The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-10-10
CAUCUS CONFERENCES
AT WASHINGTON ON SATURDAY.
DsuSsrsts Decide to Take AdvAAtHssOf Majority
1ud Elect President Of the S'nAts-RaJSFd
ChOssn as the CsndIdsts-WAAt the
Rspubleaal Propose to Do.


Baysrd as successor to Chester A. Arthur
The election Of Mr.. Bayard will be de
manded by the majority before the three
new Republican Senators, Messrs, Miller
I.apham and Aldrich, are allowed to take
their seats, This decision on the part Of
the Democrats has been anticipated fol
some time, US It was felt that the counsela
OF the more liberal and iair-niRded repre-
sentatiyes OF the party would be oyerruIed
by the majority.
At II o'clock this morning the Senators
OF both parties met in separate caucus at
the Capitol, The Marble Room, which Is
invariably used by the majority for eau
cusing purposes, was by common consent
abandoned to-day, and the Republicans
assembled In the room Of the Judiciary
Committee, while the Democrats made
their headquarters In the room Of the Com.
mittee on Revolutionary Pensions.
The Republican meeting was presided
over by Senator Anthony. An hour was
occupied in Informal discussion. Nearly
all the Senators were present (only Messrs.
Elgarton, Jones OF Nevada, Sawyer, and
Van WyGk were ABSENT and took part,
| A little after noon the caucus adjourned
to learn what the Democrats proposed to do
The grave importance OF the selection OF q
Republican President pro tempore was in
the mind Of every Republican Senator.
The question OF party interest was second-
ary to the much grayer consideration OF the
public welfare. The fact that the Demo-
cats had an accidental majority was con.
ceded, but the ever.recurring question was,
how that advantage would be used. There
were quite number OF Republicans who
did not believe that the Democrats would
take the risk OF cleCting Vice President
from their own party. Setting aside the
fact that the choice of o Democrat for
President Of the Senate was contrary
to the expressed will Of the people
less than year aso, the disasters to be ap-
pretended by the possible elevation Of u
Democrat to the Presidency should Gen.
enl Arthur die, were 80 alarming that 1t
was not believed the Democratic Senators
would accept the hazard. Mr.. Edmunds,
before the caucus took recess, advocated
the appointment OF committee OF confer-
GnCe to meet u similar committee on the
part OF the Democrats, to learn II liar.
mOniOus adjustment could not be reached.
II was the universal sentiment OF the Call.
Gus that Senators Miller, IApham and Al
driCh should be sworn In before the PrGSi.
dent pro ielnpOre OF the Senate was elected.
The Republicans felt perfectly confident
that these gentlemen, bearing the Creden.
tials of their respective States had every
right TO participate in the election OF the
presiding officer, and II was hoped that II q
conference could be held the justice OF this
claim could be made apparent to the other
side.
Mr.. Edmunds said that while on the way
to and from Cleveland last week, himself
and Mr.. Anthony had conferred with Mr..
PendletOn, Chairman OF the Democratic
caucus, and Mr.. Garland, relative to the
organization OF the Senate, and that 1t had
been agreed that q full interchange Of views
should be had on the Saturday preceding
the meeting Of the Senate. Mr.. Elmunds
informed the caucus that the gentlemen
who participated In the informal conference
at that time expressly stipulated that neith.
or themselves nor their associates should In
any way be bound TO do anything, but the
Importance oireaching some understanding
was 10 grave that, II possible, conference
should be arranged. There was some OBJ
lection In the caucus to committee OF con-
ference, few Republican Senators insist.
ing that 1t would be unbecoming in them
10 ask the majority to confer on
the subject OF the election Of o
President pro TEN. These gentlemen argued
that d proposition to confer with the ma.
.jority about the election OF a presiding
officer was unwise and improper, that the
Democrats would not iorego their advan.
tages without receiving an ample recon-
pense In return, and that the Republicans
could not afford to dicker with the Senate
offices. Those who were OF this mind
ayerred that they would rather iilibuster
against the election Of o Democratic Presi.
dent pro TEN. forever than place them.
selves In the position Of yielding single
Clerkship 10 the Democrats, In exchange
for an office which belonged TO the Repub-
licans In equity and right There was no
roll call on tho question OF appointing q
majority tavoring II, and Mr. Edmunds'
motion was adopted. Messrs.. Edmunds;
Allison, Logan, Sherman and Mcmillan
we're appointed Committee OF Confer
eence, and the caucus took u recess.
The Democratic caucus was In full blast
when the communication announcing the
wish OF the Republicans for conference
was received. The Democratical gathering
was not strong, but its members evidently
realized the Importance Of the sub.
iect they had been called to con.
slider. From the start II was evident
that very large majority were de.
ternihe,l TO elect d President pro tempOre.
Senators Garland, Hill, Morgan, and one or
two Others, only were In favor giving the
Office To the Republicans. Mr.. Garland
gave his views at some length to the caucus.
Mr. Hill spoke very briefly, his physicians
having forbidden him to talk. They argued
that the Democracy could not afford 10
allow Democrat to be placed In position
where be might succeed 10 an Office deputed
by the people To the custody Of o Repub-
lcan, They informed the catictis that in
; their opinion the Democratic party would
, occdpy q much higher place In the estima.
ton Oi the country, II, being possessed OF
a numerical majority, 1t should yield It's
legal right to the moral claims Of the Re.
: publicahs, and permit d successor to Mr..
, Arthur 10 10 chosen by the party which
eleCtel the aSassinated President The
answers 10 thess arguments were brief.
Tie Democrats first had . InajOrity; sec.
0ndly,R large majority of The pEspsilBniS
layofeil the elBptIDh pi q President pro lam,
pore, before The new HenatpEs were allowed
10 take their SeatEj aud third that the rules
Of the Senate itnPeratlyely required the
President Of the Senate TO administer The
cath to Senators elect, before they could be
admitted 10 membership In the body. The
political beaiings pf The question were also
considered,
The majority were Of The opinion that In
Year, past tllsy had yielded alt9gsther toG
much 10 The HepIbliGaDs, and that CbancC
having for once iaVdfad them, they should
NO, ne neglect the opportunity n IheEeHi9rIy