The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-30
WILL QUAY BE SEATED2

I 7 f publish canvass OF United States Senators
w made by The Call on the seating of Quay.
The first notable revelation OF the canvass is
that Jones, chairman of the Bryan Democratic Ma
tonal Committee Hanna, chairman OF the Republican
National Committee, and Butler chairman OF the
Populist National Committee all join in supporting
Quay. When three politicians, at the head OF the
committees OF the three parties join in such action it
is indicative of some sort OF deal in which little
thought may be given to any constitutional principle
involved OF the thirty three votes slated for Mr..
Quay four are Democratic-Jones, Bate, Martin and
Daniel-and three are by silver Repubcans-Te ller,
Jones of Nevada and Stewart. This leaves twenty
six straight Republicans for Quay and eleven against
him, with thirteen straight Republicans doubtful or
undecared Senator Hoar is the leading among
the supporters OF Quay. He has always held in
OF like contests that the constitution, by saying that
State shall not be deprived OF equal suffrage in the
Senate except by its consent that the Senate
shall be always full. and that when Legislature fails
elect, the Governor has the constitutional right to
appoint, to the end that the Senate may be full and
the State have its equal suffrage therein So beiev
ing, it is matter OF principle with the venerable
Senator from Massachusetts, to support Quay. His
position very interesting issues. The
stution plainly makes the Legislature the represen-
tative of the State in the election Of Senator and
provides that when it is in and cannot act the
Governor may make temporary appointment, which
ceases and determines when the Legislature meets
again.
Now, if the Legislature when in session, represent
ing the State the electorate OF Senator, omit for
reasons seeming to it good to elect, the State has
thereby consented to forego for the time being its
equal suffrage in the Senate.
1t was not the intention OF the constitution that
there should be left open possible collision between
Legislatures and Governors, by which the Senate
could be filled with appointed Senators and the cleo
torate be practically shifted from the Legislature to
the Governor. Senators Spooner and Davis have held
the opinion Senator Hoar. Quay himself held
the opposite opinion and voted against seating Cor
bett
Senator Shoup of Idaho, who is a native Of Penn
syvania and affected by the party feuds that rage
in his birthplace, pass all questions OF con-
sttutonal construction and jump into the middle Of
the personalities involved He desires to vindicate
Mr.. Quay against the charges made by the reform
ers in the Republican party of his State This view of
the subject is not tenabe, and but few Senators will
admit that their votes will be influenced by it
1t is evident that Quay has the maj ority in hand
that supposed to be ready to seat him This
being the case there is likely to be long fight and
most interesting debate
So much attention has been attracted to the matter
by events in Pennsylvania that we may expect the
entire subject to be thrashed out. For the sake of
the Senates dignity and the security of the country
it is to be hoped that the decision will rest upon
stitutonal conclusions and on desire to seize
an unnecessary advantage to get even with fight
ing faction in the party