The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1893-11-01


to get control Of the committees, and Of
all Of it's officers. To this the Populists
objected, because they were satisfied
they were entitled to such organization,
because they had a majority OF the
legally elected members to the house.
II the representatives had not been so
near evenly divided that two or three
members Wrongfully given to one side
might have determined the control OF
such house, the great wrong contem-
plated might have been overlooked and
forgiven, but when such wrongs deter
mined the organization Of body such as
that, and gave to minority the power
to change the will of the people, then
anyone can see the necessity of not sub
mitting to such wrong.
There is but one case similar to the
one of our legislature that has ever been
determined, and that was by our con,
Rress Of the United States, when there
we're five congressman selected by the
state of New Jersey, the parties then be-
ing nearly equally divided between the
democrats and wings. By some man
ipulstion, such as was prRcticed by our
csnvassing board in the county and state
last year, the democrats were given the
certificates as members OF congress from
that state. The whig candidates pre-
sented their claims to congress, and
claiming that ss those five voted would
determine which party would have the
majority in congress, the matter should
be settled before the organization. 1t
was submitted and agreed by the MEM
bers Of both parties that such would be
the only true method Of reaching q just
conclusion, and give to the state OF New
Jersey the representation to which she
was entitled, and before the orgsniza-
tion of the house was made, the question
was investigated, and it was determined
by such investigation that the whig
members claiming seats there were en-
titled to them. So they were given their
seats, and they helped organize the
house.
In the case Of this state, the Populist
state committee, through its chairman,
as well as the republican and democratic
committees, through their chRirmen, met
for the purpose Of determining whether
or not something could be done to de-
termine who were the legally elected
members of such house. They did not
arrive at any conclusion, but the Popu-
list members, in order to show that they
were willing to do what was fair and just
submitted the following proposition:
That there should be selected five repub-
hcsn judges, including Judges Horton
and Johnston, of the supreme court;
Judge Foster, of the United States
court, and Judges Morton and Guthrie,
Of Topeka: two democrats, Judges Hum
phrey and Hurd; and two Populists,
Allen and Randolph. From these there
should be- selected either three, five or
the entire number, and these cases aub-
mitted to them. Rll parties to abide by
their decision, and to organize the house
by the members they said were entitled
to seats. This was refused by the repub-
licans. There was appointed by each or
the 40. called houses Of representatives q
committee OF three. Messrs. Seston,
Chandler and Warner from the Doug
lass house, and Messrs. Campbell, Ryan
and Cobun from the Dunsmore mouse
for the purpose Of devising ways and
means to determine the controversy and
to settle who we're entitled to seats in the
organization of such house. After the
preliminary organization of the COM
mittee, Campbell, of Stafford, q PopuIist,
made the following proposition: That
all contested cases be referred to Judges
Horton and Allen, Of the supreme court
of the state, and Judge Foster Of the
United States district court, and their
decision to be final. This proposition
was objected to on account Of Judge Fos-
ter, who did not seem to be in favor with
republicans at that time. Then Mr..
Campbell made the further proposition
that Judges Horton snd Allen select the