The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-10-06
THE pEMoCRATIo PRoaRAM.

The New York Tribune, in an editor
ial under the above head. in regard TO
the purpose of the Democrats to pro-
coed with the election of President pro
ten. OF the Senate, before admitting the
three Republican Senators chosen to fill
vacancies says:
The programme thus proposed violates
one of the first principles OF parlia-
mentary law, Il principle recognized IN
every representative body from county
convention up 10 the House OF Repre-
sentaiiyes of the United States-namely,
that all members-elect whose seats are
not contested have right to participate
in the organization of the body. The
members of the House vote for speaker
before taking the official oath on their
DriBad fIeie right TO seats shown in the
credentials filed with the clerk. This
is the case in the legislatures of some
States; in others the oath is administer
ed by tine Secretary or by judicial Of
ficer. In all, however, the right to vote
for the presiding and other officers of
the body belongs to all members whose
credentials are in due form. Can II be
seriously maintained that some other
law governs the Senate, and that the
members who got in at a prior session
can keep out all their newly elected col
leagues until they have chosen q presid-
ing officer and parcelled out the clerk
ships and doOrkeeperships among them
selves? The case only needs TO be plain
IL stated 10 show how uDtenable 1t Is.
The Senators from New York derive
their title to participate in the proceed
ings OF the Senate, not from any ccremo-
ny on the part of an official of the body,
but from the state they represent. For
the Senators from other states 10 exclude
them until the only important work OF
the session is completed would be an
act of gross usurpation and direct in
suit 10 the chief state in the Union.
We do not care to argue about the
meaning Of the Senate rules or the want
of rules to meet the present contingency.
The principle which should govern is
so plain that there can be no two honest
opinions about it. Every state is en-
titled to an equal voice with every other
state in the organization of the body.
The accident of death or resignation
cannot justly operate to disfranchise a
state which fills the vacancies thus oc-
curing in IA legal manner and sends
her representatives duly commissioned
to occupy the empty chairs. In the pro-
va OituttSy WA~A AAo Se-~NAN~ 40
found TO meet given case and secure
the ends Of justice, an appeal is made to
the common law. There Is common
law of Legislative bodies known as par
liamentary law which time out of mind
has been evoked in deliberative and
Legislative assemblies TO supply the
want of definite rules. Let the Senate
apply it to cure the defect now devel
oped in It's own regulations. There is
no real obstacle in the way of doing so.
The Senate can call one of its members
to take the chair for the time being, as
is often done during the absence of the
presiding officer, the new Sena-
tors can be duly admitted, and
the business of clccting, oftic-
ers can be then proceeded with
in proper and orderly way. 1t should
he remembered that the Senate is con-
tinous body, and, unlike the House. has
not to be organized afresh once in two
years. According to the theory of the
constitution, it is never in adisorganiZed
condition. When it meets next month
il will not be as an inchoate assembly
having no powers until it has gone
through with certain formative process
ses. 1t will be the Senate of the United
States just US much as ever, deprived of
none of its powers by the accident of
vacancies in its Presidency and at its
secretary's desk. Its right, then, to orr
ginate the necessary forms for admitting
its newly elected members is not doubted,
and can no more be questioned than its
right to choose a presiding officer when
its membership is complete. 1t is not
in chaotic condition; and its function
of admitting the Senators from New
York and Rhode Island, whose right to
seats is not controverted, can be eXer-
cised under a temporary form of organi-
cation just as lawfully as if the Vice
President had not been called TO the
and were present in his
former place to receive their creden-
tialS.
We speak of this matter without any
partisan feeling. The principle that all
duly elected members of body have
right to take part in the choice of its
officers is an important part of parlia-
mentary ethics. No party can violate it
for the purpose of gaining an advantage
without deserving the contempt of all
honest men. Our view of the case now
arising in Washington would be the
same if the attitude of parties were
changed and three Democrats were
waiting admission TO the Senate. The
right of the states to an equal voice in
all the acts of the body is inviolable. If
the Democrats intend to disfranchise the
state of New York in the election of an
official who may be called upon to act
as President of the United States, let
them go ahead. The Republicans will
want no better issue to take before the
voters uf this state in the canvass soon to
open.