The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-05-19
CONKLING AND PLA77
Resign Their Seats in the Senate.
TIE SCAHHING LETTER OF THE
Two SENATORS TO GOV.
CORNELL.
Arraigning President Garfield
and indicating Their
Action,
A DISRUPTION OF THE REPUBLI.
CAN PARTY NEWT
ABLE.
The designations Create Profound Sensation
All Over the Countrywide Constitutional
Majority and Malone Go Into
the Same Hole.

WASHINGTON, May l6-A BON bshell burst In the
Senate soon after it was called to order this morn.
ing, in the shape OF the designations of Senators
Roscoe Conkling and Thomas G. Plat, Of New
York. The communications were In the usual
form, and we're addressed to Vice President Ar
thur and announced that the designations had
been forwarded to the Governor OF the State Of
New York, and requested having announcement
Of the fact formally made to the Senate. This
announcement was received by the Senators
present with genuine surprise, but the Senate i'm.
mediately proceeded to the transaction Of routine
business and at 1925 o'clock went into executive
session.
The absence Of Senator ConklIng from the
meeting Of the Committee on Judiciary this
morning was the first intlmation Of any trouble
brewing; but there was no time for conjecture
before the announcement OF his resignation was
made. This coup d. etat is said now TO be what
was presaged by the Senator's famous speech, in
the caucus few days ago as reported by the Ma
tional associated press 1t is the "stalWart"
method OF expressing disgust a. the policy Of the
President in ignoring the Senators from any
State, in filing the most important offices Of any
State, and his action leaves the Demo- rats In
majority in the Senate.
LATER.
WASHINGTON, May l6.-1;90 P. M-The galleries
were we'll filled ard the Senate was nearly full,
when the designations Of Conkling and Platt
were announced, Immediately after the reading
OF the journal, the Vice President said ~ have
the honor Of laying the following communica'
tions before the Senate. The Clerk will read
them" The Clerk then read as follows
WASHINGTON, May 16.
Sir:-Will you please announce to the Senate
that my resignation as Senator Of the United
States from the State Of New York has been for.
WnTded to the Governor of that State. have the
honor to be, with great respect, your obedient
servant, ROSCOE C0NKLING.
To Chester A. Arthur, Vice President,
At once there was hum of surprise all about
the chamber. The Democrats looked aDxiously
at each other and smiled, The Republicans tried
10 be calm, but more than one showed intense
anxiety as to what would follow. The Vice
President handed another communication to the
Clerk, who read as follows:
SENATE CHAMBER, May 16.
To Hon. Chester A. Arthur, Vice President:
Sir:-I have forwarded to the Governor Of the
State Of New York my resignation as United
States Senator from the State of New York. Will
you please announce the fact to the Senate,
With great respect your obedient servant,
TIC. PLATT,
To add to the sensation Of the moment Eumor
gained circulation that the Vice President had
also resigned, but this was speedily quashed, that
official occupying the chair at the time. Neither
Senator Conkling or Plat have been seen at the
capitol to day. and are not now at their resi-.
dences Senator Malone is also absent from the
Senate. The Democrats hail the fissco with de-
light, not so much since 1t leaves them tenn
poraIy majority, as that II seems to pressge an
inevitable split in the opposition. What will be
done In the Senate now can only be cODjectured
In the executive session uneOntested nOmina.
tiOns are being considered at present, no report
having been made, either on Chan iler or Rob.
ertson. Senator Pendleton stated Just now that
he hardly thought that the Senate would want to
finish up the buglness Of he session without
full body, and that delay might be made by the
Republicans themselves until action had been
taken by the New York Legislature. Senator
Johnson, OF Virginia, said he thought that the
Republicans will try to rush Robertson and
Chandler, and adjourn.
Reports on these could be forced by DISPOSE
ton Of all other business, and then action could
be taken at once, Senator Williams, Of Ken.
lucky, thought 1t looked like transferring the
fight to New York; that the country might recog-
nize the COnkling strength at home, II 1t vas not
lust now apparent abroad. Senator Kellogg sup.
posed Conkling had taken this method Of appeal.
Ing to his people, and thought II not improbable
that the New York Legislature, being Conkling,
would sustain him and his colleague by return
ing both. Senator McMillen smiled and said 1t
was not complete surprise to all the Senators on
the Republican side, from which remark and
other intmRtiOns, It ia gathered that this result
was ioreshsdowed by Conklings caucus speech,
although 1t was hardly thought the drop would
fall so soon.