The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-06
2'9|S N THE COUNT.
Cardinals Electoral Vote
To Be ChdllanG6dr
8bDICALS KICK UP THE ROW.
VALIDITY Of the State El6C-
ton Laws Denied,
RADICALS KICK UP THE ROW.
,1tB AIMED AT WHOLE SOUTH.
penuhlicans May Try to Reduce
Representation.

,a,roseptative Murray Armed for
the Fray With IL Monster Petition
prom the south Carolina Republic
caus Protesting Against PrOVi-
Sims of the state Constitution and
he election Laws-The Fight
Likely to Tie Up the Official De-
cIarotion of McEIinIey's Election.
ritter Partisan Debate Sure to lie
PrecipitHted.
Washington. Feb. "a South Carolian-
Ian is prepared to spring sensation at
the counting of the electoral vote in the
uonse of REPRESENTATIVES next Wednes-
d4v The counting of the vote of that
safe for BRYAN and Sewall will be pre-
rented REPRESENTATIVE Murray has Just
urned from South Carolina, where he
mas in consultation with the leading re-
pgbicans of the Palmetto state. He IS
armed with monster petition, signed by
thousands of republicans of that state,
PROTESTING against the counting of the
electoral vote and asking for an investi-
ration of the election law and the state
constitution. The claim is made that the
n election laws and the state constitution
upon which they are based are not in ac-
cord with the federal constitution. The
petition is set forth in three sections, the
n inst and third of which read as follows:
"One. vast majority of the legally quail
Fl Tied voters of this state were prevented
from expressing their choice for Presiden-
al electors by the enforcement on the
rar Of the managers of the election of
a Illegal and unconstitutional barriers.
n Three-Your memorialists further de-
4 care that a republican form of govern
q ment does not exist in South Carolina,
81 THAT the will of the people has been over
81 thrown. that a military despotism is in
N control Of the state government. and that
q the people of South Carolina appeal to
8 congress for the fulfllment in the state
uf South Carolina of the United States
81 constitutional guarantee of a republican
"A form Of government. Your petitioners
f aver that the late election, in which more
IAN a hundred thousand electors were
& denied heir right to express their choice
at the ballot box while in all less than
sixty thousand votes were counted, was
legally ana fraudu.ently conducted"
The second paragraph of the petition
oe1ls exclusively with the alleged uncon-
sItuuonality of the state constitution and
N jae charge is made that the convention
which framed the constitution refused to
''Ee the oath to support the constitution
ot the United States; that a vast majority
OF The electors Of the state were deprived
Il Of participation in the election of delegates
"a l. the 10 -,
N U The constitution are framed with the
Ifpose OF DISTINGUISHING a large major
OF the electors of the state. The en-
DIe petition is drawn with much care and
n hrmaliy
representative Murray Is now consult
"s "iJh leading republican politicians
mere as 10 the course Of procedure. There
's TWO methods by which the petition
~'s oe presented 10 the joint session of
WA houses OF congress while engaged in
0'"'As The electoral vote. 1t may be
'"at1,a 20 the Vice President TO be de-
'1'-' To- me tellers when South Carolina
'l'1Nea on The call of states, or Repre-
.'o"Ne Murray may rise in his place
e mouse and enter a verbal protest
'-- '"eA submit The petition.
A"e zoe dispute over the vote Of South
'" cannot In any way affect the
may sive rise to complications OF
l'o1a nature The best authorities
uAJ the petition cannot be ignored
'''s'saton Of the precedents shows
""eh such protest is entered the
must Immediately stop unul the
U.s. settled. Nearly all Of the South
''''' congressional elections in the
congress are to be contested
very grounds set forth
i'Ihon, SO that ic the House should
mat The protest against the cleo.
'' vote has no foundation. IL SETS a
which would preclude the next
''1'u House from unseatlng tho
'"Ic congressman who hold tho
'"ei" certificates OF election. ,Tne
therefore Is likely TO be prolonpea
N|.'IA5' ana OF an intensely MART.
NOT only viii this be true Of tbo
a "1t In the Senate Mr.. Tillmau mo-,
oae material. upon
ro'., Ivy rate some bitter scenes are quite
IL the House. with It's over
INNS republican majority. shopla
i,s 'ne petition. ana the Senate. Win
M. row ana uncertain majority. should
t... opposite course, a deadlock in The
,,.,.'I count similar to that which pre-
ro,,,., ,' inc famous electoral commission
y.' lolow Il viii De remembered tbat
,iolina was one OF the states then
ts, LUG playing a conspicuous part in
I'LL. lining page OF political history.
si,.. '''r the immediate result OF This
m.y p' 70 dIscredit South Carollna's vote
g,.,-. 'nere is no doubt that Che pro-
'-' which Is to be thus dramatically