The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-21
THE DELAWARE sEsAroHsHrr.


Delaware b not only ore o. tae smaiiss,
states In the unSon In area. but also IN
population. rhea@ Issznd Is the only state
witch has a smaller ares. sns ire much
abused western states q Idaho. Wyoming
ard seva4a, tss Only ones which have
smaller population. Yet when Il comes
down 70 politics Delaware can furnish as
lively an article can be pat up IN any
state IN the union The prona olitiss are
strong fnar when the next senate con-
venss there will be three senators-eiect at
sts doors each demanding 70 be seated In
in the single eh2sr vacant az present from
Delaware.
Delaware has now two legislatures IN
session each claiming 20 be the legally
elected body. Each legislature has IN It's
membership number Of persons about
whose election there is no doubt. and also
a number whose seats are under contest.
Both OF these legislatures viii probably
60 through the form of eleeting United
States senator.
YET. as a matter OF fact. Delawars has
already United States senstg eject IN
the person of Dir. DUPONT elected al the
last session q the legislature. but whom
the senate has so far refused 10 seat. The
duty OF electing a senator devolved upon
the last legislature After a protracted
deadlock in that body. the seat of the gov
ernor of that state became vacant. and in
pursuance of constitutional provisions.
the presiding officer OF the SENATE became
governor. This Taft Dupont with ma
jority OF one in the legislature. Acting
Governor Watson refused TO vacate bis
seat In the senate. insisting that he could
continue 10 act as a state senator as well
as governor. The majority of the iegisla-
ture, however proceeded TO elect DUPONT
senator. ignoring the vote which Watson
undertook 20 cast. Watson. as governor,
refused to issue certificate OF election TO
DUPONT The latter. however, made ap-
pacation TO the senate 10 be seated, and
by a party vote, the motion 20 seat him
was lest by one majority.
Now an attempt is being made to re-
open the case and declare DUPONT entitled
20 a seat. Whether this Is done the pres
emit session or not II viii certainly come
up as coon az the next congress con-
venes Against the power OF the senate
to take this action II IL urged that the
vote by which the senate refused to seat
DUPONT in the hrst instance. disposed
finally of the whole matter and made the
case res adtudlcata- 1t does not appear
that such was the case. The vote decided
nothing, except that the senate refused
10 seat him There was no contestse and
consequently no vested rights VIII be at
fected by re-opening tho case. Fer par
tisan reasons the senate denied TO a man
duly elected. right 10 take his sea-. In
common justice 1t should revoke its action.
and Its power 10 do 50 Is unquestionahle.
as the senate Is the exclusive judge OF the
election and qualification of its members.
There is some prospect that the majority
% the senate may be more willing TO right
this wrong at the present session. The
majority against seating Dupont was
mads up by q combination OF the Demo-
cratic members of the senate with the
uIt free silver Republicans The ot5ect
on the part of the Democratic parties 70
the combination. was TO keep out a po-
litical opponent. while the object Of the
free silver men was 20 prevent another
| sound money senator from taking his seat.
a. the admission OF DUPONT would tic the
| vots. and put an end TO the hold up by
| which the free silver senator's were en-
| dsavoring 10 coerce the senate into pass
| ing a free coinage bin.
Among the D4moera &c senators. who at
| thu .luie. voted against the admission OF
| DUPONT 70, these purely partisan reasons.
| there are some who a ould be quite likely
| to change theAr votes II the question
should come up again. But whether Du-
Pont V seated or not at this congress. IL
is quite certain that his attempt to secure
| the seat 20 which he was slected will be
formally considered by the senate in the
next session: and that tho electees OF both
Of the rump Legislatures now in session
| In Delaware vii be turned down"