Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-13
Tho V MIDDLE.

The Republicans OF the Senate OF WesI
Virginia had up TO Friday night last STAYED
of the organization OF that body, not be-
cause they could not have effected 1t by The
aid OF two Independents who were supposed
10 be ready 10 vote with them, but because
the State Constitution requires the Speaker
Of the House OF Delegates in the presence OF
the two houses OF the Legislature TO decl'rt
the result Of the election for Governor 'be-
fore proceeding 10 business" The following
Is the constitutional provision bearing upon
the subject:
"Article VII. section 3. The returns Of
every election for Governor shall be sealed
mp and transmitted by the returning officers
% the Secretary OF St,te, directed TO the
Speaker OF the House Of Delegates, who shall,
Immediately after the organization OF tire
House and before proceeding to business,
open and publish the same in the presence oil
each house OF the Legislature. which shall
for that purpose assemble IN the ball OF the
House OF Delegates. The person having the
highest number IT votes shall be declared
duly elected thereto"
CLEVELAND, let us say once more, received
good majority in West Virsinla-about
thousand. There is no dispute az TO the
electors OF President and Vice. President. AS
to the congressman in the First aud Second
districts, the Democratic candidates already
have Governor WILSON'S certificate setting
forth that they were elected. In the cases OF
the Third and Fourth districts, no certii'
Gates have as yet been issued.
The middle at Charleston grows out Of the
fact that with the full vote OF kanawhs
county credited TO him, GOFF, the Republic
can candidate for Governor, is elected
whereas in the absence Of the returns from
that county FILMING. the Democratic caudi-
date, is elected by a large majority. These
returns were, al the latest accounts from
Charleston, tied up 10 the courts. The SUI
preme Court OF Appeals OF West Virginia is
o democratic tribunal ia the sense that a ma
FORTY Of its members are Democrats. That
court may be relied upon to do justice in
the premises. IL will probably lean towards
the Republican side OF each question pre-
sensed in order TO be sure that It shall do no
injustice to its political opponents. There
seem TO be also two circuit judges on the
g~round-one a Democrat and the other a Re-
publican.
The vote OF Kanawha county being neces-
fary 10 the election OF Corr, and 10 being
the first duty of the organized Legislature
or rather OF the Democratic spesker OF the
House OF Delegaies-to declare the result OF
the election for Governor as shown upon
the face OF the returns, IL Is easy TO under
stand why the Republicans are unwilling to
effect an organization Of the Senate so long
IS the returns from Kanawha county are
missing.
But the most important question 70 be
considered In connection with this middle
IL A. TO whether the Democrats in the Gene
ral Assembly can rlghtiully declare FLEN-
mo elected in the absence OF the returns
from kauawba county, We confess that
we are not Informed "a TO all the facts OF the
case; but we have an abiding confidence
in the ssgaeity and sense OF justice OF
the House Of Delegates. Tue frauds
ia Wyoming and KsnAwha counties
afford q sufficient moral justification for the
refusal Of the Democrats TO allow CORP to be
declared elected. his majority being only a
few over one hundred votes even after
counting the immense mot TO cay bogusl
majority claimed for him IN Kanswha
county. But the legal justification Is what
= needed. 1t 10 we'll TO add that FLEnrN0's
friends, who have contested GorF's election,
snd viii therefore have TO appeal 10 the
General Assembly for justice. claim that
GLExIsa was elected BY more than
Z thousand majority. We do no not
know the extent OF the powers
Of The Legislature IA such : csss.
Takfns the constitutional provision aboie
ouo<ed - TIE whole law on the subject, We
Sf-sld cone 70 the eonclusisn that the