Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-05-15
THE WICKED FLEE WHEN NO MAN
PURSUETH.

The scattering Of the Democratic
Senators from the State Capitol of
Ohio, is a yeritable illustration OF
the above scriptural reference. A
year ago last October, in the cleo
ton of members to the Legislature
in that State the most unblushing
frauds and forgeries were committed
in Cincinnati to secure the returns
in favor of the Democratic candi-
dates. The election of a United
States Senator depended upon the
political complexion of the Legisla-
ture. By ballot-box stuffing and
forged returns, certificates were Civ
en- to ten Democratic candidates for
the lower house and four Democrat
ic candidates for the Senate. The
Republicans, however, had major
ity in the lower house, notwithstand-
ing these ten fraudulent Democratic
seats from Cincinnati, and when the
Legislature met short work was
made of these representatives of
fraud and forgery. They were I'M
seated and the ten Republicans the
people had elected were given their
seats. In the Senate it was differ
ent. With the four fraudulently re-
turned Democratic Senators, the
Democrats had majority of three,
and in the organization of that body
they we're permitted to vote.
An investigation was ordered by
what was called a non partizan CON-
mittee of Senators, into the frauds
and forgeries charged in the election
and certificates of the returns from
Cincinnati. After several weeks
devoted to the work, the committee
returned, and the report that was
made was to have been acted on
last week. 1t was known that the
President of the Senate would rule
that the four Democratic Senators
whose seats were in controversy
should not vote on questions involv-
ing the legality of their seats and
this ruling would leave the Republi-
cans majority of one. With all
the Democratic members absent
there would not be a quorum and to
prevent action on the report of the
m m ittee all the Demo-
cratic members but one stole
away after night and left the State
leaving the Senate without a
quorum. They went beyond the
jurisdiction Of the State and beyond
the reach of a process for their
arrest and return to the State Capt.
toll. Some are in Chattanooga, Tenn,
others in Kentucky, others still in
Michigan, and others distributed in
various other places.
The Republicans played a sharp
trick on their opponents on Satur-
day. A rumor was industriously
circulated to the effect that one of
the refugee senators had been arrest
ed and was being brought to Column
bus. This one, with Vancleaf the
Democratic Senator who had been
left behind to demand q quorum,
would have made a majority of the
Senate. As soon as Vancleaf heard
the rumor he skipped. The Senate
met and there being no one to de-
mand quorum, quorum was as
sumed to be present, and the four
legally elected Republicans from
Hamilton county were sworn in.
Both branches of the legislature are
now IN possession of the Republi-
cans. The democrats declare they
intend to contest the organization,
but as there is nothing in the record
to show that there was not a quorum
present when the Hamilton county
Senators were sworn in, it is not
probable that the court will sustain
the claims of the contestants.-V Val.
ley Viryinian.