The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-05
WHAT THEY PROPOSE NOW
Democrats Compelled to Recognize Rob-
erts0n for a Few Minutes, at Least.
One of Smiths Former Adherents Who Says
His Party viii Fight at a Disadvantage
in the Organization of the Senate.

As Senator Mullinix expressed it, some
of the Democrats want a quiet time when
the Senate is organized next Thursday, but
how to avoid recognizing Lieutenant
governor Robertson, who will be there to
preside and under conditions that will, for
few minutes be in the hands of his op-
ponents, Is troubling both the peacefully
and riot0usly inclined Democrats. The
urgency of the latter to renew the Senate
scenes of the winter of 1857 is prompted, it
Us said, by Senator Cox of Morgan county.
He wants to be President pro TEN. His
plans and that of his friends is to have the
question settled the moment the incoming
Senators have a right to vote on any propo-
sitioH that may be brought forward.
All the Democratic Senators holding over
are looked upon as being pledged TO Dust
Robertson, but even as TO them doubt ex-
lists, fer at all times In the session of two
years ago the revOlutiOnists in caucus could
never muster more than sixteen Senators,
while they who were tired of Green Smith
and his pretensions numbered but one less.
The history of the peril in which the revO-
lutiOnists stood through the opposition of
their party friends has never been written,
nor have, the many persuasions, induce
ments and even threats to keep in line those
who were inclined TO break the majority
been told Senator Weir's was the danger
GUS influence around which break was
centering more than once, and which was
Thus affairs, on the. Democratic
fside ran along until the last
day of the session of 1887. when Weir Of
fered resolution providing for the election
of Senator Cox as President pro tempOre of
the Senate because as the preamble cited,
the term of Smith President pro tempOre'
would expire before the next regular session
of the General Assembly. Some days before
ttrafr oxe hnxx n 20
from Smith. and that with the fact of the
preamble giving him no greater distinction
than President pro tempore moved Smith
and his adherents TO protest agai nst the
election of any President pro tenn. They
succeeded. and now. on the opening of the
Senate, with Lieutenant governor Robert
son in the chair. the Democrats will have
no one to resist his right to. preside
smarting under his defeat two years ago, is
jealous In urging a resistance to Robertson
because he would like to preside.
This feature of the situation was COM
mented on by an influential Democrat, yes
ferday. who says he is out of politics and
while during the last session he had the
names of both Senator's and Representa-
tives, on the tip of his tongue, he states
that he cannot recall the names of half
dozen of those newly elected. But" he
continued, "tbe Democrats in this Robert
son matter have been sleeping on their
tights. TO go into an organization of the
W N u
tage and makes the position we
held two years ago, and the contest to
maintain Ii, somewhat ridiculous. Robert
son can go into the presiding officers desk
and call the Senate to order. Auditor of
State Carr, under the statute will he the
acting secretary. Robertson will tell him
to call the roll of hOld-Over Senator's and
then the newly elected. He will obey, and
after that Robertson Will call the Senator's
elect to come forward to take the oath.
Carr will have some one there of his own
choosing TO administer it. The only thing
new Senators are qualified, and at that in
slant to move the election of President
pro tempore. who will be required to assert
10 the limit his pretensions against the
right of Robertson. This will be done, you
must remember, after we have practically
recognized Robertson in the exercise of diff
ferent functions of his office. He drew the
salary of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and we took
no steps to prevent its payment by the
Auditor of State. For two years he has
been member of the State Board of Equal
ization, and we have done nothing not even
In the way of written protest, to keep our
record straight. Yes, we are in bad con-
dition to resist Robertson at this time"
An evening or two since a few leaders of
the Democratic party now here bad con-
ference over the matter, and the inter-
change of views brought about a stormy
session, which closed with a slight advan-
tage for those who are preparing for a row.
1t was suggested yesterday that as the
State Librarian will have the appointment
of the temporary door-keepers, the trouble
may begin before Lleutenant-gOvernOr
Robertson gets inside of the Senate