Morning journal and courier., 1881-06-04

Ex-Speaker Jerry Mcclure, Oem.) who
has been here two or three days, on being
asked in regard to the situation said that
those who said that Conkling had lost his
head were mistaken, for he is too old poll
tician for that While he (McGuire) does
not think Conkling and Platt will be re-elect-
ed, yet he considers many of the votes al
ready cast for Cornell and scattering candi-
dates as merely held in reserve till public
opinion reacts and Conkling can use them
He says also that his opinion is shared by
very few, and that he may be wrong after all
No conferences or caucuses were held up
to midnight by either faction. The whole
time after the cess was spent by members
getting themselves paired in erder to get
home At 10 o'clock there were reported as
effected twenty eight pairs, the greatest num-
Der ever made in political contest in this
country. The fifty six men thus paired are
leaving the city for home on every outgoing
train AS but four of the pairs are confined
to Saturday this business leaves forty eight
members out of the balloting just as long as
the absentees choose to remain away. In
stead of disseminating pairing it is more like
ly to increase, especially if hot weather sets
in, and it may reach that point at which the
joint assembly may be left without quorum
The law ordains that ballot shall be taken
at least once every day of the session 1t
was decided by the half breeds last night,
under advice of Chauncey M. Depew, that
correct construction of the law compelled
ballot to be taken every week day until the
Legislature adjourns sine die, and If one week
day we're passed without a ballot any subse-
quent election could be held to be unlawful
and could be successfully contested. It was
this advice which induced the half breeds to
defeat the motion to adjourn from Friday
until Tuesday. The motion was voted
for solid by the Democrats and stalwarts
and was regarded with suspicion by the half
breeds as device to prevent the election of
half breed candidates, not SO much by open
opposition or coalition as by entrapping them
into fatal blunder. The question raised is
whether the present extraordinary pairing
process is not a new device to accomplish the
same end. If it goes on the number of As
semblymen present at the joint
conference may be reduced below 81,
which is the number required by law to
make quorum. Without q quorum there
can be ne balloting. The query is: If on
any day there be no quorum and on that &C
count there can be no ballot taken on that
day, as the law requires that one be taken
every day, will not that fact disqualify the
present Legislature from subsequently elect
ing Senators and subject any subsequent
election they effect to a successful contest
just the same as an election after any day
passed without a ballot during the recess as
Depew advised? The question is being ser
iously discussed, the more as nearly every
pair made has been made at the solicitation of
the Democrats who give all sorts of urgent
reasons for wishing to get home. Robertsoni is
doing all he can to put stop to any further
pairing, and says that many of the pairs al
ready are not the best that could have
BEEN made. It is held that af-
ter of quorum point is pass
ed no lawful election can be had. This
shows the possibilities which political finesse
has in the present contest. Should the fears
ha lnl
and should the Democrats and stalwarts per-
sist successfully in it, it may
prove the most subtle and ingenious
method of defeating an adversary ever
devised in politics. The combination, with
out any treason to their parties and under
pretense of wishing to go home on urgent
business, may succeed in so far dissolving the
present joint assembly as to extract from it
altogether the power of ever electing Sena-
tors
It is now alleged that 81 Democrats have
agreed to all form pairs if possible
Thirty-six stalwarts have agreed, rumor
says, to pair with the Democrats. taking 70
votes from the fullest vote possible in joint
assembly, namely $50, reducing the joint
.ote to 88 total. 1t is further said that the
Democrats will attempt to secure
four more pairs with anti Cornell and
Depew half breeds. That would prevent
quorum and prevent a ballot. The half
breed leaders are excited ana are Telegraph
ing absent half breeds to break their pairs at
all hazards. It has just been learned that
Gonkling and ex-senator Thurman of Ohio
both advised that if the pairing
process at any time reduces the
vote in the joint assembly below
quorum of 81, the failure to have a. ballot
on that day will disqualify the present Legis-
lature from subsequently electing United
States Senators, and that that duty
viii In consequence devolvs upon the
Legislature chosen at the fall election.
It is said that If the pairing scheme succeeds
IN defeating ballot on any day Conkling
viii make close personal canvass in the fall