The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-14
PARLTA MENTARY.
EX-SENATOR 10 SESSIONS TELLS
HOW CONkLiNG WAS BEATEN.
1rlcking the State Senate into au Adjourn
ment Before the designations of
Contling and Iiatt, In 1881.
Could be Announced.

TMayville IN. W Cor. New York Sunl
Ex-Senasor Loren y. Sessions sat in the
county clerks Office during recess Of the
oarI Of supervisors Of Chautauqua county
the dler day, and sun reporter talked
with him atout Conkling.
Its ancient history now, and and don't
mind telling YOU how il was The tele-
graphic rumor that Conklng AMI Platt had
resigned reached Al! any OH Monday, and,
OF course, his Iartisans and opponents
were greatly excited AZ TO the outcome
went up 10 the capitol TO find, if possible, the
truth Of the rumor. The executive chamber
and state departm, mt were at the time in the.
oil capitol while the legislature had moved
into the new building, I met Ell johnson,
then clerk of the assembly, IL the corridor,
10y the governors room, aud asked him il
any official message had he,n received He
laughed at the idea and said NO susIi niessag.
had arrived. He went INTO the g0veinoys
room and | turned into tie 10, IN OF the
superintendent Of public instruction and re-
manned III re ahout an hour talking with Mr..
Gi!mour, who, although strong Stalwart,
was an intimate friend Coming out I met
johnson just leaving the governors room.
Il guess lied to you a little while ago.
he said the designations of Conkling and
Ilatt have arrived, aud "a message announs-
ing the fact is 10 be sent to the legislature to-
night
ut was evident that IL anything was to be,
Gone it must BE- done quickly, or Mr. Conk-
ling, who had the most adherents I'm
the legislature, would be returned To-.
fight the administration Of Garfield
1t was believed that Conkling's
and Platt's constituencies did not echo this
sentiment, and il time could be gained this
fact could he made known i'm such unmistak-
able terms that many members OF the assem-
bly, who would by personal choice vote for
the return Of the recreant senator's would
not dare to do SO. The law made
it obligatory TO proceed with the election Of
senator's on the second Tuesday after :
notica Of the vacancy This wsa
NJ niay afternoon. If message was ro-
ceivel at the session that evening il must he
acted on a week from the next day. II not
received it would require two weeks. i
thought it over and determined that tho
only way to keep Roscoe Conklng from an
immediate return was to keep the governors
message from being received that evening
Reaching the Delavan house, / went &c \
Woolin's room. Robertson, Birisall, Wag
ner, and other opposition senator's we're
there, anxiously discussing the situation !
told them the news, which carried conster-
Eatlon with it. Different measures were
hastily discussed and abandoned as inn
practicable. At length broached my plan.
The senate must be ad djourned that evening
before the mes iage was received.
but it can't 10 done, said Robertson y
wouldn't think Of such n thing
But it is parliam sntary, isn't itp said / I.
ayes he asserted
And it's legal, isn't itr
ayes, but %
"'Well, If it's both papliainentars. and
legal we have q right to use it. This,is.
politics, and no santimentr
"Now, il you throw Robertson out into
tIe middle Of tho stream, he viii paddle
hard for the shore; he is hard to get into tho
water Hs wouldn't listen to tha plan, and,
seeing that 10 was of no usa To urge IL, left
the room with the remark: Very we'll gen.
tlemen, Roscoe Conking will be his own snc-
cesso", an! yoI will be responsible for it,
"An hour after was called from my room,
at the Kenmore TO return TO Woodias rooms
IL appear that George Dawson, the veteran
editor OF The Evening Journal had calletl
in much tribuation, 20 learn what was TO be
done in the emergency. When my plan was
told to him he jumpel right out OF hts chair
with enthusiasm. II Is just the thing he de- 4
clared 1t must be dom This warm en-
dorsement from SO con servative an prudent
a source rather stifenad the backs Of thu
others, and'they Immediately sent for me.
ait must be done,' said Robertsof, but
can't do it, Ishould make a botch HN
tried
ar you win les me preside tonight III
sal 1t will bs done, and you may bet 3
it that it will be done clear through, too
$50 he gave me note to Vroomnn, ciork
of the senate, instructing him that was t2s
preside. ! took the char mt tho appointed
hour, aad called the senate 10 order. Cool
old Father Haw!ey was chaplain at that
time, and told him to MAKE bis prayer lust
as short as possibl, sat with my watch In
hand, and he prayed just minuts. but ic ,
seemed to me to be the longest prayer ever
heard. l expected every second TO see tie
messenger from the governor enter thGfsoSS,
and once insids, the message would x zelA
to be in the possession Of tho senats wlesther
formally delivered or not Amen had
hardly dropped from Father Hawieys lips
when, looking ever toward Woodin, 7 saw
him rise and without waiting to hear what
he sail put the question: The senator
from tie Twenty-sixtn moves that the senate
do now adjourn. Many OF you as are in
favor say aye, contrary no--senate stands
adjourned until tomorrow moniRg at II
O'clock
''Woodin voted yea There were no nays.
They wera too much astoni:hei TO vote any
thing. Tnere was only one mau that l was
afraid Of, and that was Bob Strahan OF New
York. warm supporter Of Coakliag, and
quick and sharp as lightning. Idroppsd the
gavel and almost reached my seat when
Bob whose eyes stuck cut like saucers,
jumpad to his feet and shouted, COUNT /
nodded 10 him pleasantly and said, 'rll heaS>
you in the morning, Bob; t1e senate Is ad-
journed' At that moment the governors
message came in. He had delivered the
message TO the assembly. but was too late
for the senate and week was gainsi to
fight the battle.
You know the result. Members com
mence1 IL get instructions from their con u
stituents by the cart load. They were over. X
whelmed with rernonstrances, and chang
their intentions But II time for this had
been gained, Miller AMI Lapham would