The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-12-24
THE DOODLE SCHEME
To Prevent the Election of shsrmAn-APIOt
Disclosed.


CNcISxATI, Dec. 23.-A dispatch to the
Commercial Ga.ette from ZanesviIle says:
An e1.Democratic member Of the Ohio
Legislature intimated to your corespon-
dent day or two since that the Republi-
cans Of Ohio had no sure thing, after all,
Of electing John Sherman to the United
States Senate this winter, and perhaps not
at all.
asked him why?
"Well you see," said he, "the law re-
quires that the Legislature shall on eer-
tain day after organizing meet and ballot
for United States Senator, and l think
the prospects are that they will not be
able to organize by that time. II not,
what are you fellows going to do about
it?"
The plan, understand, is to meet on
the day required by law, but the Senate
being Democratic, will postpone orgIniza-
ton, while the House, being Republican,
is expected TO organize ct once, and the
time fixed by law for casting joint bal
lot for U. s. Senator will be reckoned
from the time at which the Houses
organized, but as no joint ballot
can be had at that time because the
senSte is unorganizsd) the election OF q
U. 5. Senator must go by default for two
years.
The scheme is 80 silly that it is hardly
worth diyulging, but still, when such pal
pable frauds and forgery as have been
sanctioned by the Democratic Supreme
Court in the Cincinnati case are success
fully practiced, why not this species of
revolution2 An equally monstrous pro-
ceeding was tried in Iowa few years ago
whereby Senator Harlan was unseated,
when the conditions and relative positions
Of the two houses Of the Legislature were
similar, and at about the same time II was
successfully performed in Indiana.
In the case Of Iowa the Legislature was
Republican on joint ballot, the Senate
being Republican the House Democratic.
They Organized in this case, balloted for
U. s. Senator, but failed TO elect. The
Republicans then held q caucus and agreed
10 support Harlan unanimously for U. S.
Senator. Both Houses met pursuant TO
adjournment, with only the one purpose
in view, but the Democratic Senate de-
cliued to adjourn and go into joint session.
The Republican Senators, however, went
into the lower House and, with the Rs
publicans there, balloted for and elected
Harlan.
a protest was sent to the o. S. Senate
by the Democrats, claiming that the elec-
ton was illegal, aud the Senate 80 held
and Harlan was denied his seat. He was,
however, elected afterward and served his
term.
In Indiana the conditions were reversed,
in this that the Legislature was Demo-
cratic on joint ballot, the House being
Republican and the Senate Democratic.
In this case they met in joint convention
pursuant TO resolution for the plrpoH Of
counting the votas for Governor, and no.
10 elect U. S. Senators. There were two TO
be elected, however, one to fill . vacancy
and one for the full term.1 After counting
the vote for Governor and declaring who
was elected, the Lieutenant. Governor,
without any motion, declared the conven-
ton adjourned until the extday at GER
tain hour. They metthat day and adjourned
again until the next day, when, without
any resolution or previous notification Of
lneIeAl OBJECT OF tne behSIonJ DAlIOteQ IOr
United States Senators and elected two
Democrats-Bright and Fitch, / believe
and the Iieutenant-Goyernor declared
them laiY elected.
The Republicans ssnt their protest to
the United States Senate, Just a. the Dem.
oorAts bad done in the Iowa case. The
matter was IefeTred 10 committee, and
the committee found ssmsEhere among
the rusty tones that on some other 0eos'
sion in the dim past Lieutenant Cover
nor had done similar thing, and nobody
objected and, therefore, reported in favor
Of the two Senators, and they were per-
mitted to take their seats ana seFTe their
Now, ia view Of snch precedents as
these, is it unreasonable to suppose thst
the Ohio Boodle Gang will resort to any
thing TO defeat John Sherman, even 10
revolution?
The eaeaks need watching, and the Re-
publicaRs must be fully armed to meet
any emergency.