Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1890-05-16
[ HE SEN TINE L.
ROCKVILLE. MD.
Friday Morning-.".."..May l6. 1890.
AN UNCOMFORTABLE OUTLOOK.

AN UNCOMFORTABLE OUTLOOK.
Although the record of the frat session of |
the Fifty-tirst session of Congress is not com
plete, and in all probability will not be before |
the close of summer, yet enough has been |
seen Of its purpose to justify the prediction,
based also upon the result of elections held
in various States since 1888, that the next ma
tional House will be Democratic. This is by
no means comfortable outlook for the Re-
publican party. AS a consequence, Reed,
Mckinley, McComas and other Republican
leaders of the House are caucusing upon
and introducing measures which they hope
will be the means OF stemming the popular
tide and directing victory to themselves.
Continuous victory we must have,
shouts the Speaker of the House, Mr.. Reed
whose revolutionary character has been ex-
emplified in the reversal Of a rule for which
he himself, when in the minority, had holly
commended, and which had the sanction of
unbroken usage from the establishment OF
the government under the constitution un-
til the advent of Speaker Reed, the man
who arbitrarily counts quorum and de-
clares to his party associates: "The only
wise course is to take into federal hands the
federal elections. Let US cut loose from
State elections, do our own registration, our
own counting and our own certification."
That certainly is one way to assure the con-
tiuous victory which this rank partisan de-
clares must be had. 1t is simpler method
than was adopted in the stealing of the cleo
toral vote of Louisiana in 1876 when State
returning board had to be bought with
promises of civil.service plumber to count
out Republican candidate for Governor
who appeared to have majority of votes
and count in Republican candidate for
President who certainly had not such
a MISUNDERSTANDING such revolutionary
legislation, doing "our own registration, our
own counting, and our own certifcation,"
"we," that is, Reed, Mckinley, McComas,
Harrison 81 Co. may have an easy time in
making House to suit their own political
tastes and inclinatiOns.
Then again 1--WE" may not have. There
is the rub. Cock-sure fellows like Reed and
McComas take no account of the great
potency of popular sentiment. All of their
associates do not share their confidence.
They have no stomach for two great reyo-
lutions in time honored practice at q single
session of Congress.
The constitution provides that the times,
places and manner Of holding elections for
Senators and Representatives shall be pre-.
scribed in each State by the legislatures
thereof, but that Congress may at any time
by law make or alter such regulations ex-
cept as to the places Of choosing Senators.
Congress has so far modified State regula.
of time in the election Of representatives
but il has never assumed to take from the
State registration, counting and certiflca-
ton. But the time has come in the opinion
of Revolutionist Reed, the quorum counter,
when the only wise course is take into
federal hands the federal elections" the
time to do 'our own registration, our own
counting, our own certificatien"-and he
could have added, if not, "our" time has
come
McComas, in the House, has bill not CO.
ing as far as Reeds suggestion, yet travel
ing long way in that direction. This bill
contemplates that congressional elections
held this Fall shall be within the lines Of
districts as they existed two years ago and
without reference TO legislative changes
made since in some of the States, and that
when new apportionment under the census
OF the current year, Congress, not the States,
shall apportion the districts. In the Repub.
lican caucus on this bill more than one
member recorded his dissent Opposition
planted itself squarely on the ground that
the bill proposed the exercise of constitu.
tional power for the first time for party
purposes and in a manner not to be iusti-
fled. Mr.. Frank, Of Missouri, said that it
was retroactive and would be invidous and
unpopular 1t transferred to Congress the
odous pecies of gerrymandering which now
and then States resorted to without eifectng
any purpose.
- 1t is evident that Reeds plan is the
thorough ~plan-do ''our own registration,
our own counting, our own certifcation.n
Go ahead with 1t, but bear in mind that
100000 OF voters are to be heard from,
and with the result: Reed or no Reed, Nc.
Comas plan or no plan, the Mckinley Con.
gress is doomed and will hear its death
knell in November.