Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-12

An Appeal By the stalwarss for .
Caucas.
Prompt Refusal By the Adninistratio.
Members.

ALBANY, July IL. The following appeal
has been sent to the joint caucus committee
To the chairman and members of the Senate
and Assembly:
The gentlemen undersigned, q committee
appoipted for the purpose at ameetlng OF the
republican members of the legislature, re-
spectfully request the republican caucus COM
mittees. of the Senate and Assembly, to unite
in call for a caucus of the republican mem
bers of the legislature, to be held at such time
a. said committee shall designate, for the
purpose of nominating two candidates 10 0e
voted for to fill the vacancies in the u ..
Senate occasioned BY the designations OF
Roscoe Conkling and Thomas c. Plat. NO
caucus If the republican members OF the
legislature has as vet been called by the usual
and recognized method. A protracted contest
over the filling of vacancies above referred
to has made it clear that no settlement OF the
question can be reached, which shall at once
acouiesences of all in the question and re-
store harmony to the party and preserve IN
tegrity to its organization, except by strict
compliance with party usages. we nrmiy De-
lieyd that any doctrine or rule OF action,
which attempts to guild party conduct, ex-
cent that which recognizes the control OF the
majority and free opportunity for particlpa-
ton, ali will necessarily prove fatal to the
| organization of the party In the state ana
nation. On behalf of those whom we represent
we are led to ask for caucus on the ad-
ditional ground that the interests OF the re-
publican party require that the organization
| Of the House of Representatives in Congress,
in the interests of the party, shall not endang-
| cred by the election of members of the present
| Congress to fill the above senatorial vacan-
cies. Such danger is threatened in the
proposition to elect in these vacancies, Mes
srs. Lapham and Miller, two members of the
present Congress. There is no provision
under the existing laws for filling vacancies
| which would occur from electing these gen.
tlemen to the office of U. S. Senators, except
at the next general election of Tuesday sue
ceeding the first Monday in Nov.
The case here includes statement of the
process of elections of members of Con-
gress, in order to show that contingency
may arise, whereby the organization OF the
House of Representatives may take place be-
fore the meeting of the State Canvassers or
before the election of the successors of Mes
srs. Lapham and Miller could possibly be
authenticated and certified to the House OF
Representatives, and continues: In case all
extra session of Congress should be called
before the next general election in Novem-
Der, it is clear that the organization of the
House of Representatives must necessarily
take place in the absence Of Messrs. Lapham
and Miller, or their successors. Then if by
hasty and uninterrupted proceedings by the
county and State canvassers, which, as we
have pointed out, cannot be relied upon, the
successors of Messts. Lapham and Miller,
should secure their certificates in time to be
present at the opening of Congress, there
still remain distractions and difficulties in
the way of their participating in the organi-
cation of the House. The pretence of con-
test or the refusal of the democratic House
to place thier names upon the roll or any
of the score of devises which a willy foe
will not hesitate to resort, will suffice to Sc
cure the organization of the next House Of
Representatives by the democratic party.
These we think are the considerations which
should receive attention in full and free
caucus of the republican members of the
legislature.
(SigneO EDWIN. HoLBRooK.
RoB'T H. STRAHAN.
II. II. TITHILL.
p. w. CULTIMAN.
H. j. HURD