The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-01-28
Will Be Succededby William Alfred PEI
fer, Editor of the Kansas Farmer.
Ninety Eight Votes Cast in the Legislature Yes.
terday for the Alliance Man and Fifty
Eight for the Republican Candidate.
PETER Refused Endorsement by the
Northern Wing of the Allianance.
Novel Ideas of President Powers Concerning
the Duties of the Government-Act Of
Legislatures on the Elections Bill.
A WILL RETIRE.

INGALLS, WILL RETIRE.
w. A. PETER, Editor of the Kansas Farmer.
Chosen to the Formers Seat I'm the Senate.
TOPEKA. Kan. Jan. 27.-When the next
session OF Congress meets there will be
missing from the Senate one of its most
unique and distinguished members. The
seat of the Hon. John James Ingalls, will
be occupied by . new member-William
Alfred PETER, of the Farmers Alliance
who In joint session of the two branches of
the Legislature will be formally declared
elected to succeed the senior Kansas Sena-
tor. The predictions of the wise men that
the Alliance would be unable to agree in
caucus upon q candidate and that failure to
agree would disrupt their organization,
went wide of the mark. The caucus was no
less harmonious than is usual, and agree
ment was reached after four hours of bal
loting. The caucus met at 8 o'clock last
night and worked under the secret rules of
the order. No one was admitted to
stationed all along the corridors
to prevent any one approaching within
ear-shOt of the caucus-rOOm. Eighteen
candidates were voted for on the first bal
lOts 1uCu III u ICCOlNlnk tuO lVMO5J
number of votes was dropped from the list. Z
This was repeated on each ballot until a
choice was made. When tho first ballots
was taken these names we're voted upon: /,
House; John Willlts. defeated Alliance
candidate for Governor; John DAVIS. Con-
g~ressman-elect from the Fifth district, and
J. w. Bridsnthal. of Chetopa. One by one
Bridenthal, Davis and Willis were
dropped from the list, until only PETER and
Elder renamed. The final vote stood SO for
PETER and SO for Elder. Before the House
met this morning there were all sorts OF
rumOrs that the friends of those various de-
feated candidates would bolt the caucuss
nomination, but when the vote was taken
to-day the Alliance men stood by their can
didate as firm as q rock.
REsULT OF II B~ALLOTING. -
The proceedings IN the two houses, to-
day, were of the most ordinary character.
In the Senate Lleutenant-governor Felt
announced the hour when the hands of the
clock pointed to noon. and said the time
had arrived for the Senate to declare it's
choice for Sen atOr. Before this vote was
taken several Senators explained their
votes. Tn ballot resulted: j.. j. Ingalls,,
So; w. A. PETER, 2; Gen. q. w. Blair, Demo-
crat. L; Congressman Morrill,, 1. and State
Senator H. c. Kelly l. Lieutenant-governor
Felt announced the result and the senate
adjourned.
In the House the Alliance men were 80
anxious to declare their choice that they
could not wait for the noon hour. Fifty
throughout the State. asking the Legisla-
ture TO ~re-elect Mr. Ingalls,, were pre-
scented and went over under the
rules. The reading of the II,
over o1Ss an an hours soUss t Re.''n It V %as ten
minutes to IL. and there being no business
before the House an informal recess was
taken. At five minutes to IL Speaker Elder
raped for order and declared that, it
choice for Senator. The clerk was directed
to call the roll. Cheers followed the an
nonncement of each vote, and, after q few
Intellectual attempts to maintain order the
Speaker gave 1t up as a bad job, and the
Alliance u Ingalls, men cheered to their
hearts' content. The ballot resulted: w.
A. PETER. 96; j. j.. Ingalls,. %; g Z. w.
Blair, DEM. 5. The Alliance men went
wild when the announcements of the vote
was made. and cheered for fully three
minutes. Loud cries for PETER were heard,
but the Alliance leader was not to be found.
During the confusion some one moved to
adjourn and the Speaker declared the mo-
tion adopted.
The joint meeting will be held tomorrow
at noon, when the vote on Senator will
doubtless be: PETER, 9S; Ingalls,, So; Blair,
6; scattering. 3. A majority in joint session
is IS. is i
POPULAR IN DEFEA TT
1t is said that human interest centers in
the rising and not in the setting sun. This
eplgram has not been verified in the case of
Senator ingalls,. When he appeared in the
Office on his way to the dining-room, after
the vote had been announced fyom the
House. he was besieged with q throng of
friends and admirers, eager to grasp his
hand and express their regret over his
defeat. While he was at dinner a crowd
gathered around the dining-rOom door and
endeavored to obtain a glimpse of the At
Gibson statesman. When he came ont he
was again surrounded and was showered
with expressions of good will and kindly
regard.
To a representative of the press Mr..
Ingalls, said: Il have no plans for the
future. ] only know that l shall remain in
Kansas. / came to the State three years
before it's admission into the Union.
/ have lived here ever since: all my belong
inss are here; all of my children were born
In Kansas. My dead sleep in her bosom,
and l hope to mingle my dust with her
SOIL" On all questions OF politics the SEN
ator was noD-committal, but it is apparent
that he IL fully satisfied with the support
| which he received from his party, and has
| been deeply touched with the .manifesta-
tons of friendship of which he has been
the recipient. Senator ingalls, goes from
here to Atchison. his home. for q few days,
and will then return to Washington, where
no Will IcUldiu u0bll buo Gnu Vi Tile SESSION.
Judge PETER vas at his desk in the edi-
torial rooms of the Kansas Farmer, early
this morning. and remained there ell day.
He was besieged by callers offering con-
ordinations On his nomination. and later
on his election. soee
sketch Of the New Senator.
TOPEKA, Jan. 27.-William Alfred PETER
was born IN Cumberland county. Pennsyl-
vanis, Sept. 10. 1881. He is of Dutch parent
age. He is a self-made man. His school
ing was obtained between the ages of ten
and fifteen, when he attended the public
schools seven months of each year. At the
age of fifteen years he was made master of
q small district school. and taught there
until he was nineteen. In 1850 he caught
the gold fever and went to California,
where he remained two years. He made
considerable money and returned to Penn
sylvania in 1852. There he married Sarah
Jane Barber, and removed to Indiana. He
engaged in farming near Charlottesville.
There business reyerses impoverished him,
and he went to southwest Missouri. where
he continued q farmer. At the breaking
ont of the war he left the State and enlist
ed in the Third Illinois Volunteers. He
served until June 70. 1866. having been de-
tailed principally on detached duty as
quartermaster, aajutant and Judge advo-