The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-03
A BIG FIGHTFOR A SEAT.
THE CLAYTON BRECKENRIDGE
CASE UP IN THE HOUSE.

Lacey Calls II Up and Cooper Opens
the Debate With q Criticism on the
Report of the Minority-A Proof
Sheet eurreptitiously Obtained By
the Republicans.
WASHINGTON, Sept I'm toe House to-
day Mr.. Lacey of Iowa called up aud the
House proceeded TO consideration OF the
Clayton Breckenridge election case.
Mr.. Cooper of Ohio opened the debate,
promising his argument on the case with
brief criticism OF the minority report In
such words as 'discourtesy, unfairness,
neglect of duty, bad faith, suppression Of
testimony and conuiyance at crime" the
minority report, signed by every demo-
cratic member of the committee, reflected
upon their colleagues Of the majority. he
would not dignity this assault by reply to
it, but be was unpleasantly surprised at IL.
SLIPPED UPON ROUGH PROOF.
Mr.. Crisp of Georgia said that the words
the gentleman had read did not contain the
the views of the minority as finally presented
to the House. The gentleman was probably
reading from a proof slip.
Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania-"h whose
views do they represents
MIR. Crisp-The gentleman will excuse
me. The views Of the minority are before
the House in printed form, which
every gentleman can see for himself. IL
there be some proof slips whicn
some gentleman has obtained surreptitiousiy
or otherwise from the printing office that Is
another matter.
COOPER NOT SATISFIED.
Mr.. Cooper submitted whether, when
paper of that kind had been fled and
printed. when it had been given to the
Associated Press and printed all over the
country. it was sufficient dnlende honorG-
bic afterward to amend and expand
it. Who was it that had drawn up the
report, whose brain had inspired and whose
pen had indited iti
THE CHARGE OF FRAUD.
The first branch of the case taken up by
Mr.. Cooper was the charge OF fraud and
intimidation which the testimony showed,
according to the opinion of the majority,
had been resorted 10 in order to carry the
Second congressional district of Arkansas
for Mr.. Breckenridge 1t was the opinion
OF the majority that the murder grew d.
rectly out of the political methods adopte
in that country. In that view the majority
but echoed the almost universal sentiment of
all sections. Ballot box stealing and stutfing,
intimidation and murder naturally followed
each other Continual violation Of the
constitution and Of the state law aud OF
the rights Of citizens was natural indlca-
ton to the evil disposed to violate all law
and trample the rights of all men at all
times. Could there be greater blessing to
this nation, and especially to the people
who were afflicted by these methods, than
their ending! 1t was the supreme duty OF
this congress to enact such legislation as
would terminate those methods by remov-
ing the inducements therefor. In conclusion
he passed high encomium on the people
and state Of Arkansas. contending that If
the election methods in vogue in that state
were abandoned the commonwealth would
soon be alive with industry and manufact-
ures.
WILSON JOINS IN THE PENEGYRIC.
Mr.. Wilson of Missouri Joined with the gen.
tleman from Ohio in his panegyric upon the
people of Arkansas, but he regretted that
the gentlemen only to-day discovered how
good the people Of Arkansas were. If he
had discovered it sooner he could never
have signed the majority report. Did any
man believe that Mr.. Breckenridge or the
people of Arkansas Outside of the people
who committed the crime) ever dream of
the murder of Claytonl The majority, in
its report, sought TO convey the impression
that this was an organized murder, and
that the people of Arkansas had
adopted murder as a favorte political
mode and measure. The murderers were
spoken of as friends and companions Of Mr..
Breckenridge. Was there anything in the
gentleman's character, public or private,
that would justify the bitterest partisan in
charging that Clifton R. Breckenridge
would take advantage of foul murder for
brief political prestigeg And yet it was
charged that such was the case. The mi
nority resented the imputation.
THE STOLEN PROOF.
Commenting upon the words quoted by
Mr.. Cooper as from the minority report, he
denied that the report contained them They
were in a rough draft which was the pri-
vate property Of the minority. This rough
draft had been printed for the convenience
of TIE members of the minority in drafting
their final report What authority had the
gentleman from Ohio to peer into the pri-
vate affairs of the committed The draft
was private paper until it received the
official Endorsement of the minority.
He then proceeded to criticise the method of
the committee In pursuing the investiga-
ton. The history of this contest, as found
in the Record, showed to the world that the
members of the committee who went to
Arkansas went not as Investigators, but
practically as attorneys of the friends of
the dead, prosecuting Mr.. Breckenridge.
Mr. Wilson asked that the case be reinvest-
igated as simple justice, so as to afford Mr..
Breckenridge the privileges given the pros
ecutor, that man of many names, but most
commonly known as Poker Jack" Nc
Clure.
Mr.. Bergen spoke in support of the major
ity report, declaring the seat vacant.
THE CASE GOES OVER.
The case then went over until tomorrow
and Mr.. Cannon took the floor in a state
ment relative to the appropriations made
by this session of congress
Mr.. Sayers, member of the appropria-
tions committee, reviewed the financial
situation from democratic standpoint.