The San Francisco call., 1896-02-28
But There Is Considerable Talk
Relating to Frauds at the
Election.
CORRUPTION IN KANSAS CITY.
Those Who Had a Hand in Frauds
Called Vagabonds and Unmiti-
gated Scoundrels.

(R.) of Illinois, who concluded his speech,
begun yesterday, in support of the action
and report of the majority of Elections
Committee 2. He contended that the con-
testee (Tarsney) was not entitled to
further consideration in the matter be-
cause of his laches in conducting his side
under the law.
At the conclusion of Princes remarks an
agreement was reached and announced to
take vote upon the report of the COM
mittee at 4:30 O'Clock.
Long (R.) of Kansas asserted that the
if the committee desired their recount, or
if any different result than that arrived at
by the committee could be reached by a
recount.
Mcguire CD OF California made the clos
ing argument for the minority of the
Elections Committee. 1t was based upon
the theory that under the laws of Missouri
the legal bal lots could be segregated from
the illegal in a recount, and that being so,
it was the duty of the House to order the
committee to make the recount recon-
mended by the minority. That recount,
if ordered, Mcguire asserted, would show
that Tarsney was elected Representative
in Congress of the Fifth District of Mis-
souri,.
The concluding argument of the case
was made by Johnson (R.) of Indiana,
chairman of the committee, who presented
the facts of fraudulent registration and
voting, upon which the majority based
their finding that Van Horn had been
legally elected instead of Tarsney.
Johnson's characteristic energy and
force in public speaking attracted to his
address the close attention of the mem
bers OF the House, which was rewarded
from time to time by vigorous denuncia-
tion of the frauds committed at the elec-
ton in Kansas City and of those who
were engaged in them. "Characterless
vagabonds, unmitigated scoundrels, !" were
specimens of the designations applied to
them.
His reference to the cause and refusal of
Registrar Owsley to purge the lists of 1900
fraudulent names drew from Mcguire the
statement that the board of revision had
passed a resolution of thanks to Owsley
for his iabors and also in purging the list
and making practically correct returns.
"Oh. Mr.. Speaker" responded Johnson,
with infinite scorn in his voice and man
ner, ''lt is true there was q board of revi-
sion, the members OF which Owsley ap-
pointed, and it is true they passed, at his
suggestion. such resolution. And it is
but another proof of his scoundrelism that
to absolute crime he added hypocrisy
Turning with almost startling sudden
ness upon Mcguire, he said, II want to ask
the gentleman if be denies that fraud was
committed2'
Mcguire said he did not.
Johnson-Does the gentleman deny that
Owsley is scoundrel? daughter
Magure began to answer at some length.
but Johnson impatiently urged direct
answer. Mcguire said that as to whether
or not Owsley was scounarel he did not
know.
Johnson (fiereely)-Well, do. Laugh
A dramatic episode occurred ne ar the
close of Johnson's speech. He was giving
the reasons why in his opinion and be-
cause OF the character of the frauds that
had been committed it was impossible to
separate the legal votes from the Illegal
ones by simple recount of ballots, which
was all the minority of the committee con-
templated, and illustrating the point by a
suppositltious case, easily conceivable in
the circumstances, asked the gentleman
from Ohio (Taylor) what he would do with
those ballots. 81 give him five minutes to
answer" said Johnson, and Unexpectedly
took his seat.
Every one turned to Taylor, who sat fac
Ing johnson some distance away and ap-
parently no more expecting the challenge
than did other members. He TOOK the
foor promptly, however, saying: "The
proposition of the gentleman is character
lstic OF his ideas of conducting debates. I
know OF his method of treating other gen.
tlenlen and cannot hope to escape: but I
refuse to put the same limit upon nv men,
tai operations that limit his mental opera
tlons. And when the gentlemen asks
me question pertinent to the discussion
and blandly offers me five minutes in
which to answer Irepudiate his kindness ,,
[Applanse.]
Johnson retorted that the gentleman
evoked applause, not from his own house
hold, but from those on the other side. and
his refusal to answer was an acknowIedp.
ment OF the weakness of his position,
Upon the conclusion OF his remarts
johnson moved the previous question
upon the resolution of the committee and
the substitute of the minority that the
case be reopened and the ballots counted
The vote was taken on the substitute
and 1t was rejected-ayes 112, noes 164.
The Democrats and Populists supported
the substitute, together with the following
Republicans who voted against the Elec-
tions Committee and the body of their
own political associates: Arnold of Penn
sylvania, Brown, Burton of Ohio, Cod.
ding, Dovener. Fenton, Huling, Hyde,
kulp, Leighty. Parker, Pitney. Powers,
Southwick, Taylor, Wellington, Wright.
The resolution declaring Robert T. Van
Horn elected and entitled to the seat was
then agreed to without division.
Burton (R.) OF Missouri addressed the
chair: "Mr. Speaker, my colleague, Mr..
Van Horn, Is present and ready to take
the oath.'
! The new member, amid applause from