The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-02-07
Hing Caucus In ohio.

The Democrats have q large majority in
4 both branches Of the Ohio Legislature.
When that body met last month the
< leaders, realizing that important questions
4 Of q political nature would come before
: them, called caucus Of tho Democratic
members. In that caucus It was agreed
\ that the Democrats should meet once a
week in secret caucus; that all bills Of a
political nature to be presented by Demo
Gratis should first be approved by the eau.
4 cue; that the action Of the party on all
questions Of political nature should be
B discussed and agreed upon in caucus, that
there might be no damaging discussion in
( open session, and that individual members
/ should subordinatathair own opinions and
! the will Of their constituents to the dictum
]. Of the caucus. ,'fl t'R H f
There are eighty.two Democrats in the
( Legislature, and a majority Of that nun.
{ Der constitutes quorum for the tansac-
ton OF caucus business. 1t will thus be
seen that In certain contingency twenty
two Democrats, bare majority ola caucus
quorum, can enact the laws Of the third
State in the Union. The Democrats have
voluntarily submitted to be bound by the
4 chains Of King Caucus; ard that sovereign
monarch Is carrying things with high
hand. " .5Ns .'Ga'.S-. @7l'l
The caucus agreed that the Scott Law
should be amended in certain particulars.
On Friday Mr. Lowenstien's bill for that
purpose same up in the House. The Re-
publicanH made gallant fight against it,
but the Democratic majority was too
strong, their organization too perfect, and
the presiding officer, Mr.. Drummer, too IN
scrupulous to give the minority decent
showing. When the Judiciary Commit
tee reported the bill the Republicans de-
manded yea and nay vote. Forty three
votes were cast and the point Of mo quo
rum" was raised. But the presiding officer
decided that the Republicans, though not
voting, were present and could be counted
to make up the quorum, and on appeal
from that decision the Democrats sustained
him. The rulings OF the chair throughout
the day and on Saturday were in defiance
of all parliamentary law and Of all justice.
The constitution of the State provides
that five members may protest against any
action of the House and have their protest
spread on the journal. On Monday the
Republicans had prepared ringing
protest against the proceedings Of
Friday and Saturday. But when. the
House met Allen O. Myers took the door
and presented protest against the action
Of the Republicans in refusing to vote. OF
course the point OF order was made that
protest must be against the action OF the
House, and not against individual mem
beers, but the point was overruled and
again the chair was sustained. By thus
disregarding all the rights Of the minority
the bill was pushed through on Tuesday.
Similar action will be taken on every
bill OF importance that may come before
the Legislature this session. Individual
\ and minority rights are to be disregarded
and caucus is to be absolute monarch. But
his reign will be brief. Ohio is too great a
State, and her people are too Independent,
] to be long ruled by squad Of Democratic
politicians The caucus must 20, and with
/ it will 90 Democratic power in the Buckeye