Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-06
CONTESTED ELECTION CASES
Complaint That the Three House Commit
tees Make Slow Progress
Contestants Are Suffering at Home
From the Long Delay-The Case
of Mr.. Aldrfch Cited.

The split in the republican convention of
the fourth congressional district of Ala
bama, which threatens the reelection of
Mr.. Aldrich, gives new point to the COM
p,aint Of those contestants before the pres
ent House about the slow progress the three
elections committees are making. A ma
jority of the contested election cases are as
yet undecided, the contestants and their
lawyers have been on expenses here urging
hearing, and their interests as party lead
ers at home have been left very much ex-
posed.
The Case of MIR. Aldrich.
The case of Mr.. Aldr;ch is quoted to illus
trate the danger existing. and to show what
disaster to these men may be wrought by
delay. Mr.. Aldrich came to Washington at
the beginning of the session, contesting the
seat for which Mr.. Robbins, a democrat,
feld the certificate. His party friends re-
9arded his case as {. very strong one, but
still IL vas advisable for him to remain on
the ground and watch the corners. He did
SO. leaving his lines at home exposed, and
II nHing the risk of being out-maneuvered by
some rival in his absence. 1t was known,
of course, that he would stand for renomi-
ration, whether he won his contest or not
but his presence at home was necessary to
the proper organization of campaign.
A Rival fs Nominated.
.ulty he seemed 10 be encoun tering in get
ting report on his case, encouraged one of
his rivals to enter the field, and the man
made so much headway he is now the nomi
nee against him of one of the two factions
into which the Congress convention split.
Mr.. Aldrich, ii is true, finally secured a re-
port in his favor from the elections commit
tee, but this came too late to be of any serv-
ice to him at home. The result will be,
his friends assert, that unless the repuhli-
can dissension in the district, which would
never have sprung up if Mr. Aldr:ch had
been promptly seated can he composed,
there will be danger of the district returning
to the democracy. A divided republican
vote there cannot possibly win.
There Arc Other Cases.
But this, it is complained, is but one case.
There are many others like it, and num-
Der OF them are from southern states. The
contestants are here, and have been here
for some time. They have been advised to
remain and watch the corners Their cases
are ready to be submitted, and they have
great faith in them. But their lines at home
are all exposed. They intend to offer them
selves for renon. ;nation, but are unable to
n ap out a campaign at this distance, and
with so important a matter as a Congress
contest here still undisposed Of
They have no time to lose. The conven-
tons. county and district, are coming on.
when not only candidates for Congress are
TO be nominated, bat delegates to the St
Louis convention are to be chosen They
are very anxious to get home and put their
houses in order, either TO try again them
selves, or make way for aggressive rivals
VINO may have profited by their protracted
stay here.
Not an Ill-Nnturcd Complaint.
The complaint. while earnest enough. is
by no means ill-natured. 1t is not urged
that the elections committees take slap
judgment on anybody. Contested cases
call for time and examination At the
same time, it is pointed out, there are
three committees, and the work has been
SO divided up no one of them is provided
The general business of the House is AWAY
anead of time There is talk of adjourn
meEt in June. But these contestants
how on the ragged edge hope adjournment
may not precede action on their cases
They all come from close districts, and
feel that If obliged to go into new race
with the result of the old race still un6e-
tCrmlned thew wO,lld he bo