Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-01-05
HARRIsBURG LETTER.

political point of view, presents a live
ly and interesting scene. The MEN,
bers of the Legislature have been COM
ing in for the past two days and 1t Is
said more than half of them are already
here. With them came many OF the
prominent Republicans OF the state
and other friends. In fact, there never
has been known a time when so many
who are termed politicians either are
or will be here before Tuesday, 4th
inst, the day the Legislature meets.
The principal cause of this large as
sembling, and consequent excitement,
is the election of a United States Sen
ator. to be made by the Legislature on
the third Tuesday of this month. No
legislation is possible while that ques-
ton is pending. The Republican caucus
for settling upon the man to be voted
for, will not likely be held until a few
DAYS before the election is to take place.
There are more candidates, either active
or quiet, for the Senatorship, it is said,
than ever before or rather, it might be
said, expectants, as many OF them are
expecting something to turn up" that
might possibly clothe them with the
honor of that high Office. The two
leading candidates at this writing are
Galusha A. Grow and Henry w. Oil
yer. Mr.. Grow is well aud favorably
known to many Of Butler county, both
personally and politically. He has also
friends in every county of the State,
many of whom have come here to as
sist him in obtaining what they think
he has earned and now should have.
His friends confidently claim bis sue
cess as certain. His principal compet-
itor in the caucus, it seems, will be Mr.
Henry w. Oliver, Jr., of our neighbor-
ing city of Pittsburgh. Unlike Mr..
Grow, he has not been in public life'
and therefore has been but little known.
| suppose but few in Butler county
know or ever have heard of him until
very recently. / never had the pleas,
ure of meeting him until to-day fere.
He is young man of pleasing man
ners and appearance, and is spoken OF
as a successful and very smart business
man But the difficulty among all out
side is to understand what quallfca-
tons he has for U. S. Senator, and
why be should be settled upon by any
county or section There are, in con-
sequence, some of the lc ding Repub-
Iicans of Pittsburgh here favoring the
selection of George Shiras, Esq, al
eminent LAWYER of that They are not
antagonizing the Oliver interest further
than in the belief that he, Mr.. o, can
not be successful as the man who could
or should be supported by the western
Republicans of the State. M. Shiras,
they claim, fills the bill better and will
in the end be settled npon by Alle1he-
ny county. But in addition to those,
in the west, is Mr.. Thompson, of oar
county; Mr.. Gilfillan, of Venango Co.;
Lieut. Governor Stone, Of Warren Co,
and others. The friends of all these
gentleman claim they could represent
western interest and the State as well
and that the lightning might as readily
strike them as any ther. Mr.. Thomp-
son will receive in caucus the votes of
the three Butler members, Messrs.
Greer. Braham and Bell on first ballot
and longer if he is likely to develop
any outside strength. Mr.. Gilfillan, it
is said, will have part of the Venapgo
members in caucus On first vote, but
as that county is instructed, like many
others, for Grow, they must eventually
vote for Grow. Lieut.. Gov. Stone has
many friends all over the State, and is
an able and agreeable gentleman. From
the mixed condition of matters there Id
no telling what may happen, tut the
best opinion to be gathered at this wri-
ting is that the popular expression of
the Rpublican people the State over
will be respected and Grow be chosen
next Senator.
Our members Of the House, Braham
and Bell, are here and will labor to
get for our county her share of the po-
sitions in the House. DR.. Irvine, OF
Evansburg, is also here and is urged
by his friends for the position of Read
ing Clerk in the Senate. With Sena
tor Greer's assistance he ought to sue
ceed.
The weather here has been as cold
as in Butler. On Friday morning it
was eleven degrees below zero. This
morning not so cold and is moderating
In this hotel (Lochiel House) on yes
terday they had eighty pounds of
steam in the heaters in the rooms and
also fires in the CRATES and yet not
very comfortable. Last winter, and in
former winters, but forty pounds of
steam were necessary. Sleighs arr.
running and the people moving about
to-day. The inevitable and hardy
English sparrow almost fills the streets
here, and cold as it was, they could he
seen in flocks, flying to and from the
street. watching for every crumb Of
r.,1 that taifrht amman