Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-12-27
HOW CONKLING WAS DEFEATED.
Loren Sessions Says He Beat Him and
Tells How 1t was Done.

A Maysville New York dispatch says
| Ex-senator Loren Sessions sat in the
County Clerks Office during recess Of the
Board of Supervisors of Chautauqua coun-
ty the other day, and reporter asked him
what he thought of the talk of Mr.. Conk-
ling returning to the Senate.
'He won't get there this time," said the
Chautauqua chief, confidently, 9 but it was
i a matter of only about two minutes be-
tween him and his old seat at Washington
when he tried to be returned in 1881. Its
ancient history now and | don't mind tell
ing YOU how it was The Geographic ru-
NOR that Conkling and Pratt had resigned
reached Albany on Monday, and, of course,
his partisans and opponents were greatly
excited as to the outcome | went up to
the capitol to find, if possible, the truth of
the rumor. The Executive Chamber and
State Department were at that time in the
old capitol, while the Legislature had
moved into the new building. | met Ed
johnson, then Clerk of the Assembly, in
! the corridor by the Governors room, and
asked him if any official message had been
received. He laughed at the idea and said
no such message had arrived. He went
into the Governors room and | turned
into the room of the Superintendent Of
| Public instruction. and remained there
about an hour talking with Mr.. Gilmour,
who, though strong Stalwart, was an in
innate friend Coming out l met John
son Just leaving the Governors room.
al guess | lied to You little while
ago he said; : the designations OF Conkling
and Plat have arrived, and Il message an
nouncing the fact is to be sent to the Leg
islature tonight
It was evident that if anything was to
be done it must be done quickly, or Mr.:
Conlling, who had the most adherents in
| the Legislature, would be returned to fight
the administration of Garfield. 1t was be-
| lieved that Conkling's and Platt's constit-
| uencies did not echo this sentiment, and if
time could be gained this fact could be
made known in such unmistakable terms
that many members of the Assembly who
would by personal choice vote for the re-
turn of the recreant Senators would not
dare do so. The law made it obligatory to
proceed with the election of Senators on
the second Tuesday after notice of a va
cancy. This was Monday afternoon. If a
message was received at the session that
evening it must be acted on week from
the next day If not received it would re-
quire two weeks. | thought it over, and
determined that the only way to keep
Roscoe Conkling from an immediate re-
turn was to keep the Governors message
from being received that evening.
Reaching the Delavan House, | went
to Woodin's room. Robertson, Birdsall,
Wagner and other opposition Senators
were there, anxiously discussing the situa-
ton. | told them the news, which carried
CONSERVATION with it. Different measures
were hastily discussed and abandoned as
impracticable. At length | preached my
plan. The Senate must be adjourned that
evening before the message was received.
90 But it can't be done, said Robertson.
wouldn't think of such a thing
90 But it is parliamentary, isn't it,
said l.
eyes he asserted.
And it's legal, isn'tit?
90 Yes. but
"'Nell, if it's both parliamentary and
legal We have a right to use it. This is
politics, and no sentiment
Now if you throw Robertson ont into
the middle of the stream, he will paddle
hard for the shore but he is hard to get
into The water. He wouldn't listen to the
plan, and, seeing that it was no Use to urge
it, | left the room with the remark: Very
well, gentlemen Roscoe Conllling will be
his own successor, and you will be respon-
sible for it
Gan hour after | was called from my
room at the Kenmore to return to Wood
ms rooms. 1t appears that George Daw-
son, the veteran editor of the Ecening Jour
nal, had called, in much tribulation to
learn what was to be done in the emer-
gency When my plan was told him he
jumped right out of his chair with enthu-
sasm. 1t is just the thing he declared
1t must be done This warm indorse-
ment from 50 conservative and prudent
source rather stitiened the backs OF the
others, and they Immediately sent for me.
80 1t must be done said Robertson But
| can't do ii. | should make a botch if !
tried
"'If you viii let me preside tonight
said, II will be done, and you may bet on
ii that it will he done clear through, too
So he gave me note to Nrooman,
Clerk of the Senate, instructing him that /
was to preside / took the chair at the
appointed hour and called the Senate to
order Good old Father HALEY was Chap
lain at that time, and | told him to make
his prayer Just as short as possible. sat
with my watch in nv hand, and he prayed
lust minute, but it seemed to me to be
the longest PRAYER j ever heard. | ex-
pected every second TO see the messenger
from the Governor enter the door, and
once inside, the message would be held to
be in possession OF the Senate, whether
formally delivered or not. 4sen' had
hardly dropped from Father Halley'S lips |
when, looking over toward Woodin, | saw
him rise, and, without waiting to hear
what he said, put the question: The
Senator from the Twenty-sixth moves that
the Senate do now adjourn. Many Of you
as are in favor say aye, contrary no-Sen- |
ate stands adjourned until tomorrow |
morning at ii O'Clock.
"Woodin voted yea There were no
nays. They were too much astonished to
vote anything There was only one man |
was afraid OF, and that was Bob Strahan OF
New York, warm supporter Of Conkling |
and as quick and sharp as lightning. | |
dropped the gravel and almost reached my |
seat, when Bob, whose eyes stuck out like |
saucers, jumped to his feet and shouted |
Count | nodded to him pleasantly and |
said: III hear you in the morning, Bob; |
the Senate Is adjourned At that mo-
ment the Governors messenger came in. |
He had delivered the message to the As |
sembly, hut was too late for the Senate,
and a week was gained to fight the battle.
You know the result. Members COM