The record-union., 1896-02-28

offices and friendly influence to bring
this about: that because of the close
proximity of Cuba the war entails such
| a loss upon American interests as to de-
mand protection of them. and that this
Government should give the support Of
| Congress to the President in carrying
out these demands.
The reading of this was literally
punctuated with applause.
An effort was made by Meredith
! Oem.) of Pennsylvania to secure
unanimous consideration and passage
of the resolutions, but Mccall Rep) OF
Massachusetts objected, and Hit
stated that he was instructed to ask
consideration at the earliest possible
moment
The Cuban matter being disposed of
for the present by Hit asking for con-
! sideration of the resolutions at the
earliest possible moment, the House
went on with the case of Van Horn VS..
! Tarsney.
Mcguire Dem) of California made
the closing argument for the minority
of the Elections Committee 1t was
based upon the theory that under the
laws of Missouri the legal ballots could
be segregated from the illegal in re-
count, and that being so, it was the
duty of the House to order the COM
mittee to make the recount recon-
mended by the minority. That re-
count, if ordered, Mcguire asserted,
would show that Tarsney was elected
representative in Congress of the
Fifth District of Missouri.
The concluding argument of the case
I ~ y Of TY,If
ara, Chairman of the committee, who
presented the facts of the fraudulent
registration and voting upon which
the majority based their finding that
Van Horn had been legally elected in
stead of Tarsney.
Johnsons characteristic energy and
force in public speaking attracted to
his address the close attention of the
members of the House, which was re-
warded from time to time by vigorous
denunciation of the frauds committed
at the election in Kansas City and of
those who were engaged in them.
"Characterless vagabonds and unmit-
igated scoundrels'' were specimens of
the designations applied to them.
His reference to the cause and re-
fusal of Registrar Owsley to purge the
from Mcguire the statement that the
Board of Revision had passed a reso-
luton of thanks to Owsley for his Ia
bors, also in purgirfg the list and MAX
ing practically correct returns.
"Oh, Mr.. Speaker" responded john
son, with infinite scorn in voice and
manner, sit is true there was a Board
of Revision the members of which
/ I - t. baxr
passed. at his suggestion, such a reso-
luton And it is but another proof of
his scoundrelism-to absolute crime he
added hypocrisy" Turning, with al
most startling sudoenness upon Ma
guire, he said: 81 want to ask the gen.
tleman if he denies that fraud was
committed"
Mcguire said he did not
Johnson-Does the gentleman deny
that Owsley is a scoundrel? Qaugh-
ter)
Mcguire began to answer at some
length. but Johnson impatiently urged
direct answer.
Mcguire said that as to whether or
not Owsley was q scoundrel, he did
not know.
Johnson Gfercely) = Well, do.
Qaughter)
A dramatic episode occurred near the
close of Mr.. Johnson's speech. He was
giving the reasons why, in his opinion,
and because of the character of the
frauds that had been committed, it was
impossible to separate the legal votes
from the illegal ones by a simple re-
count of ballots, which was all the mi
nority of that committee contemplated,
~ r.-i-
titious case, easily conceivable in the
circumstances, asked the gentleman
from Ohio CTaylor) what he would do
with those ballots. Il give him five
minutes to answer" said Johnson, and
unexpectedly took his seat.
Everyone turned to Taylor, who sat
facing Johnson some distance away.
and apparently no more expecting the
challenge than did the other members.
He took the floor promptly, however,
saying, 1.-THE proposition of the gentle
man is characteristic of his method of
conducting debates. l know his method
Of treating other gentlemen, and / can
rot hope to escape, but | refuse to put
the same limit upon my mental opera
tion that limit his mental operations.
And when the gentleman asks me a
question pertinent to the discussion
and blandly offers me five minutes in
which to answer, | repudiate his kind
ness" (Applause)
Johnson retorted that the gentleman
lad evoked applause not from his own
household, but from those on the other
side, and his refusal to answer was an
acknowledgement of the weakness of
his position.
Upon the conclusion of his remarks
Johnson moved the previous question
upon the resolution of the committee
and the substitute of the minority that
the case be re-opened and the ballots
counted.
The vote was taken on the substitute
and it was rejected-Yeas 112, nays
16I
The Democrats and PopuHsts support
ed the substitute, together with the
following Republicans, who reported
against the Elections Committee and
the body of their own political asso-
eiates: Arnold of Pennsylvania, Brown,
Burton of Ohio, Codding, Dovener, Fen
ton, Huling, Hyde, Kulp, Leighty, Par
ker, Pitney. Powers, Southwick, Tay-
lor, Wellington. Wright.
The resolution declaring Robert T.
Van Horn elected and entitled to the
seat was then agreed to without di
vision.
Burton (Rep.) of Missouri addressed
the Chair: MIR. Speaker, my colleague.
Mr. Van Horn. is present and ready to
take the OATH
The new member, amid applause from
the Republicans, was tfereupon es-
corted to the bar of the House by Mr..