Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-01-15
west virgInIa Legislature.


The West Virginia Legislature
convened last Wednesday. The
House of Delegates was organized
by the Democrats in the election of
Hon. j. j. Woods, of Wheeling, as
Speaker and all other caucus nomi-
nees. In the Senate quite differ
emit scene was presented. Senator
Carr, Union Labor, nominated Sena-
tor NIinear for President, and Sena-
tor Minear nominated Senator Carr.
First ballot showed that twelve Dem
ocratic Senators and Minear voted
for Carr, giving him thirteen, while
eleven Republican Senators and
Carr voted for Minear, and Senator
Morris voted for Senator Lowther.
This gave Carr Is, Minear IL, Low
ther l. After balloting for several
days without definite result, the sit
uation up to Friday is thus portrayed
by the Charleston correspondent of
the Baltimore Sun in its Saturdays
issue:
There has been no solution of tho deadlock
yet. This is the third day of tho session, aud
the Republicans stu continue their revolution
nry tactics. With o clear majority in the SEN
ate. they refuse TO organize it or allow the
Democrats to do so. -Four times within the
last thirty-siN hours the Folid Democratic vote.
has been cast for the Republican caucus noun
inee for President, and the members of his
own party were compelled to desert him in
order to prevent an election. There is no
prospect that the situation will be mcnded
soon. Both parties are determined. but the
Democrats hold the key to the situation. If
an organization of the Senate, is not made be-
fore the session expires neither Golf nor Elem
ing cGn he be declared elected Governor. and
the Democratic Speaker of the House viii be-
come Governor. They can afford to wait until
the Republicans are ready to surrender for it
must come to that before many days. When
it does the Senate will be organized, the houses
will meet in joint session, and the Illegal re-
turns from kauawha county will not BIO COLI
sidered in the canvass of the vote, if one is
made. This is the point Judge Flcmings
counsel and friends are fighting for. and they
are bound to gain it. 4 proposal to comprO-
mise was made by Golf ATTORNEYS this morning
but they refused pending to argument of
the injunction against the counting of the Ka-
nawha votes. This came off In the Supreme
Court today, and will be continued tomorrow.
A decision is not expected for q week.
During one of the ballots in the Senate SEN
ator Flourney took occasion to ventilate the
frauds perpetrated by the Republicans in this
(kanawha) county. lie showed that the board
of canvassers had thrown out one Democratic
precinct on technical ground. and when the
same technical fault was found in the vote of a
Republican precinct they reversed their ruling.
When in another Democratic precinct, giving
Judge Fleming majority of so. the same tech
uicality was again found. the Republican board
of Commissioners again reversed their decision
and threw out the vote of the precinct In
lid
testify to scratches and marks on the ballot
box tending to show that it had been tempered
With. but refused to allow witnesses to testify
that the box was in the same condition that It
came from the carpeter's hands. On this evil
dence they disalloTed the recount, which
showed a gain of 90 for the Democratic candi-
dates.
The contest case came up before
the Supreme Court on Saturday, and
was extensively argued, and late in
the evening the court announced its
decision. The court holds that the
plaintiff cnuld not enjoin the Secre-
tary of State from laying the returns
of canvassers Of vote for Governor in
Kanauha county before the Speaker of
the House of Delegates, neither could
he be compelled By mandamus to
transmit such returns, because the
Legislature being in session, it has
the exclusive control as to the matter
over Secretary of the State, as it has
of all the questions as to said return
and oil other returns. The court de-
clincd TO issue the writ. The Demo
Gratis express themselves as satisfied
with the decision, and say that it
doos not injure Flcming's chances in
the contest. Tho Republicans claim
the decision - great victory for
Gen. GoR in the contest case.