The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-10-12
THE COMING CONTEST.
LINES AnnAYrD FOR A rARrY FIGHT.

/ LINES ARRAfED FOR a fAkTf FIGHT.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., October o.
The determination of the Democrats
| in their caucus Yesterday to insist
upon TIE election of President pro
ten. before the swearing in of the
new Senator's, Lapham, Miller and
Aldrieh r;iI result according 10 The
position .reed upon by the Rcpub-
lican Senator's, in several days dis
cussion j.. which the two parties
will very generally participate. In
the Republican caucus the general
sentiment of all the speakers was
that as the people Of the different
States by y decisive vote declared
that the administration of the affairs
of the country for the next four
years should be in accordance with
the principles advocated bv the Re-
publican party, therefore as a mat
ter of justice to public opinion the
Republican party was entitled to the
succession. The Democrats adhere
to the position that all things are
fair in war or politics and if they
have an advantage. no matter how
brought about, whether by resig-
nation or death, they should not
waste the opportunity. The COM
promising spirit OF a few Democrat
ic Senators oozed entirely away be-
fore their caucus adjourned. Their
programme therefore will be on
Monday to ask unanimous consent
to proceed to the election of a Presi-
dent pro tenn. To this the Republi-
cars viii object and insist upon the
swearing in of the new Senators
without DELAY in order that they
may enjoy their rightful privilege of
participating in the choice of the pre-
siding officer of the body to which
their States have accredited them.
This action will lead to a discussion
which will be of importance, as it
viii have more or less bearing upon
the question OF the executive and
the imperfections or omissions which
exist in this coordinate branch Of
the Government.
The members OF the Republican
caucus committee, Edmunds, Alli-
son, Logan, Sherman and Mcmillan,
in their conference with the Demo
cratic committee, Pendleton, Gar
land, voorhees,, Pugh and Davis, of
West Virginia, arrived at q very
summary conclusion, and within
half an hour parted with their Dem
ocratic friends with n decided inn
preston that there was a contest
ahead There is much speculation
as to the course of Senator Davis, of
Illinois. He has never participated
in either caucus, and has frequently
showed his independence by acting
with the Republicans. Both sides
seem TO be very positive that he will
act with them in these preliminary
movements. As a matter of princi-
pie the majority ofprecedents are in
favor Of the swearing in of new Sell
ators before proceeding to vote for
President pro tenn. The Democrats
have a few precedents on their side,
and of these they propose to make
the most. The solution of the whole
difficulty rests with Davis, OF Hi
nois. In the ouistart, however, his
vote would not change the result,
as the Democrats with three Repub-
lican vacancies viii be able to elect
their candidate, ii brought to vote.
After the swearing in OF the new
Senators the vote will be a tie, unless
Davis should support the Republi-
can view of the question.
Tonight the Republican Senator'S
are evidently in doubt as to what
may be the result of the pending
complications.