The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-11-27
PLOTTING DEMOCRATS.
"CIaims" of the Leaders to Steal
the House are BoIder.
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
Concerning tho Organization of a
Former House of ofRcprcscntatives
Which They Might Study
With Some Profit.


ganization OF the House except, perhaps,
that the Democratic claims were a triae
bolder than for some days past. Several
Democrats who are personally interested
asserted that the official returns show a
small plurality for Clunle, Democrat, in
the Fifth California District, and they
were inclined to declare that "that set
ties it." They appear to feel no doubt
that the Governors Of Maryland, Vir-
ginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, West
Virginia and Louisiana will do "what-
ever is necessary" il by SO doing bogus
majority can be manufactured to seize
the organization OF the House.
"Why," exclaimed Democrat, with
yirtuous indignation, "look Mt John
ston's district in North Carolina, which
we all regarded as safely Democratic. II
we wanted to steal the House we would
have begun with that district. II that is
not an evidence OF good faith, what
would you hAve?"
There is very good reason why the
Democrats have not tried to count out
Ewart in the Ninth North Carolina dis
trict. They know that the people would
not submit TO it and Governor Scales
would not dare to issue certificate to
man in that district who was not fairly
elected. Ewart's majority over John
ston was 1913 and it could not be over
thrown except by resort to such means
rs have been and still are to be employ
ed 10 count out Cheatham and issuea
certificate to Simmons in the Second
district, That is district in which the
Republicans have an actual majority OF
more than 1000 votes, but very large
proportion are colored voters, the OPP
portunities for fraud are inviting, the
North Carolina Democrats neglect no
such opportunities. This explains why
Cheatham's seat is in danger, while
Ewart's is sure. Colonel "Gke" Hill,
acting Sergeant.at-Arms Of the House,
said this morning that the latest receiv-
ed by him was that the House stood 1G2
to 1872 with the election OF Evans in
doubt.
"But I'll bet SlO," said the genial
"lke," "that Bates, the Democrat, will
receive the certificate"
Among Republicans who have arrived
here there is but one sentiment express
cd, and that is that the next House must
be organized and controlled by the ma
jority which was fairly and honestly
elected, and not by n bogus majority
manufactured for the occasion with the
help OF unscrupulous Governors. The
procrastination of Governor Jackson, OF
Maryland, is Of itself strong prina facie
evidence OF Democratic conspiracy, and
is fortified by the action OF the Governor
OF Tennessee in delaying the certificate
which belongs to Evans in the Third
Tennessee District. Democrats hero
evidently expect that Governor Scales,
Of North Carolina, will issue a certificate
to Simmons, although the official re-
turns, even after manipulation by thiev-
ing Democratic election officials, show
that Cheathem received majority of671
votes. The suggestion comes from
Democratic sCourCe that il the Demo-
crats can figure out n majority by any
hook or crook they will organize the
House at whatever cost. To do this,
they must depend upon General Clark,
who, as Clerk OF the House, prepares
the roll of Representatives-elect. Prob
ably they could depend upon him to do
anything in his power. 1t would not be
the first time that n Democratic Clerk Of
the House had attempted to use his
temporary power SO TO "iix" the political
complexion OF that body us TO insure his
own reelection and the ascendancy of
his own party in the organization.
1t might be profitable for General
Clark and his friends to peruse the his
tory Of the organization OF the Twenty
sixth Congress, when Hugh A. Garland,
Clerk OF the House, assumed the right
to leave off the roll the names OF five OF
the Representatives.elec from the State
OF New Jersey, whose seats were con.
tested, although they bore certificates OF
election issued by the Governor OF that
State. For three days Garland carried
matters with high hand and prevented
any step toward effecting an organiza-
ton. In his diary, under date Of De-
cember 2, 1880, John Quincy Adams
observed:
"The most curious part Of the case is
that his (Garland's) own election as clerk
depends upon the exclusion OF the New
Jersey members"
II General Clark should enter upon
such an attempt, the most curious part
OF the case" would be that his own re-
election would depend upon tho cx-
clusion of certain Republican members
who were fairly elected. Finally, on
December 8. 1880, Mr.. Adams took the
floor and said "Mr. Clerk" Immediate
ly afterward he turned to the House and
said: "Fellow-Citizens, members-eleCt
Of the Twenty.sixth Congress OF the
United States.n The substance OF his
address is given by Mr.. Adams, in his
diary, as follows:
showed them the necessity I was
under Of addressing them directly, the
two decisions OF the clerk having rem
dered 1t impossible for the House to pro-
ceed at all, unless by an appeal from the
clerk to them. Ithen called upon them,
in the name OF the people OF their coun-
try and OF mankind, 10 organize them
selves. l offered, finally, the resolution
yesterday presented by Groves, ordering
the clerk to call the members from New
Jersey possessing credentials from the
Governor OF the State, and declared
my determination to put the question to
the meeting myself. / said any member
might offer an amendment to my reso-
luton, which would bring the question
before the meeting to an immediate
issue.
Mr.. Adams was elected Chairman and
Clerk Garland subsidized. Mr.. Adams
remarked in his diary, under date Of De-
cember 6, that the administration
party" had held a caucus the preceding
evening and that the members "were
greatly exasperated." He continued to
act as presiding officer, however, until
December 10, on which day r. NJ. Il.
Hunter, OF Virginia, was elected Speaker.
The Democrats were defeated in that
attempt to steal the House, as they will
be II they make a like attempt to capture
the organization Of the Fifty.first Con-
gress by the use Of fraudulent certificates
Of election.
NoTnIxG is more provoking than a