Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-01-26
THE DEADLOCK BROKEN.
CARR ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE wEsI
VIRGINIA SENATE.


CHARLESTON, w. VA, January 2f.-
The deadlock was broken on the one
hundred and twenty-sixth ballot at 6:3C
o'clock this evening. Carr, the Republi.
can Independent, was elected president
by combination of Democratic and Re,
publican senators. The election was
brought about in a matter of compro
mise, and Carr was the man selected as
the man most agreeable to both parties
Minear, the other Independent Republic
can, was also in the deal. 1t was arrang-
ed that all the Democrats that could be
induced to do SO should vote for Carr on
the one hundred and twenty-first ballot
this morning. A strong effort was made
by the Democrats to bring all their men
in line and elect him alone if they could
They failed, as three of the Democratic
senators absolutely refused to vote fol-
Carr under any consideration. A recess
was taken, and the Democrats held two
caucuses.
The recalcitrantS refused to be whip
ped back into line. In this situation bal
loting was begun at 4:30 o'clock. A few
of the Republican senators who were OPP
posed to Carr began filibustering. They
were tacitly aided by some of the Demo
Gratis. Finally after two hours hard
work ballot was taken. Carr received
eight Democratic votes and eight Repub-
lican votes, and was declared elected
The result is received with general salts
faction. General Golf himself is highly
pleased. Carr is Republican on al
party questions, and has repeatedly an
nounced his intention on the floor of the
Senate to act with the Republicans when
party lines were drawn. A personal
difficulty between him and Senators Nor.
ris and Maxwell, who were both aspir.
ants on the Republican side for the pres
idency of the Senate, led him to refuse
to go into the caucus on organization.
The feeling between them is very bitter
but it cannot effect the future harmoni-
GUS action of the party in the Senate.
Maxwell and Morris are both strict par
tisans, and while chagrined by the re-
suit, there is not the slightest danger that
either of them will cause any further
trouble.
The excitement over breaking the
deadlock is equalled by the excitement
over the possibility of electing United
States Senator tomorrow. The delay in
the organization of the Senate has COM
plicated the situation SO much until it is
not known whether an election can be
under ordinary circumstances. Both
parties held caucuses this evening to de-
termine upon the question. The Repub-
lican caucus nominated General Nathan
Golf for United Sthtes Senator. Among
the Republicans it is believed that no
election can be held for two weeks.
An intensely bitter fight is raging in
the Democratic caucus tonight. The
Kenna men are insisting on forcing an
election, and holding caucus to nomi-
nate at once.
Their opponents are now fighting for
time. At least three Democratic mem
bers announced their intention before
going into the meeting to refuse to be
bound by caucus nomination if one
was held this evening. The revolt of
one member would be fatal to Kenna s
chances. There is strong undercur-
rent of feeling among the Democrats in
favor of the reelection of ex-senator
johnson N. Camden. Kenna S opponents
are using this for all it is worth. Cam
den is not formally in the field, but there
are men who are pledged to support
Kenna who are heart Camden men, and
will desert to him at the first opportuni-
ty.
Word has Just come out of the caucus
anti-Kenna man, made speech propos-
ing that the vote of three-fourths of the
members should be required to nominate
when caucus was held, and declared
this the only terms on which he and his
friends will consent to be bound by the
caucus discussion in regard to nomina-
ton. There is no likelihood of the de-
mand being acceeded to. Kenna can
count on only twenty-eight of the forty
eight members. The remaining eighteen
are bitterly opposed to him, and the
three-fourths rule will practically throw
him out of the race. The Kenna men
realize this, and will fight it to the end
At midnight the Democratic caucus
had been unable to agree on taking the
first ballot The opponents of Senator
Kenna oppose caucus nomination, and
favor postponing the election. In all
probability, if there is any ballot taken
tomorrow, the Democrats will scatter
their votes. and there will be no cleo.
ton.
The report that there will be dual
government in this State has been killed
by the election of the president of the
Senate, who will become Governor of
the State March 4th, if Golf or Fleming
who are contesting, be not seated. The
constitution of the State provides for this
case.
BALLoTING FOR U. s. SENATOR.
CHARLESTON, Jan. 29.-On the ballot
for United States Senator to-day, Golf re-
ceived 40 votes; Kenna 26, and Congress
man w. L. Wilson s; scattering IA. The
legality of an election, if one had been
secured to-day, is matter of considera-
BILE doubt, and neither party was really
anxious that one should occur. Golf re-
ceived forty votes out total Republican
vote of forty-four. AT the proper time
he will secure the solid Republican sup
port, and by that time the Republicans
expect to have majority in the Legisla-
ture. The alleged Democratic victory in
securing the election of Carr to the pres
idency of the Senate was entirely with
out fruit. Carr voted with the Republi-
cans on every question to-day, and some
of them were of the most important char
acter.
The Republicans completed the organ
lzation from top to bottom with straight
party men. They also took steps to in
augurate the contest against Sweeny and
Oxley, the Democratic senators who are
ineligible, on account of non-residence.
Both these men left their districts since
they were elected, and have not been
back in them for over two years. In
such cases the law plainly provides that
the seats shall be made vacant. Both of
them will be unseated beyond the shad
ow of doubt. Carr will act with the
Republicans on these questions, and
they will make short work of them.
A hot fight was conducted in the Sen
ate all day, involving the main feature
of the gubernatorial contest. The DEM
ocrats insisted that the Senate should
proceed to the House at once, to pass up
on the election returns. The Republi-
cans refused to do SO unless pledge was
given them that the result would be de-
clared upon the face of the returns, as
the law provides. They were in major
ity, and, of course, controlled the mat