Nc
MILAN were its members. This con-
ference it was pretty we'll understood,
would not amount to anything.
The Democratic SeBaJors had 10 their
informal conversations to Id their Repub-
one thing and that was that the Demo-
Gratis would nominate, ,and If they had
Votes enough, would elect Senator Bay
ard President pro tem. the first thing.
1t took the Democratic caucus a few
minutes only to form this opinion into
caucus decree. Senator Bayard was
nominated and it was agreed to offer
resolution declaring him chosen as soon
as the Senate is called to order. Next
the Democratic caucus began to discuss
the election of a Secretary, and while
they were at it received Mr.. iEdmunds's
formal communication. When the Sem
ator proposes anything his proposition is
apt to be. pretty carefully scrutinzed.
Senators Garland, Pen dlet0n, Voorhees,,
and others dissected the communication
and after picking 1t to pieces. decided
to meet the Republican conferencelCom-
mittee half way, but to inform the Re-
publicans that there was pothing 10 con-
fer about SO far as the nomination and
election of President pro TEN. was con-
cerned. They appointed Senators Pend
Teton, Garland, VOORHEES,, Pugb, and
Davis of West Virginia committee to
confer with the Republicans.
The two committees met with all the
selemnity they could assume when 60
mug W Whdt tuoy huoW W bc ldTC6.
They marched up hill to the Land
Claims Committee room, looked at
each other, reported to each other
what they had been appointed to do,
decided that their instructions ran
counter, and then marched down
again. The Democrats might have
conferred over the election of Secre-
retary and the composition of the
committees. Here was a chance for
conference. When these matters come
up the Senate will be tie. But the
Democrats did not propose to put
themselves in the ridiculous attitude
of comforting about the election of an
officer whom they have the right to
elect.
"Then we must protest." said Mr..
Edmunds to the Republican caucus,
sand, having protested, let them elect
their man." He had warned the
Democrats that it would be bad party
policy for them to elect the President
pro tem., and he had informed them
that the election of a Democratic
President pro tenn. might suggest as
sassination to q Dem Jcratic VILLAIN
Mr.. Edmunds did not say that he had
been told that 1t was almost crime
to consider assassination as o political
element, but he was told SO.