Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-26
THE REPUBLICANS IN 1888.
Ex- Gov. Foster Discusses Their Chances
in. the Next General Election.
Eyot,, thu Nago York World


From tho Neto York Wor5d.
Ex-Gov. Foster. of Ohio, pushed back a
heavy shock of black hair from his fore
head recently at the Fifth Avenue hotel
and said he could not believe the charges
4 Of bribery that had been made against
Senator Payne.
t'Our relations personally" continued
the Ex-Governor, lighting a cigar and set
ltling himself down in his chair, shave al
ways been Of the most friendly character.
lIhaVe high regard for Senator Payne,
and do not believe for moment that he is
guilty Of the charges named or that he
had any knowledge OF what was going on
IN the Legislature at the time OF his cleo
don. 1t is the general belief in Ohio that
money was used cOrruptly to bring about
Senator Payne's nomination by the Dem
0cratic caucus. Right there. it strikes
me, very interesting point arises. 1t is
tie common belief, as l said, that money
was used to buy votes for Payne but
without his knowledge or cOnsent) in the
cancus. Well, suppose that fact be es-
tablished. Can you legally punish the
guilty parties? A caucus is not a recOg-
nixed kodY-it is simply an organization
Tor party convenience and has no exist
'aaee in law. know of no statute that
mentions the buying Of caucus vote as
Taisdeneanor. 1 do notsee, therefore, how
we are TO punish the guilty parties if con-
vfcted except at the bar of public Opin-
ion. OF course, however, this should not
prevent the Investigation from going on.
ltshould be prObed to the bottom; but |
Wish to emphasize the fact that l do not
believe Senator Payne bad the slightest
connection with the wrOng-dOing.
tsThe legislature Of Ohio cannot de-
dare Senator Payne's seat vacant. All the
legislature can do, should the inVestiga-
tiOn prove the truth u the charges, will
De 90 forward resolutions to the Senate at
Washington, making such recommends
lions as they desired carried out. Should
The tact that Senator Payne's seat was
bought be proved do not imagine that
The Senator would find his seat very CON-
fortable even though il is in the United
states Senate. Sill there are many rea-
sOns for the SenaDr not TO resign. In the
r drst place, II coud be said that he knew
nothing about tie bribery, and Ii he had
n0tpeen elected some other Democrat
would. The Democrats have a chance Of
capturint the senate two years hence.
Should Nj. Payne resignit would remove
that chanca 70 a very remote degree"
"Do you hink tie Democrats really have
q chance OF capturing the senator"
s'They think they have, at least. Let's
see; ii they shOuh elect a Senator from
y
fornia tat would make the Senate tie,
and al'of those states are close aud
doubtit. ] do not see much TO worry
about this Stah. think the RepuDl-
cans VII win. | know the Democrats
think ley can overcome the Republican
mnJ0ry IN the Assembly by c0ncentrat.
ing ttir forces, both State and National,
but believe that very reason alone will
help ~ TO win the contest. 10 will make
a nsonM election In overy Assembly
Distct IN this state aud bring out tue fun
Repblican vote. II the Democrats ex-
peep win the sonat0rship IN this state
the will make more headway BY work.
fngery quietly
fOYern0r. DO yOu think the Republican
1fl can win Va lN-sW
fhe odds, ~ the saying goes. are large.
a. egalnst us. The Democrats have 1913
votes in bank. They can draw
dDon chem At will. The Democratic par.
I ~ Elll haze Il tremendous advantage.
Bui 30 long a. tho Democrats retain fho
csnirol Of the lh8 electoral votes la tho
s0uih they win hare nine chances ~ win
10 our one. See how easy II will be i0r
Them % concentrafr their forces ~ tho
hnFih ~ asi ana necessary a. votes %,