New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-10
THE DEMOCRATIC PLOT.
PREPARING TO STEAL THE SENATE.
INFAMOUS WORK EXPECTED OF BOARDS OF
SUPERVISORS IN SEVERAL COUNTIES TO-DAY.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsE.l

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBusEl
Albany, Nov 9.-Wiam +. Shcehan, or Bur
lafo, Lieutenant Governor-elect, accompanied Dy
his charming wife, was in Albany Few hours
to-day busy selecting house Tor the winter
Speaking about the result of the election Mr.
Sheehan made the following Interesting state
ment:
We Democrats are not going to DE chea'eu
out of our lust rights We have carried the
Senate and shall not allow the Republicans 10
juggle us out Of it either; at least, If we con-
tinue in full possession Of all our mental iacui-
ties. and our eyes and ears wide open
Mr. Sheehan thus Is apparently in the same
violent mood as Governor Hill who said here
upon Friday light last The Legislature is
fairly ours and we shall obtain it, But the
Governor and Afr. Shechan know that the election
returns declare that the Republican party has
four majority in the State Senate, that eighteen
Republicans and fourteen Democrats have been
elected as Senator's and yet they 80 on taking
wildly about the Senate being Democratic
What is the meaning of this strange tax! IS
there any intention of defraudlng Tie kepupn-
cans who have been elected as Senator's OF their
certificates Of election? Certainly Governor
Hills and Mr. Sheehan's extraordinary talk points
to the existence of a plot to reverse the present
political majority in the State Senate.
The meetings Of the Boards of Supervisors to-
morrow in the various counties of the State
promise to be Of extraordinary interest then
fore. At these meetings the election returns will
be scanned, and the Democrats in the State
CAPITAL are broadly limiting that sufficient Re-
publican votes will be ignored to bring about the
granting of certificates to majority of the
Democratic candidates for Senator A prominent
Democrat said this afternoon The Boards of
/ +l,n - and
Steuben are Democratic, and l believe they will
declare of no avail the votes cast for Franklin s.
Sherwood, Republican; in the XXvIIth District,
of which Chemung and Steuben two of the
three counties comprising the district. Mr..
Sherwood ineligible because he was Park
Commissioner of IIOrnellsvlle. What is worse
for him. the voters of the Senate district were
solemnly warned that he was ineligible, since
there was posted up at every polling place an
opinion written by AttOrncy-Gencral Tabor, de-
carng that Mr.. Sherwood ineligible.
But ex-Judge Danforth, of the Court of APP
peals, gave opinion that Mr.. Sherwood was
eligible, and surely you would not set up the
opinion of Charles F. Tabor against that of
George F. Danforth?'
Yes; / would, when Tabor happens TO be the
legal officer of the State"
Yet legal officers sometimes give biassed
| opinions when the interests of their political
| party demand them"
That is not the question which will come
before the Boards Of Supervisors of Chemung
and Steuben counties. They simply will see
| from the Attorney Generals opinion that the
votes cast for Franklin ID. Sherwood are of no
effect, and that the only votes to be considered
| are those which were cast for Mr. Walker, the
Democratic candidate for Senator, and for the
| thar ,xyhn oil Oil Spn at
Then the Boards Of Supervisors report to the
State Board of Canvassew the votes given fol
Walker and the State Board grants certificate OF
election to him. OF course, the Republicans will
resort to the courts, but what good will that do
| For according to opinion given by Attorney
General Tabor last winter the State Board of Can
vassers cannot be reconvencd for any purpose.
| That was declared in the contested election case
| of Henry d. NOyes, Republican, against II. III.
| Rockwell, Democrat, in Congressional case last
| winter
| But surely, YOU would not have the State
| Board of Canvassers give certificate of election
as Senator to man who did not come within
hundreds of votes of an election?'
| "Yes. | would / would think anything justi-
| fable 10 right the present wrongful apportOn-
ment of the legislative districts. The Democratic
party have $4,000 majority in this State and
| yet have not a. majority of the members of the
| legislature.
You forget that the State Constitution pro-
vides that every county Shall have at least one
| Asscmblyman and that thus forty-seven Republl-
| can counties have that number of representative,
in the Assembly to start with at every election.
and that it is natural that the Republican party
should pick up here and there other members of the
| Assembly. AS for the Senate the districts were
| hV ari. lot nd n
proved by former Governor. 1t will not do 80
violate the law in order TO change the representa-
| ton
Yes it will, and we believe the people will ap-
prove Of it, The present unfair representation
has continued for too long"
| Accordingly, the Democratic leaders all along
the line preparing to gain seats in both the
Assembly and in the Senate by dsregardng the
will of the people expressed at the polls. From
the talk Of Democratic politicians at the Capitol
to-day il evident that attempts will be made
to morrow at the meetings of the Boards OF Super.
visors of Chemung and of Steuben counties 10
deprive Franklin d. Sherwood Republican, of his
certificate OF election Senator; at the meetings
Of the Boards Of Supervisors of Columbia and
Duchess counties TO deprive Gilbert \. Dcane,
Republican, OF his certificate Of election Senator
at the meeting Of the Board of Supervisors Of
Rensselaer, County to deprive John H. Derby,
| Republican, of his certificate of election as
Senator; at the meetings of the Boards of super
deprive Harvey j. Donaldson, Republican, of his
certificate of election Senator. and at the meet
ing OF the Board Of Supervisors OF Onondaga
| County 10 deprive Rufus L. Peck, Republican, of
his certificate Of election as Senator.
But the Republican party will be represented
by counsel at the meetings of all of these Boards
of Supervisors, and the public ne assured
| that the Republicans who have been elected Sena-
/ tons will get their certificates of election. The
courts OF this state never have iay9Ied the as, Us
| franchsement of voters, and they Will not in the
! year 1891. Mr.. Hill may initiate this policy OF
! gaining a Democratic majority in the senate by
| having the Boards OF supervisors dlsregaru 'ne
votes east for Republican candidates for senator
ships, but assuredly the Democratic party. as o
whole, will not sustain him in such ruinous
| cOurle OF action for them. The Democratic party
is sufficiently Handicapped for the Presidential
campaign Of 1892 in this State without adding