Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-24

III tuS SIduu Olu W6dIIQ OIL
West Virginia, the constitutional
rights Of the people were about to be
crucified, not between two, but amid
a 0 of political thieves.
MI. Osenton also addressed the SEN
ate in Mr.. Kidd's behalf. He declared
that the recount by the committee had
made no material change in the vote.
He was stopped by Senator Smith,
who objected to Mr., osenton telling
what had occurred in the committee.
Mr.. Osenton retorted that he was
surprised, in view of the facts, that Sen
ator Smith should object to the public
knowing what had t%ranspired there.
Mr.. Osenton made a very strong speech
in behalf of Senator Kidd. and cited
the case of McGinnis against Anderson.
in which, he said, it had been decided
by the most partisan Congress we had
ever had, that the man who had the
certificate was entitled to hold his seat
until the contest against him was end
ed. He said if we were to
HAVE A REVOLUTION
such as this proceeding indicated, he
would serve notice that, so far as he
was concerned, not one dollar should
be appropriated for the support of any
such revolutionary government except
to keep up the humane institutions.
Mr.. Cornwell stated that nc reason
had been assigned by the Republicans
for %unseating Kidd, but that the Re-
publicans had simply come up under
the crack of the party whip, which was
welded by federal officials, and were
doing this simply because they could,
and to satisfy the ambition of some
man who wants to go to the United
States Senate.
Senator Ashby presented a strong
legal argument, citing numerous au-
thorities to show that there was no law
nor precedent of any kind for such a
proceeding as this.
Senator Smith, who seemed to repre-
sent the Republican side, stated that
he would rather be a %revolutionist than
to be a political thief. He gave no
reason whatever why the resolution
should be voted for, but in his speech
insisted that the Democrats in the
House had begun the stealing and had
even done so in the election of a Gov
Nj. Osenton retorted that he was not
ton by these statements. He presented
no argument whatever, further than
that of retaliation. In closing his re-
marks he addressed a few words to
Mr.. Kidd, who said to his face that he
would brand it as an infamous outrage
if he were unseated.
After Mr.. Kidd had been unseated by
a strictly partisan vote, Mr.. Morris was
sworn in and took his seat.
Many of the Republican Senators
went to Senator Kidd and told him per-
sonally that
THEY DID NOT APPROVE
Of the proceedings, and did not want
to vote against him, but they were
compelled to by their leaders, for the
sake of party policy. Among those
who have been heard to say that they
/ opposed the proceedings, were Senators
Fast, Sturm, Garrett and others.
To-day was the most exciting day
since the Legislature has convened.
and tomorrow is likely to witness even
more stirring events.
Within five minutes after the resoIu-
ton to unseat Senator Kidd was taken
up in the Senate this afternoon, four
resolutions were introduced in the
House raising the question of the ELI
gibility of as many Republican mem
bers.
The resolutions were referred to the
committee on elections and privileges
and cannot be reported back until to-
morrow. What the action of the House
will be in regard to the matter cannot
be foretold, but the prevailing idea
among the Democratic members seems
to be that no members should be un-
seated simply for retaliation, but that
every case considered should be dealt
with strictly and solely upon its mer-
its and that no person should be I'M
seated unless there is good and sufH-
cient legal reasons for so doing. A
conference of Democrats was held to-
night and this policy was agreed to by
them.
But should the Republicans in the
Senate continue to throw out more
Senators tomorrow, and it is proba-
Bile that they will, it is possible that
some OF the less conservative mem
bers OF the House may insist upon