Morning journal and courier., 1891-07-17

organized on the preceding Wednesday.
Mr.. Hotchkiss of New Haven intro
duced the resolution referred to in
the suggestions for report" That
called for sweeping examination
of all the ballot boxes in the
state Statements were made by properly
authorized democrats that they would
prove that several thousand republican
ballots which had been counted ought to
have been rejected. The republican coun-
sci stated that they were ready to prove
that several thousand democratic ballots
were defective on account OF the use of
blank after the words Judge of pro-
bate.n I was present at two meetings
where one subject of discussion was
whether the Republicans ought to accept
the proposition of Mr.. Hotchkiss and con-
sent to such a thorough investigation
which would occupy much time. advised
that as the Republican party took the po-
sition that it was the right and duty of
the legislature to investigate upon claims
of error made by responsible parties 1t
could not refuse to agree to Mr.. Hotch-
kiss proposition, although it might lead
to much delay. All present agreed
that it would be necessary to do that,
and it was suggested that no
one could tell after the decision in
the Hartford election case, and the decision
of Judge Hall in the East Lyme case, how
many thousand ballots on each side might
be held to be illegal 1t was agreed, how
ever, that there were two questions that
ought to be settled in the supreme court as
soon as possible, and that they covered all
questions of the constitutional power of
the general assembly to correct returns
and the validity of the prohibition ballots.
All present agreed, and I do not dissent
from that position to-day, that if such an
investigation as Mr.. Hotchkiss proposed
had been undertaken, it was impossible on
the 18th of January to arrive at an intelli.
gent conclusion concerning the true state
of the vote for all or any one of the candi-
dates for state officers who received bal
lots at the recent election. I thank you
for making those suggestions of mine q
part of your letter. prepared them JAN
uary IL at request of counsel.
Continuing your line of false statement
and argument that I thought the right
thing to do to stop all the wrangle would
be to seat Judge Morris at once, and that
therefore you are right in depriving DR..
Alsop and Mr.. Phelan of the Offices to
which you do not deny their election,
shall be very glad to submit all these ques-
tions of mistakes of facts and memory to
Senator Shumway, in the presence of all
your associates on the committee, and Of
any witnesses whom you or may choose
to call. was present at the Hartford
club and you and other gentlemen were
my guests, dining with me on the day you
mention. I did express the opinion al
stop all the wrangle and delay would be to
seat the three minor officers at once
without further judicial or Legislative
examination; and I stated that if that
course were taken the republican
skirts would be clean, and that the demo.
cratic senate would be compelled to take
action leading to proper settlement Of
the governorship controversy. After max
ing that assertion gentleman sitting al
the table arose and said to me in substance
"Don't you know that if that is done Nor
gan g. Buckley will resign the Office Of
governor and turn it over to Judge Nor
risa' Some of the gentlemen present have
| within three days recalled that fact and
| my answer, which was: Morgan q. Bulke
ley will not do it; but if he does, all the
worse for him and perhaps all the better
for the republican party. He cannot by
| resigning or abandoning the Office turn il
over to Judge Morris. If he does SOFT viii
make either General Merwin or DR.. AlsoI
governor of the state"
| Upon page you undertake to state wha
I said at meeting in neighboring city
| 1t is not true in language or in substance
but am quite willing to submit that ques
| ton to Senator Shumway, in the same
manner that have challenged you to NEE
me upon other issues. You boast that no
body approached you upon any subjec
that was likely to come before the genera
assembly. I do not know that anyone
ever did. I know of no reason why any
one should. You ask me if am willing
| to make statements on this subject. I an
counsel for two OF three corporations il
whose interest should have appeared be
fore the proper committees of the genera
assembly, if they had been attacked.
know of no general legislation, or specia
legislation of any consequence, that any o
them desired. Yet this is none of you
business, especially you who are a persona
beneficiary of the only successful strike
ever knew to have been made against tn
New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail
road company by rival, threatening par
| allel movement.
| Yours truly,
/ TvNDE