The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-01-28
TheCase stataa.


1t is of great Importance that the !
position of the Democrats in the con-
test now in progress at the State capi-
tai should be clearly understood. 1t
is the purpose of the Republicans to
muddle the case and to misrepresent
the merits of the controversy.
There are seventeen Republican and
sixteen Democratic senators about
whose election there is no dispute.
There are four Democratic senators
from Hamilton county whose seats are
contested by four Republicans, the
ground of contest being the allegation
that they were elected by fraud.
The four Democratic Senators from
Hamilton county hold certificates of
election properly made out and issued,
and hold their seats in the senate
upon this prima facie evidence of their
right to hold them.
The four Republican contestants
from Hamilton county have filed no
tice of contest as they have right to
do, aud the whole matter has been re
ferred Ia the senate committee on
privileges and elections TO investigate
and report. This is tue procedure en-
Joined by the constitution, the rules CT
the senate and the only procedure ever
fnlloWed in any case of contested seat
ia any Ohio legislature or any legisls-
tive body in this country.
The Democratic senators, including
the four sitting membeI5 rom Ham
iitou county, have challenged and still
challenge the most thorough and
searching Investigation into ali the
circumstance Of the Cincinnati cleo
ton, and have not sought and do not
now seek to delay the investiga-
ton. They are willing aud anxious
that whatever frauds there may have
been committed IN the late election IN
Cincinnati should be shown Up, and
that the senators honestly elected
should have their seats. They have
only insisted that this inquiry should
go into all the allegations of fraud in
regard to that election, and not stop
with part of them and that the inves~
tigstion should be conducted accord
lug to the preoedenta and the rules
that have always hitherto governed
such proceedings.
This is the Democratic position, and
no candid, fair minded citizen of
either party can say that it is not fair
| aud Just. 1t is based on constitution,
law and precedent. 1t seeks no par
| tisan advantage, but justice only.
| Now, what is it that Republicans pro-
pose?
They propose that there shall be no
| investigation into the Cincinnati elec-
lion frauds any further than may
serve as pretext for unseating the
! four Democratic senators and putting
four Republicans in their places.
They openly proclaim their purpose
not to investigate for the purpose OF
ascertaining who were honestly electe d
but that, facts or no facts, they intend
TO kick fhe Democrats out"
They refuse to allow the investiga-
ton to proceed in the manner that the
constitution of the state and the rules
of the senate provide, but propose to
go through the farce of trial in open
senate, proceeding for which there
is no precedent whatever.
They assume, arbitrarily and with
out law or reason, that seventeen sem
ators shall, being minority, be COM
petent to act as the senate, and that
| twenty democratic senators shall sub
NIT to the minority.
They propose that the lieutenant
| governor, being the presiding officer
of the senate, may set aside any par.
liamentary rule, any precedent or any
rule of the senate and may declare who
shall vote and who shall not.
They propose to summarily eject
four democratic senators upon one
sided and distorted evidence in order
to gain partisan advantage.
Now, this states the position of the
two parties to this controversy fairly.
On the one side are twenty democratic
senators, with right, justice, the con-
stitution, the laws, the precedents, the
rules of the senate on their side, pro.
posing a fair investigation by the Gus.
tomary methods and fair decision in
accordance with the facts.
On the other side seventeen repub-
lican senators and a republican lieu
tenant governor arrogantly, unlaw-
fully proposing to expei four democrat
ic senators, without hearing, without
Investigation, for the purpose of gain
ing party advantage.
Are not the democrats justified in
resisting this monstrons asurpatiOn,
this unlawful proceeding, by any
means within their power ?-l Plain
Dealer.