The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-05
HILLS DESPERATE GAME.

HILLS DESPERATE GAME.
For audacity, for a disregard of all
the rules made by precedent and for an
apparent oblivion to such a document as
the constitution, Gov. David b. Hill
stands pre-eminent among the political
tricksters of the age. The people of
New York at the last election clearly
elected Republican Senate. They
elected an Assembly with sixty-four Re
publican and sixty-four Democratic
members. That was on the face Of the
returns which all law declares the can
vases in the various counties must con-
slider as sufficient to entitle the success
full candidates to certificate Of elec-
ton. The constitution declares that
each house shall be judge of the quail
itications of its own members, though
the law also provides that where fraud
is apparent the courts may be appealed
to for justice to the candidate who be-
lieves himself to be wrongfully dealt
with.
WV LII las III uSiltu dSluc tiIC COu-
stitution and the law. He has declared
that the Democrats have a majority in
the Assembly, and that the Senate is
tied with the casting vote in the hands
Of the Democratic lieutenant governor.
Having made his declaration he con-
sttutes himself prosecuting attorney for
his party and judge and jury to carry
out his purposes.
His first step was to remove the county
clerk of Rensselaer, County at the in
stance of Boss Murphy, in the hope that
certificate might be given to a Demo
cratic candidate for the senate who was
defeated by more than 800 votes, and to
Democratic candidate for the assembly
who was defeated by more than 200
votes. II was not his fault that the re-
moval came too late and after the regul-
arly elected Republican candidates had
been given their certificates. He followed
this with the removal of the Republican
County Clerk of Onondaga County that
certificate of election might be given
to Democratic candidates for the Senate
and Assembly who are certainly defeat
ed in one instance by 20 and in the other
by $50 votes. An injunction issued by
the Supreme Court prevents the newly
appointed County Clerk there from carry
ing out Hills design, but if it be posi-
BILE to remove that injunction by an ap-
peal to any other Supreme Court Judge
somewhere else in the State GER
tificates will quickly be issued
to the defeated candidates. In
Dutchess county, Republican County
Clerk has refused to sign certificates de-
claring Democratic candidates for the
Senate and Assembly elected who have
been counted in by the most outrageous
practices. The courts here have stepped
in to the aid of the County Clerk but
Hill has summoned him to Albany and
he will certainly be removed. His sue
cessor will, if the opportunity be given
him sign the papers intended to reverse
the will of the people, as expressed at the
polls.
The State Board of Canvassers COM
posed entirely of Democrats and tools Of
Hill is in session in Albany with the
avowed purpose of declaring ineligible
Republican who was elected senator in
the Twenty-seventh district by
majority of 900 and of giving the certi-
fcate to his defeated opponent. An
injunction obtained from a Supreme
Court Judge is the only thing that re-
strains the Board of Canvassers from
obeying Hills orders at once.
In Queens County orders have been re-
ceived by the Democratic Board of
Supervisors to withhold clear certi-
ficate from the Republican who was
elected Assemblyman, and an attempt
is being made in Sullivan County to
count in Democrat who was defeated
by one vote.
Hills game is desperate one and is
disgusting to men who believe in the
supreme power of the ballot. Yet this
man is widely spoken about as possibly
the next Democratic candidate for Pres
ident.
PEOPLE AND THINGS.