Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-13
A Pad precedent-rndiana.

Last winter, az our readers will recollect,
the Republicans Of the Ohio Senate unseat'
I'd by mere technical device members
enough 10 convert q Democratic majority
into Republican majority. How was this
pos.ibley Well, one day, all the Demo
Gratis being absent. the Republicans by
unanimous consent unseated four Demo-
Gratis and seated four Republicans. In Con.
gress, and in every legislative body, 1t is
not unirequently the case that bills are
passed by less than quorum; for IL no.
body raises the question OF quorum,
quorum Is always presumed to be present.
So by a trick the Republicans gained con-
troll Of The Ohio Senate, and having also
a majority m the other House, proceeded
to gerrymander the congressional districts,
and succeeded in so arranging them that
the Republicans this year elected In Ohio
fifteen congressman, although two years ago
they elected only ten. Among the fifteen Is
Boz KENNEDY, who, rs President oil the
Ohio senate. engineered the movement
which in a few minutes turned Demo-
cratic Senate into a Republican one. Last
week II seemed probable that Mr.. KEN
sEDY's trick had resulted not only In
making him congressman but In convert
ing Democratic national House OF Repre-
sentstives into Republican national House
OF Representatives; as would certainly
have been the case II few more States had
had such smart tricksters as Bon KENNEDY
In their legislative halls clothed with
power thus TO "witch the world" With
partisan trickery.
Well, Indiana has been witcbed." As
the Republicans stole the presidency in
1876, and grabbed the Ohio Senate in 1886,
the Republicans OF Indiana seem TO have
reached the conclusion that they can steal
the Indiana Senate. The Cleveland tOhio)
Plain Dealer says:
"They have a majority in the House TO
begin with, while the Democrats have a
majority OF the Senate. Their plan IL TO
unseat two Democrats in the House, admit |
Republicans in their stead. and thereby
make Republican majority OF two on joint |
ballot. OF course, some preteDce for this |
ACTON can reaully De truWpeu up, ana WIN
Republicans the end always iustlties the |
means. They will not hesitate because the |
Democrats are legally elected.
"The Democrats threaten TO meet this |
move by bouncing Republican senator
for every Democratic representative elected |
by the House. As the material in the SEN
ate would be exhausted first, we suppose !
The Republicans could stand this. but it is
by such performances that honest citizens
are being Disguised with the whole course |
Of party politics as now carried on.
"The situation in the Indiana Legislature |
will be interesting when that body con-
yenes. The Democrats have majority OF |
two on joint ballot, and II that majority |
holds can elect United States senator. |
The Republicans want that senator, and |
hey undoubtedly will set in operation a
scheme TO overturn that majority, so as to !
be able to elect senator themselves.
Unfortunately they have bad pre-
cedtnt in that line, and plan OF opera.
ions afforded in the performance Of the |
Republicans in the Ohio Legislature last |
winter. They will undoubtedly undertake |
70 throw ont Democrats enough TO reduce |
he Democratic majority to minority"
Each reader may make his own COM
nents.