Evening journal., 1890-08-04

M TT DdAiOL DON NHtIi,
NM " and OF George
Bentley, brother
who was suspected Of being one of the
thieves, il says George Bentley nc the time
was negotiating with the pinkertons to
give evidence and expose the guilty parties,
when he was said to have been accidentally
shot by his brother.
Important Witnesses Killed
While there was no direct evidence 10
incriminate any one In the killing OF Bent
ley II was unfortunate The report SAYS
that these two killings occurred whilo the
victims We're about TO give evidence to
Pinkerton detectives Continuing, the ntl-
torlty say; mo reasonable explanation Of
the murder appears, except that some Of
the ballot box thieves, finding the taking
OF testimony progressing, killed Col Clay
ton 70 suppress the investigation. No other
motive Is possible.n The necessity, tho re-
port says, for the enactment Of some laNa
which will prevent ballot box stealing and
murder from comforting prima facie title
to a seat in congress is evident from the re,
suit in this contest
The Ballot box Then.
''Had such laws been In force,n the 70
port says .'as would have prevented sin
contestee from taking hts E6at With such a
title no one would have attempted 70 con-
fer sneh title BY stealing the ballot box.
Evidently ballot box stealing was
looked upon as a joke In that community
until ths awfvl congequences that have re-
suited have APPALLED, the good people Of
the country. No doubt some Of these men
would have been deferred from taking the
first step in the crime II they had realized
that murder would be the end. But they
crossed their rubioon. BreckinridQe got
the seat IN congress, and one crime fol-
lowed in the footsteps Of the other The
least guilty Of the criminals dare not ex-
pose the more guilty lest the fate Of Clay
ton should overtake them
A National Calamity.
That the nominee Of a great political
pnrty should accept a certificate Of election
70 seat 70 which he was clearly not elected,
and at tne same time aid In the payment
Of fine imposed upon another violator Of
the law, and that such conduct should not
be met with anything but cummendation
and approval by his followers shows a
state Of disregard for the principles OF pop
ular government which may well make the
future Of the country be looked upon with
apprehension
"That men may be found lawless enough
to commit these crimes is 10 be deplored.
but when men Of high character and stand
ing complacently avail themselves of the
fruits Of such crime, and the control Of the
national house OF representatives Is made
10 turn upon such methods, it no longar
remains a mere matter of local concern.
but arises to the magnitude Of national
calamity.
A Case Of o bad Kind.
"The present case has attracted attention
not because II stands alone as a startling
and striking incident Of dangers ahead co
our form OF government, bnt because It
appears 20 be one Of very bad kind. In
the old days Of the code of honor political
antagonists often met face to face and eye
70 eye and sought their adversary's life.
This method Of settling political differ
ences has become obsolete, and we frte-
Quently congratulate ourselves upon the
improved moral tone Of our day and gen
GRAFTON. But never before has contest for
a scat Ia congress been terminated lIy the
bullet Of an assassin
IF such methods are submitted 70 IN S.
lence the party benefited by the crime Of
his partisans, quietly and without dispute
retaining the benefits Of the death OF his
eQnlpeHt2r, q new elepent would be intro
duced into our form o. government"
"A resolution will accompany the report
declaring the seat now held by Mr. Breck-
inridge vacant
Clifton r Breckinridge was bora at Lex
ington, KY, Nov. %, 1916; he served IN the
Confederate army as private soldier; was
a cotton planter for thirteen years. was
elected TO the Forty eighth congress from
the state at large; was elected 20 the Forty.
ninth and Fiftieth congresses, and, accord.
ing to the Congressional Directory, was re-
elected 10 the Fifty first congress as a Dem
ocrat, receiving II, 7,s57 votes, against I7,011
votes for John NJ. Clayton, Republican.
Forecast OF congr6ss FoE the Week
WASHINGTON, Aug 4-The senate will
continue the consideration Of the tariff bill
until Friday Of this week, when Mr.. F-ya,
the chairman OF the commerce committee.
has given notice that he will ask that the
river and harbor bill be taken np ana dfs-
posed Of The river a1d harbor bill will
not take less than two days debate, and
The debate may extend over o week, par
-icularly II the Democratic policy Of OBJ
structiOn is carried out. The consideration
u the tarnt Dill may be interrupted early
N the week by the presentation of the con
ference report on the land grant forfeiturs
bill OF the conference report on the origi-
lal package bill. Either OF these may lead |
70 extended debate, so the prospects Of |
making much progress with the tariff bill |
ire not very good.
It may be that the Republican caucus
will get together during the week in view
If the slowness Of the debate on the bill |
.hus far and agree 10 put before the senate
he proposition for adopting a rule under
which the previous question can be called |
This is not regarded as probable by those /
and they are in the majority who think |
hat the federal elections bill is to be shelyed
~ agreement until the next session OF |
congress.
In the House.
Ths business that may be transacted IN
he house this week win depend largely
Ipon the presence and maintenance Of o