Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-05
Organizing to Prevent His
Election to the Senate.
They WILL KEEP UP FIGHT
senHtor Finn Says they Want More
Light and as Long as the OpposI.
ton stand Together There Can he
No Election Unwiso He Thinks TO
voto for Man Charged with
Crime.
tpy Telegraph to vlrglnian-pllot.,

Harrisburg, Pa, Jan. 4.-The Repub-
lican Senators and members who sign
ed the pledge not to take part in last
nights Senatorial caucus organized
this morning at the Commonwealth
Hotel to keep up the fight against SEN
ator Quay until after the Supreme
Court has disposed of the Peoples
Bank conspiracy case. The meeting
was attended by nearly all the signers,
and two others. who did not sign. but
kept away from the caucus.
Senator Finn said there was no ne,
-cessity for holding a Senatorial caucus
last night. and that so long as those
who stayed away stood together there
could be no election OF U. S. Senator.
What he wanted was more digh. on
the charges pending against Senator
Quay to ascertain whether he is a pro-
per person to be elected to the United
States Senate. Mr.. Finn also said
that he interpreted the pledge binding
the independents to keep out of the
caucus to mean that they would not
vote for Mr.. Quay until the Supreme
Court has disposed Of the conspiracy
cases, and that If the Senator was in
no better position after its action than
he is now they cannot vote for his re-
election.
HIS STATEMENTS ENDORSED.
Senator-Elect David Martin. of Phil
adelphia, who will be qualified January
18th, when the House and Senate will
vote for Senator. concurred in what
Senator Finn had said. This was his
Interpretation of his pledge, and y5he
would stand upon this platform.
Senators Finn and Waller, of Bell
ford. and Representatives Coray. of
Luzerbe; Savage, of Philadelphia;
pointed a committee to take charge
of the work of the organization.
The committee issued the following
address this evening:
To the Republicans of Pennsylvania:
I'VE. the undersigned committee, ap-
pointed by, and representing the alb
sentees of the alleged Republican eau
Gus, desiring that our fellow Republi-
cans throughout the State should un-
derstand clearly the motives which an
innate us in our present position with
reference to the United States Sena.
torship, hereby briefly set forth our
reasons:
I'm our present attitude We are
prompted by what we believe to be
the best interest of our party and
State. We believe that a Republican
Senator should and will be elected, and
that no combination of circumstances
can prevent it. We believe that the
unquestioned sentiment of the Repub-
leans of the Commonwealth Is against
taking action that might result in the
election Of -perSnn- SGnlted- States
Senator who is charged with crime be-
fore his innocence is established in
court of Justice, and that the failure to
determine that question prior to this
time is due to the act of the alleged
caucus nominee in delaying trial, and
not to any act of ours. We feel that
in juetlce to the public and our own
sense of aalf-respect and duty, We are
justified III refusing to be committed
to any proposition that might cast a
stigma upon our commonwealth and
our integrity as citizens and legisla-
tors.
Feeling that we are sustained in our
position by the unbiased sentiment of
the Senate. we deem it unwise to vote
for any person for United States Sena-
tor who is duly charged with crime so
long as these charges remain unde-
termined. We cannot justify ourselves
for voting for any person for office
who Is indicated for criminal offences
and who simply alleges that he is the
victim of political conspiracy. We
believe that the public as we'll as our
selves Is not interested in the motives
of the person making the charges, but
rather in the truth OF falsity of these
charges.
Entertaining these views we submit
our action to the unprecedented judg-
ment of our fellow citizens"