St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-02
A REVOLUTIONARY PLAN.

IL the contention Of the Republicans
that the charter of the city does not
mean what it SayS-with respect to the
residence qualifications Of members of
the asSembly-is valid, then We have no
law whatever relating to the subject.
and residents of Minneapolis, Saltwater
or Fergus Falls may claim seats in that
body if through clerical error or other
wise their IN happen to get upon the
election ballots. The terms Of the char
ter are specific, and cannot be mlsun-
derstood. Its prescribed that a certain
number of the members OF the assembly
shall reside in a given locality. the bor-
ders marked by the dividing line of
Wabasha street. 1t was clearly the
intepIion of the charter to so divide the
representation as to give each section of
the city a fair and equitable representa-
ton. Under the old law these officials
were selected according to ward diviS-
ions, and the claim was never made, and
would never have been sustained if
made, that a resident of the Sixth ward
could legally represent the First, or any
other ward than his own, III the common
council.
The issue involved in this question is
one of equity and common sense. as
we'll as of legal construction. In each
of these regards the Democratic con-
tention is the only tenable one. Any
other conclusion would be unreasonable
and absurd. and in plain violation not
only of the terms. but of the spirit of
the charter. Two Of the candidates
claim 10 have been elected to represent
the district west of Wabasha street,
doing business in that part of the city
lying east of the dividing line named.
These false claimants have been de-
clared elected by the present partisan
assembly. but the city clerk has re-
fused to issue certificates to any
of the assembly-elect. The decision
of the matter therefore devolves
upon the assembly itself. which, with
out either the legally elected or the
spurious claimants in the contested
cases. will be composed of a majority
holding to the Democratic faith. In order
to defeat their attempt to organize in
accordance with law and precedent, the
Pioneer Press advises those Republican
members of the assembly as to whose
election there is no dispute to absent
themselves from the sittings of that
body, thus leaving it without a quorum
and powerless to transact business.
There is reason to believe that this
revolutionary programme will Oe fol
lowed. and that the Pioneer Press, in
stead of offering advice, Is announcing
a settled programme.
But this scheme, desperate as it is.
will come to naught. The legally elect
ed members of the assembly can qualify
and take their seats. and this will throw
the burden of all efforts to gust them
upon the contestants. and the issua will
be determined in the courts. And be-
sides. the city charter provides a remedy
for such recalcitrancy which will no
doubt be applied. Section 8 of chapter
2 of the charter declares that "any Off
Ger n y who shall neglect or re-
fuse for ten days after notice of his
election or appointment TO enter upon
the discharge of the duties Of his office
shall be deemed to have vacated his Of
flee, and the common council shall pro-
coed to fill the vacancy as herein pre-
scribed." 1t will, therefore. become the
duty of the members of the assembly to
declare the forfeiture of tine rights of
absentees to the Offices whose functions
they refuse to perform and to order new
elections to fill the vacancies thus Gre
ated.
The contesting Republicans who are
claiming a right to seats in the assembly
have no more right to those seats than
they would have if they were residents
OF Alaska. Even if they had received
every vote cast in the city. they would
be barred from membership, because of
legal and constitutional ineligibility. 1t
Is too late now to cure their disability.
They cannot now change the law
to suit their convenience or ex-
cuse their own neglect. The public
may rest assured that the Democrats
will organize the assembly, that the
public business will be properly cared
for, and that no conspiracy such as is
contemplated by the Republicans and
advocated by their organ will defeat the
popular will.