The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-02-21

The Portland Telegram is rampant.
During the course of three articles on
Senator Fulton with which II adorned its
editorial columns on Saturday, 1t re-
marked: ri
President Fulton. OF the senate, has
eternally damned himself. His idiotic
effort to initiate Tom Reed was the most
lllustrious exhibition Of aslnlnity ever
Witnessed In an Oregon Legislature.
When the Durham ballot bill was
forced through the senate last night, the
president OF that body, unmindful OF his
position as an impartial presiding officer
made constructive quorum when there
was actually none present. Gear Reed
may have had some show or pretense Of
authority for his nutocratic rulings. but
there was actually none for the presi-
dent OF the senate In his Infamous rul- |
lngs on the Durham bill. On the con-
trary, senate rule q. which was adopt-
ed for the government Of that body and
which the president was obligated by q
solemn oath to enforce, distinctly says
that no member shall even be permitted
to vote on any question unless he Is with
In the bar OF the senate at the time the
question is presented BY what author
ity count members as present and voting
when they are outside the bar Of the sem
ate? 1t was an Infamous high-handed
proceeding which merits the condemna-
tion OF every citizen of Oregon. irrespect-
I've of his political creed or party affil-
iations. Charlie Fulton should have
learned lesson from Tom Reeds fate;
but he didn't The republican party Of
Oregon should have looked upon the
wreck OF the national organization before
embarking In such a foolhardy adven-
ture; but II didn't. Now Fulton and his
associates will have to take the conse-
quences. They have dug their grave
and have gone down TO well-merlted OBJ
livion. Any party which attempts to In
troduce czarism into this country is
doomed to everlasting perdltlon."
That settles IT, but there are two or
three things we wish the Telegram to
remember. Throughout the session the
democratic members have been loud In
their cries for q longer term. When the
last day came, In the senate, every re-
publican member was in his seat, as were
most of the democrats. on this last day,
as can naturally be supposed, there was
a great deal OF work to be completed.
The Durham ballot bill was one Of the
subjects to be dealt with. The demo-
Gratis, principally for the reason that the
measure was one OF the best that has
ever been introduced at Salem, opposed
its passage bitterly. and were content to
let drop every other piece OF work on
hand and to ignore all other public busi-
ness in order to prevent its going through,
by sneaking out Of the senate chamber
and breaking the quorum.
President Fulton, determined to finish
the work Of the session at all hazards.
compelled these brilliant statesmen to
stand their ground and called for their
names. on the technicality that II they did
not answer the roll on the vote they
We're legally not present, these gentle-
men sat as dumb as oysters. They would
not vote for the bill. they would not vote
against 1t. but they found. much to their
establishment, that they were counted as
recording their names against the meas
ure. which was passed.
what man Of sense can argue that Mr..
Tulton's action, in keeping these men in
their seats and compelling them to act
-