The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-16
CONTROL OF The SENATE
The Democratic Org Of Fraud and
the Facts,
TIE SITUATION IN THE WEST
Explained at Conference in Wash.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Have Been Do.
ing All the Talking, but nepubIi.
cans Hayo Been Undisturbed-A
Committee TO Look Amer Contests.


WASHINGTON, D. O., Dec. 15.-Repub-
llcan senators who have all along
known the exact facts about the politi-
cal situation in the five western logisla-
lures, those Of California, Kansas, Mon
tana, Nebraska and Wyoming. which
are to decide the party complexion OF
the senate, have been disposed to let
their opponents do all the talking about
the probable failure of the Democratic
organization to control the "delibera-
tive" house after March next In
many quarters since tho election Re.
publicans out of Congress have been
viewing with nnconccaled complacency
the return of thor old antagonists to
full power in all branches Of the govern
ment. Tho general feeling in the party
that free rein for year or two would
inevitably result in popular uprising
against the Democratic administration
had much to do perhaps with the up
observation-disclosures Of Republican leaders
here as to whether the next sonate
would be Democratic or not. In the
conference Of Republicans held tho first
day OF the session Senator Quay, whose
political judgment is recognized as per-
haps the clearest among public men in
Washington, announced that in his
opinion the Democrats had not gained
control Of the next senate. and would
not gain it, except through an unstable
o1Iinnra with the Ponnligts
Subsequent happenings have shown
the accuracy Of this forecast, and there
are few Democratic members Of either
branch of Congress who will now claim
that they have moro than desperate
chance Of controlling the next senate by
the vote Of their own party organization.
Tho loud cries OF fraud raised by the
Democratic senatorial caucus alter It
discovered that the control Of the next
senate was slipping out of its hands,
have been re-echoed in the Democratic
press, and an attempt is now being
made to lead the country to believe
that the Democratic party is being de-
priyed unfairly of senatorial seats from
the five doubtful Western states. The
western senators here have heard these
assertions with surprise and indignation,
knowing tho wholly baseless charac-
ter of the charges made. The manifesto
ofthe Democratic steering committee"
issued in New York last week, has been
especially condemned by them as a
mere parbling Of tho facts, to be used
itself as cloak for Democratic frauds.
To protest against this attempt to
prejudice the Republican case in these
closely divided legislatures and to cast
discredit on the titles Of the senators
elikely to be chosen, the Republicans IN
thu senate to-day held largely attend
ed Cconference. Senators from the
western states On dispute, Messrs. War
rem and Carey, of Wyoming; Sanders,
OF Montana; Perkins, Of Kansas; FELTON,,
of California, and Paddock, OF Nebras-
ka, made statements to tho caucus,
showing that the legislatures chosen le'
gally and properly, were about to as
semble in these,various states, and that
their action, whatever it was, would DO
fully in accordance with state law and
the popular will. From the informa.
ton given it appeared conclusive
" that in no one OF these
states would the Democrats have votes
enough TO control tho legislature
on ioint ballot. In California
and Montana Populists and Independ.
ents duly elected held the balance OF
power. The Wyoming legislature was
Republican, and in Kansas and Neb.
raska the Republicans lacked only ono
or two votes OF majority, tho Demo
Gratis forming only aIi Insignificant frae:
ton Of the opposition. 1t was pointed
out that in no one of these states could
an out-and.out Democrat be elected, and
Il It was urged that it would be better
for the Republicans, to combine with
the Populists and Independents and
elect Populists frigndly to Republican
organization OF Ithe, senate, than to
allow the election OF Populist Demo-
Gratis. Such a COURSE, it was urged,
might not prevent Democratic re.
vision of tho tariff, but would block all
distinctly partisan schemes OF Demo-
cratic legislation, like the repeal Of the
present election laws.
It was decided, after a long. discus
sion, which had to 5e broken OF untin-
ished, to appoint committee to look
after the contests in five States in dis
pute and perhaps also after that In
North Dakota; and thisscommittee will
be chosen at another cOnference to be
called in few days. A full statement
may also DO prepared disproytng all
Democratic charges in the election and
qualification OF the five Legislatures
now about to meet. Tho Republicans
in Congress have not BEEN unaware OF
the condition Of things inithe West, and
thew will see that every Republican
elected to tho Senate between now and
March 4 from that part OF the country
will got his seat, II he bias a genuine
title to it.