Middletown transcript., 1895-04-27
THE DELAYED EDITORIAL.

THE DELAY ED EDITORIAL.
One of the best things, among many
good ones in the Woman's Edition of
Evrey yEvening, was 'Why the editor
ial was not written" We shall not tell
why the following editorial. written
three months ago, did not appear, but
now give it space it, being timely and
true:
"There is bat one Republican of
prominence. so far as we can learn,
that questions the validity of the Re-
publican caucus held at Dover last
Monday night at midnight. We are
informed by the Dover correspondents
that Mr.. Massey doubts the legality of
the decision of that caucus. Mr..
Massey is not accounted great con-
stitutional lawyer, nor does he make
any such pretensions. His strength as
lawyer lies chiefly in his knowledge
of the practice and customs of the
courts, and therefore he is more noted
as an attorney than as counsellor at
law. His opinion on practice is en-
titled to respect and consideration, but
thus far, neither he nor anyone else
has given single precedent for his
solitary opinion. On the contrary
there is no end of precedents for the
position that the action of the eleven
men in caucus last Monday was en-
tirely regular, customary, proper and
valid, and that their action was absO-
lutely conclusive in the matter. There
are nineteen Republicans in the
General Assembly of whom ten con-
stitue majority. There were thirteen
men in the caucus originally, and none
of them went out until after an hour
Of waiting for the six absentees, and
then they went out only upon the re-
quest of Mr.. Massey's friends and
agents, and after they had volun-
teered the promise to return whenever
the other members should come in.
They felt, they said, that there ought
to be sixteen men present, since it
required sixteen votes to elect Sena-
tor in joint session of the Legislature.
This we believe embodies Mr.. Mas
sey's view. After the two men,
Messrs. Flemming and Pierce, both
of whom have since voted for Mr..
Massey every day, had left, the re-
naming eleven men sent written
request which they all signed, to all of
the absentees, advising them that the
caucus would take ballot at IL
O'Clock that night. This was the
second notice that had been given OF
the meeting. Every precaution was
therefore taken to apprise each and
every Republican member of what
was going to be done. True to their
notice, at midnight the ballot was
laken, and it resulted in positive |
majority for Senator Higgins. To
make assurance doubly sure resolu-
tion was then adopted, making the |
majority unanimous. Thus far every |
step had been regular, customary,
legal, fair and open. The most hyper
critical could fad no fault with that
and we cannot find a Re-
publican nor Democrat, OF any pro-
minence who does not regard that |
proceeding as entirely regular and
"Mr. Massey stands alone. Never
.heless his opinion here as always, de-
serves Consideration. We cannot help
however, to remind our readers that
Mr.. Massey's opinion would be OF
infinitely more weight if he were
critic. Notwithstanding
lis repeated declarations to the con-
,rary, Mr.. Massey is Senatorial as
)irant. He was opposed to caucus
rom the first. He and his friends
jried to dissuade certain members of
he General Assembly who are friendly |
% Senator Higgins, to remain out of
he caucus. His argument was that
le feared Mr.. Addicks, and not Mr..
Higgins would be the choice of the
caucus. Such was his earnest advice
Up to last Wednesday. But Mr.. Hig-
,ins' friends insisted that such an
regularity should never be tolerated
~ the party organization that it
would if persisted in, split the party
n two, and would destroy the party,
md that they had made up their minds
0 enter the regularly called caucus
md abide by its decisions. 1t is un-
ortunate that the friends of Mr. Ad-
licks were not equally courageous and
'atriotic. How far Mr.. Massey in
luenced them by advice similar to
What he gave to Mr.. Higgins friends,
an only be matter of conjecture. 1t
5 significant however that the action
f the six friends of Mr.. Addicks is in
xact line with Mr.. Massey's reiterated
dvice.
I'm giving the advice to Mr.. Hig-
ms friends to bolt the caucus, Mr..
1assey showed grave concern for
be formers success. He was merely
out the kindly purpose of
is pledge of more than two years ago,
amely to support and befriend Mr..
Higgins in his laudible ambition for
His advice was accepted
) sincere, but il was regarded as un- {
Use and as based upon an imperfect
Of the situation. But in
le light of what has transpired this I
eek-Mr. Massey's undoubted can
daey and the persistence with which
is three friends have been voting for
init is reasonable to suspect that
IS advice was not wholly sincere and
1t disinterested. We regret that we
e driven to this coDclusion.o