Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-10-14
STEVENSON'S TOUR.
NEW LIGHT THROWN UPON THE
 FORGE BILL CONSPIRACY.


 Congressman Cummings Details the Ar
 bitrary Methods by Which It Was
 Forced Through the House-Unparal-
 Ieled Tyranny and Efrontery.
 Especial Correspondencel
 NEW YORK, Oct. 1O.-In this city the campaign of Adlai Stevenson in North Carolina has been watched with much interest. Senator David B. Hill speaks of it in the warmest terms. MT. Steven son made the force bill vital issue. The character of this bill was surpassed by the violence of the measures adopted in the house of representatives to pass it.
 It was not until after the campaign of 1888 that the Republicans showed their hand. They knew that by the official returns they had three majority in the next house. The second session of the Fiftieth congress, which was Democratic, met in December following the election On Feb. 13, 1887, the Smalls-Elliott con- tested election case came before the house. Henry Cabot Lodge, in speech on behalf of Robert Smalls, openly an- | nounced that the Republicans in the next house intended to pass force bill. They would have control of both houses and the executive department of the government for the first time in years. MT. Crisp, of Georgia, asked Lodge if the Republican party claimed the right to put troops at the polls under the pre- | tense that they were wanted to secure a fair election. He replied that they did. Mr. Harrison foreshadowed the force bill in his inaugural message in less than three weeks afterward. He also advised | the passage of such measure in his first | message to Tom Reeds congress, which met in December, 1889. The Republican majority in that congress meantime had been increased to eight by the admission of North and South Dakota, Montana and Washington into the Union. The force bill conspirators were not satisfied | with this majority. It was too small for them to pass the bill desired. There were Confederate soldiers among the l Republican members who would not | vote for it. To insure the passage of the | bill they determined to increase their | majority in the house by throwing out Democratic members and placing Re | publicans in their seats. To do this the most tyrannical measures were adopted. On Jan. 25, 1890, before the house had adopted any rules, the contested elec- ton case of Smith against Jackson was called. Judge Jackson had been re- turned from West Virginia by forty four official majority. The instant the case was called up MT. Crisp, of Geor- gia, raised the question of considera- tion. When the vote was taken the Democratic members, seeing that the ! D &C vote. Thereupon Tom Reed, acting, as he claimed, under general parliamen- tary law" counted enough Democrats present and not voting to secure a quorum. This was in violation of prece- dents set by Speaker Blaine and others It was the first time that speaker had assumed this power since the foundation of the government.
 MT. Crisp appealed from the action o1 the speaker, and MT. Reed, acting still, as he claimed, under general parliamentary law, refused to entertain the appeal. He also refused to entertain motion to ad journ, claiming that it was a dilatory motion, and that under parliamentary law he had a right to do so.
 Thus, by the tyrannical and unconsti tutional ruling of the speaker, the Jack son case was forced before the house Judge Jackson was busted from hi' seat, but the Republicans furnished { quorum of 167 votes to oust him. They were afraid to do it by counting Demo crats present and not voting, becaus, this would give the judge an opportunity to appeal to the supreme court upon Ton Reeds rulings under general parliamen tary law.
 By the busting of Judge Jackson tn,
 Republican majority in the house wa
 increased to ten.
 Fearing that they would be unable t, obtain voting quorum in the other con tested election case the Republican , were forced to adopt rules for the gov
 ernment of the house. One of thes rules gave the speaker the power t. Il count those present and not voting t , make a quorum. But this very rul was adopted under the ruling of tn } speaker that he had right under par ! liamentary law to count such quorum
 The rules were adopted on Feb. IA
 On Feb. 27 MT. Pendleton, another Dem 7 ocrat from West Virginia, was turnet 3 out of his seat by four votes less than t quorum, Reed counting enough Demo crats present and not voting to make l quorum. Pendletons official majorit 7 was 19. The Republican majority il . the house was thus increased to 12. On March 5 MT. Gate, of Arkansas was unseated. His official majority wa 1,349. The affirmative vote showed 3 - less than 8 quorum. The Republica a majority in the house was thus increase $ $ to IA.
 On March 20 Barnes COmntO1N a Dem 5 ocratic member from Maryland, was UT . seated. His official majority was 1S1 ' The affirmative vote was 8 less than
 quorum. The Republican majority i :, the house was increased to IS.
 On April II George D. Wise, a Den E. ocratic member from Virginia, was LII
 seated. His official majority was 36- ', The affirmative vote was 43 less than e quorum. The Republican majority wa ,- thus increased to IS.