The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-02
THE SENATE PRESIDENCY.
The Question of Succession To Be Deter
mined by a Republican Caucus.
Senator Logan Constantly Growing in Favor
Facts as to the Alleged Disability
of Logan and Sherman.
Special to tho Indianapolis Journal

Special to tho indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. AT the conference of
Republican senators, which will be held on Thurs
day evening the question of successor to the
late Vice-president Hendricks, as presiding officer
of the Senate, will probably be determined
Four years ago, when the parties were more
evenly divided, it will be remembered that Mr..
Bayard was chosen for this place at first, but
that after q few hours the Republicans secured
the aid of David Davis. the independent senator
from Illinois, and made him their presiding
officer in place of Mr.. Bayard. The candidates
whose names are most frequently heard here at
present are Senators Edmunds, Sherman and
Logan. Mr. Edmunds has already filed the
position. and has acquitted himself with
dignity and grace, although he was,
perhaps, little too punctilious in small
matters to be an ideal presiding officer. Senator
John Sherman has a great many warm sup
porters and were it not for the fact that this is
an extraordinary occasion, it is likely that he
would be chosen as the compromise candidate
owing to the rather extensive ili-feeling on the
part of the friends Of Mr.. Blaine to the Yer
mont senator, who declined to take an active
part in the campaign of year ago. Ever since
General Logans name was mentioned in this
connection he has been growing in favor with
Republicans in Washington. There is little
doubt that if members of the House had to elect
the officer, Senator Logan would be chosen by
vast majority of the Republican members. AS it
49, senators who have been seen, while not dis
posed to express their preferences to any great
extent, preferring rather to await the action of
the caucus. are quite favoraby disposed towards
General Logan, and his chances seem to grow as
the days pass. Republican senator. referring
to the contest day, said
with 80 much good material to choose FROM
it is difficult to decide. 1t seems to me, however
that it would be an exceedingly graceful thing
on the part of the majority of the Senate, to
place in the chair one who has been so cordially
supported for this same Office by the party
throughout the land. General Logan's congress
sional career has been decidedly marked one,
and it will not surprise me to find the caucus
practically unanimous in his support"
Edmunds's Position-The Question of Eligi-
bility.
Washington Special.
A prominent Republican senator said to night
Il am firmly convinced that Edmunds is not a
not be under any circumstances. have had no
talk with him since my arrival here, but last
December, when Logan came back to Washing,
ton, Edmunds proposed to several of the Repub-
lican senators that he should withdraw from the
presidency of the Senate, so as to admit of the
election of General Logan. Mr.. Edmunds, at
that time, said he thought it was due the Gen
eral, who had been the candidate Of his party,
and was therefore entitled to the best place that
his Republican associates in the Senate could give
him. But you know that Logan became almost
immediately entangled in the legislative fight in
Springfield and was forced to 60 away from
Washington. He did not come back at all. If
he could have remained here, Mr. Edmunds would
certainly have withdrawn in his favor I am
sure that Mr.. Edmunds does not care for the
place. He held on to it for certain period, just
as any one would who would get into it. If
General Logan were to be elected to morrow and
he were to become heartily Disguised with the
duties of the place within a week he would hold
on to it as a matter of pride during one term of
Congress at least. am sure that the Edmunds
influence will be for Logan. / am certain that
it will not be for Sherman"
do you think there is anything in the point
that Logan cannot be candidate because it is
necessary before he is sworn in to elect some one
else as President in order to have the proper
official administer to him the oath Of Officer
'There may be something in the point, but 1t
is technical one, SO easily met that it is not
worth considering. 1t will not have the slightest
bearing ON the result. When the senators meet
in caucus next Friday or Saturday, If they agree
upon General Logan it will be very easy for
Senator Edmunds to take the chair for five or
ten minutes and then give way. You know
there is no termb Office for President pro tenn.
He holds at the pleasure of the Senate. If it be
the Senates pleasure to elect a President for ten
minutes, and then through mutual understanding
change him; it can be easily done. see there has
hAnxa Naxr w. y1EA
lican senators because they failed to elect Presi
dent pro tenn. last spring They were unable
to do this. The failure to elect not their fault
When there is a Vice president the Senate never
elects President pro tenn. except during his
absence. 1t has been the custom for Vice-presi-
dents to give way as to permit such elections
to take place before the close Of the session Mr..
Hendricks was not out of his seat one moment
during the last special session It was intimated
to him that the Republicans would like to have
opportunity to elect President pro tenn. If
there is any fault in the failure to so elect that
fault was exclusively Mr.. Hendricks's."
"Do you think. as matter Of fact that Lo-
can will be electedp
Il do not see how there can be any question
about it. There is no contest thus far. The
Edmunds influence is for Logan and none of us
here have heard in any direct or positive way
that Mr.. Sherman is a candidate. The public.
of course. does not understand the Senate's con-
servatsm in such matters senator who
should stoop to make a canvass for himself. or
ask fellowsenator to vote for him. would
lose caste directly. We viii all get together
the latter part OF this week and talk it over,
and then settle it according to the majority,
think you will find that Logan will have a pretty
vigorous support from the Republicans who
have been advanced on the committees, and
who would have to give way and make room for
him if he is not elected President You see
Logan has no place on the committees, and he is
man of such long experience there that he is
entitled to a frst-class chairmanship and good