New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-16
NEBRASKA'S CONFUSION.
SOME NOTES ON THE POLITICAL DEAD
LOCK.
RIVAL PRESIDING OFFICERS on ONE PLATFORM

ALL the Northwestern States Will probably de-
yelop controversies and complications heretofore
unknown in American politics. The situation IS
especially interesting in Nebraska. Ever since
the organization Of the State in S67 the Ec-
nublican party has been Overwhelmingly in the
majority While the farmers Of the State were
almost all stanch Republicans, there has been con-
siderable wrangling between the town and the
township elements and result of this dis
satisfaction the Alliance was formed Tie order,
ono. established, spread like a prairie IRE, ana
soon began TO cause alarm in the old party ranks.
The papers however, made light of the move
ment. and up to the time OF the election INSISTED
that the candidates of the Alliance were not III
it." Meanwhile, every district school-house IN
the State was scene of nightly meetings, and
DESPITE the predictions of old politicians that tie
grangers would vote the usual ticket without re-
GARD to previous resolutions, the election resulted
in a complete overthrow of the old Republican
majority of 80, 900 and the election of Demo
cratic Governor The other Republican State
officers were elected by majority of a few hun
bred. The Alliance captured both houses OF uhe
legislature the Democrats having the next largest
representation and the Republicans least both To-
gether however being in the minority.
There being no United States Senator to elect,
the Alliance majority of five on joint ballot was
not so serious, but an element OF uncertainty
presented its appearance when claim was maze
of the inelgibility of the Democratic Governor
elect. James F. Boyd. of Omaha, the ground
that he was not legal citizen, either OF the
United States or the State of Nebraska Inc
State Constitution provides that no one can hold
the Office of Governor who has not been, for TWO
wears previous to his election thereto, citizen OF
the State Mr.. Boyd was born in Ireland ana
immigrated to America in 1912. His father took
ont first papers i'm S44 in the State of Ohio but
il * claimed that he never secured full citizen
shin until the day before the last election ana
that. therefore, the sons naturalization did not
occur through his father in time to render MN
eEoihle IN Office As soon as the point was
raised the Alliance managers served notice on MT
BOYD that they intended to contest the election on
the ground of Illegal voting in Omaha cwhefe
Mr.. Boyd received phenomenal vote 0iilu Ill
Norfolk where no registration of voters had taken
place His ineligibility TO office they declared u
be beyond question, and made no secret of their
intention to seat the Alliance candidate MI
Powers. who had received the next highest number
Of votes. This taking of testimony attacked the
claim. not only of the Democratic Governor, nut
of all the Republican State oficers-eect. Inc
Alliance intoxicated with success began to aspire
TO the world with a barbed-wlre fence Ihciosure'
Their State convention met IN DecelhpeI' "O
Lincoln, and resolved to use all possible means
10 seat the candidates on their ticket, at tle same
time mapping out programme for the Alliance
majority in the Legislature
On Tuesday, January 6, the Legislature con-
vened the Alliance easily electlng the Speaker
of the House and subordinate officers, and pro-
ceeding to business exactly as though the Kepup-
Gcans and Democrats were not there. The senate
did likewise. under the presidency Of the out
poing Lieutenant Governor. The Constitution re-
ouircs that ON the second day of the session the
LEGISLATURE SHALL In Joint convention receive from
the Secretary of State the election returns, ana
that the Speaker of the House shall open them
and declare to the Joint convention the result.
Here the trouble began. 1t was evidently the
programme of the Alliance TO connect the coh'esU
with the returns in such way as 10 prevent
apv one being declared elected, leaving room Tor
their action OH the evidence evolved III the coh-
,est as well as the election returns before them.
This had been anticipated and provided against oy
the Northumberland, the ambiguity ol uie
law iustifying him in the assumption that tI'e
sneaker was only the Reading Clerk of the JOINT
Assembly. and he the presiding oitcer-an Issue
similar 10 that which was raised in the memorable
presidential contest wherein Messrs. Tilden and
HAYES claimed that they had sone isH'' az
stake. about A. ID. 1876.
The Joint Assembly convened, the Two preslu-
inc officers on the platform Motions were maze
nv the majority members, addressed to r." sneaker
md promptly responded to by the Lieutenant
Governor who claimed that all calls Tor attention
should be addressed to Mr.. President ana not 70
Mr.. Speaker The Speaker demurred, with some
cmphass and pandemonium broke loose. Appears
from the presidents decision were dlsregafGed as
ont Of order, threats were made on all sides' anu
all business blocked by the deadlock OF authority
between the presiding officers All the subordinate
officers sided with the Speaker, and ignored the
president of the Senate. Minority members sent
resolutions to the clerks who dlsregardcd the
,ro.ident.s demands to read them, obliging him. IN
order TO get any motion before the JOINT con-
vention. TO read them himself. Every act OF thc
sneaker was declared out Of order, and the AS
semhly was notified that no business couiu uc
,arsocted NOT even motion to adjourn cOuId ne
hard until the special order Of the day, proNl'ed
Co.. in the State Constitution, Should De ac-
comnlishcd. under penalty of a sine die ADJOURN
mont of the LEGISLATURE. The quaIIcl cOluhueu
all day: much of the time free Nght seeneu
imminent only the cooler counsels OF ule oi"ei
members preventing such an uhuis"Neu "Ai'
to the session. , 1
r,o nresident remained calm and collected, anu
hold the turbulent forces as well Ill manu- do
nosshe Evening approached with no prospect
Of q settlement and no possibility OF all duJo"n
mont Some Of the leading members vi "o'"
houses established precedent by entering H''o al
agreement TO take a recess OF sixteen houls' ~
may not have been good law but they oohslu'ieu
it good sense. The election returns anu Wv
contest papers were placed in the custody oil 'i'e
Sooro,ary of State 1t was understood that WIN
% mapdamns from tie Supreme Court, addressed
60 tho sneaker TO compel him to open and declare
the returns. was ready to be served
rho next Morning the Alliance members got up
with the chickens and took possession OF hepre-
sentatiyes' Hall. II thcr design TO close Vie
doors to all but members and then do their VIII
with the election returns the Speaker in tue mean
time issuing a warrant for the arrest OF the Lieu
4enant1 GOVERNOR should he again become tiourle-