The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-29
THE FIGHT IN THE OHIO SENATE.
Lieutenant Governor Kennedy's Goodness
The Secret of Democratic Action.

The Secret of Democratic Action.
Columbus Special.
acknowledgement Kennedy has surprised
even his friends. He is not an expert parlia-
mentarian, and has doubtless made some mis-
takes, but he laughs and is not easily buldozed.
He is cautious now in his rulings and safe. He
is man of perhaps forty-one years, and reminds
one just little of Oliver P. Morton in his per-
sonal appearance. He has seen too much real
fighting to be alarmed at political row. Enter
ing the army private and coming out a Briga-
dier-general. there is smile on his face when
ever climax comes in the present rather warm
proceedings. Since Monday the Lieu
tenant governor has been receiving let
tiers of commentator and encourage
ment from all over the country. Mention
has already been made of the number of curious
gaves sent him. The one from Cincinnati ad-
mirers is of solid gold, with diamond in the
head and is an expensive and beautiful thing.
From prominent men in Washington and the
East generally have come dispatches supporting
him in his attitude. The Clerk. Charles Val
landigham, who has made himself 80 conspicu-
Gus by Juggling about the Senate's records in the
wake of the Democratic Senators. is full
wasted, red-faced and almost red-haire1 man of
about thirty who is said to look like his brother
and who seems a rather jolly fellow, rejoicing in
his present prominence. He edits paper some
where in the State. or did edit it before he be-
came vigorous statesman.
There is silent power, q gray haired. gray
mustached, tastefully dressed parsonage, the
best-looking man in the Senate Chamber, who
deserves mention. He is ex-Speaker Hodge,
of Cleveland. He is an expert parliamentary.
and he had won the reputation of having head
as long as any man who ever sat in the Speakers
chair. He is here ostensibly as q newspaper
man from Cleveland, where he owns a news
paper, but really as an adviser. He made a
prophecy to-day in conversation. 1t was this:
1.-TWO of the Cincinnati senators were given
their seats ON a forgery known to everybody.
These two men will 60 out certainly, Two
others were not elected, but the proof that they
were not is of another nature They will, in all
human probability. 60 out, too and all will be
done legally and properly and will be so ad-
mitted That" he said, lis my prophecy" Elk
Speaker Hodge may be right or wrong, but it
looks as if he were right.
What it all means, why Democrats struggle so
hard to retain control of the Senate, can be un-
derstood only by reference to singular act of
the last Legislature. That body, acting with a
view to the perpetuation of Democratic power in
Cincinnati. established the Board of Police Com
missoners. There are three of these commits
sloners, who are to hold Office three years-one
going out Of Office yearly and his successor to
be elected by the people At least. this will be
the case when the new system gets fairly in op-
Grafton. The first commissioners were to be ap-
pointed. The Legislature dared not trust Gov.
Hoadly to appoint them. He was not deemed a
sufficiently INSCRIPTIONS partisan. It dared not
trust the courts of Cincinnati to name the COM
missoners; they might have named good men.
And the extraordinary design was final
y conceived and executed of leaving
the appointments to the Cincinnati
Board Of Public Works, body having
no more claim to such prerogative and no more
| fitted for it than the Cincinnati base ball club.
But the Board of Public Works is part of the
Democratic machine in Cincinnati, and it was an
assured thing that It's appointments would be
such as to give the machine more power, They
did with vengeance The police commission
| ers are M. L. Hawkins. man whom the En-
quirer supported for sheriff, and who in turn
gave the Enquirer the sheriff 8 advertising; Julius
| Refs, a shrewd. foxy individual, who is aware
that the world is his OYSTER and votes with Haw-
kins Oh all occasions; and Will A. Stevens. a
business man with no traits in particular. The
first two are Democrats, and they are the police
board. They work together and override
| Stevens when he ventures to oppose them.
Stevens seems to be weak rather than anything
else, and has opposed some of the more daring
acts of his colleagues. 1t was this
board which placed hundreds of thugs
as special policemen about the polls in Cincin-
natl, and not only made possible, but secured
| the preparation of the outrages which have
| caused such scandal. 1t is this board which
Cincinnati wishes to be rid of. The committee
| and the chairman of whom is Democrat-have,
| as previously reported, brought before the Gov
ernor the gravest charges against the commits
sioners, and asks him to remove them from
| Office. The law gives the Governor the right
to remove them, but the problem arises as to
how their places are to be filed. The Board OF
| Public Works had the appointing power only IN
the first instance, and even if it had the power
| now would probably again appoint men of the
same type, afording no relief The law provides
1 a N hos ard h
| the death, removal or resignation of one Of the
commissioners, his place shall be filed by some
| one chosen by his associates until the time fo1
| An election occurs. But if all the commissioners
| are removed at once no one will remain to name
their successors and how the places shall be filed
| becomes an open question. This is the problem
before Governor Foraker to day. 1t is thought
possible that Stevens may clear his skirts of the
outrages proved, and that there may not be
| found sufficient reason for his removal. In such
| event the problem would be greatly simplfed.
| Here is the real issue before the Legislature
| Cincinnati demands relief from tbs foul burden,
/ and permanent relief can come only through leg.
/ islation. With the four Democratic Senators
| from Hamilton county seated. the relief asked
| by decent men of both parties cannot come.
| With these Senator'S out the needed legislation
| can be had at once 1t is not party question.
| Whether or not there is a slight Democratic ma
jority in one branch of the Legislature is a tri-
/ fling thing and felt to be So but whether or not
Cincinnati should have relief is matter Of
| grave moment
No Settlement Yet Reached.
| COLUMBUS, o., Jan. 2S.-The Ohio Senate
troubles remain unsettled, with opinion about
| equally divided as to whether any compromise
measure will be agreed upon. The joint session
met at 10 A. NJ, and adjourned pending the con
ference between the joint committees which had
been appointed by the caucus of the respective
sides. with view to learn if some understand