Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-26
TAYLOR THE REAL AUTHOR
OF the Electoral Bill Which Has Caused
such q sensation-Views of the Younger
Thurman Upon the subject.

such q sensation-Views of the Younger
Thurman Upon the subject.
| ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.1
COLUMBUS, O., March Ex-senator Buchanan,
| of Tuscarawas county. the reputed author OF
the much-talked-of bill to select Presidential
electors in Ohio from the various Congressional
districts of the recent artistic gerrymander,
was seen slowly moving about the Senate
chamber to-day. Although the bill has given
him a national reputation. many would De sur
prised TO see what an ordinary looking man
this statesman is at first glance. He has been
victim of rheumatism, and limps about on MS
cane with considerable effort. He Is medium
sized man about 40 years old, and his oleached'
livid face. with homely. sandy beard, is MS
only distinguishing feature.
While Mr.. Buchanan enjoys the reputation
Of being the author of the famous bill, it is
whispered in inner circles that he is little more
than its puryeyor to the public. Colonel "Bill'
Taylor CHIEF Clerk to the Senate, and the
well known correspondent, is the author In
fact Colonel Taylor is said to have furnished
the brains for the measure, while Senator
Buchanan served as the wheel to run II INTO
Colonel Taylor's ability to invent measures
and things is historic IN Ohio politics. during
the heated campaign he has peculiar knacK
of preparing and manipulating the returns
ald figures of former elections. His articles
generally give the horizon a rosy tint, and
serve as a buoy for the Buckeye Democracy
His prediction last fall panDed ou. much bet
ter than on some former occasions. Taylor did
not expect the bill would attain to so mncn
notoriety; he thought 1t would serve as good
bluff" and stated that his only compensation
was to furnish the matter exclusively for his
papers.
The Views of the Thurmnns.
Pertaining to the discussion of this matter by
metr opolitan papers, The DISPATCH corre-
spondent dropped into the Office of Hon. A w.
Thurman to get his views, as well as those Of
his distinguished father. Judge Thurman.
Some of the Republican papers, taking their
cue from Senator Sherman, claimed the bill
would lie unconstitutional, while other able
editors who have delyed into history, have
found precedent in several States for choosing
electors in exactly this manner. Mr.. Thurman
said:
Senator Sherman says he is no constitu-
t1onal lawyer, believe Neither am |. but
Will stake my opinion that his position Is
wrong. The Ohio Legislature has the same
power to say how Presidential electors shall be
appointed as Congress has to control the election
OF Congressman as proposed in the Wickham
or McComas bills. Article 2 section 2 of the Con.
stitution SAYS: Each State shall appointin such
manner as the Legislature thereof NAV direct.
a number of electors equal to the whole num-
Der of Senators and Representatives to which
the State may be entitled in Congress- etc.
Article i, section 4, says: The times. places
and manner of holding elections for Senators
and Representatives shall be prescribed in
each State by the Legislature thereof, but
Congress may at any time by law make or alter
such regulations, except as to the places of
choosing Senator'S
Now, 1 would like to have Mr. Sherman or
any other man explain how the buchanan bill
is unconstitutional and the McComas bill con-
stitptional. and still give due and equal weight
to these articles quoted"
A Verv Diffrrpuf 0upation.
do you think the Buchanan bill will passf'
was asked.
well, that IS a different question" said Mr..
Thurman. II hope Congress will pass the Nc
Comas bill. We could beat the Republicans
for 20 years If the Republicans at Washington
should step in and manage our State affairs.
That would raise the old question of home rule
and would arouse the people. We beat the Re-
publicans on that issue last fall. In fact, the
Democrats never have failed when they have
pressed that issue before the people,"
DO you think the passage of the Buchanan
bill good politics?
II would have to use pencil and paper a few
minutes before l could tell about that"
put in the younger Thurman. with a suggestive
twinkle of the eye. although there is another
election Or members of the Legislature before
the Presidential election, it is very doubtful
whether the Republicans could carry the
Senate: they would therefore be unable to re-
Gratis would cast Is and the Republicans six
votes for the next President To bs frank,
however. 1 am opposed to all such legislation.
1t is in direct opposition to home rule, one of
the fundamental principles of our Government.
1t is also bad party measure, as it is open
retaliation"
How does your father, Judge Thurman, re-
e. -rd these measuresP"
Father has been SO troubled with his old COM
plant, rheumatism. that he has not given the
question consideration. If you could get him
to thinking about il he would give you some
interesting views, as he has wonderful fund
of information on these lines"