The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-08
CAUCUS PROCEEDINGS.
The Various Changes During the Progress of
the BalIoting and the Final Vote.


WASHINGTON. Dec. THE Democratic caucus
on the speakership and other officers of the
House resumed its session promptly at 10
O'Clock this morning, and without any prelimi-
nary proceedings the Secretary began TO call the
roll The cali disclosed the presence of 212
members, but others were constantly arriving.
The eighteenth ballot was then begun. AS the
rOll-call proceeded other members dropped in
one by one until the PIP members were increased
to 226 This left besides the candidates but
three absentees-Messrs. Buchanan. Fyan and
Terry. The two frstnamed gentlemen are sick
and were also absent Saturday, but Mr.. Terry
made an appearance on the second ballot, thus
swelling the total of members present to 227
The ballot showed no change from the seven
teenth of Saturday night. The result was
Crisp, "a; Mills, 80: McMillin, 10; Springer, 17
Hatch, 5; Stevens. 1. 1t is true Mr.. Mills did not
receive the OIL votes of Saturday, but this was
due to the absence of Mr. Terry. of Arkansas
who subsequently entered the hall and voted for
the Texas candidate on the succeeding ballot
thus bringing his vote up To the old figure of 81
The first ballot had consumed about fifteen
minutes, and it became evident that but two bal
lots could be taken before the meeting of tie
House, as the galleries of that chamber must be
opened at 1l:3U in order to give time Tor the en-
teriOg and seating of visitors. The second bal
lat OF the day, or nineteenth OF the contest. was
quite perfuDctory one. 1t was evident that no
choice could be made by l2 O'Clock, anu that the
FiftysecOnd Congress must be opened with the
speakership question still unsolved: The nine
teenth ballot was finally announced, and gave
Crisp "a; Mills, 81; McAlilin, 10; Springer. IL;
Hatch. 3, and stevens, l; exactly the same as
the last ballot on Saturday night. But forty-tye
minutes now remained before the meeting of the
House and another ballot was impossible.
hasty consultation was held by the leading parti-
sans OF the several candidates, and an adjourn
ment to r. NJ. was agreed upon. The motion TO
this effect found no opposition and was carried
unanimously.
reassemblng OF the caucus, at = 4. NJ, the sup
pOrters OF the various candidates displayed
ceaseless activity in the effort to win accessions
from the followers OF each other. Ten minutes
before the reassembling of the caucus Mr.. Cable.
OF Illinois, sought Mr.. Springer and notified that
gentleman that be had decided 10 abandon him
and vote for Mr.. Mills some time during the after
noon. Immediately the news OF Mr.. Cables an
nouncement spread through the Hobbies. and 1t
was ut once seized upon as an indication OF the
dissolution of Mr.. springers forces. The an
nOuncement of Mr.. Newberry, a few minutes
later, that he, too, would vote for Mr.. Mills as
his second choice whenever that vote was
needed, caused further excitement.
CALLED 1T TREACHERY.
Mr.. Stewart, of Illinois, was indignant at what
he denounced as the treachery of his colleagues
in deserting Mr.. Springer's candidacy on Satur-
day, and further breaking into his support to-
day, and announced that he would never. under
any circumstances, support Mr.. Mills. Further,
our votes will 60 wherever Mr.. Springer wants
them to go when the break up comes" said he,
except that We will never go to the candidate
who has prOfited by this conspiracy"
This announcement was "a thunder-clap to the
managers of Mr.. Mills, as the Texas candidate all
along counted upon the solid support of MIR.
springer's Illinois colleagues whenever that gem
tleman was out OF the race Just before the
meeting of tho caucus Mr.. Springer said: II
want to say that i have no reproach for Mr.
Cable. He has all the time acted frankly and
honestly with me in following the dictates OF his
conscience and his Judgment. He only goes be-
hil oh IL " pA IA
siders my cause hopeless and the interests OF his
second choice in jeopardy"
The first ballot of the afternoon failed to show
any significant changes. The twentieth ballot
gave Crisp 90 votes; Mills, go McAiilln, 10;
Springer, 17 Hatch 3 and and Stevens l.
of the candidates, but in reality
this was not the case. A half dozen gentlemen
had paired in order to go To lunch. 1t was con-
fidently expected that upon the next ballot MIR.
Cable in accordance with his previous announce
ment, would leave Mr.. Springer and vote for Mr..
concluded that the time had not yet come efor
desertng the candidate of his State. The twen-
ty-frst ballot gave Crisp 81 votes; Mills, 81 Nc
Miliin, 10; Springer, IL; Hatch. D, and stevens
!. Thus the return of absentees and annument
of pairs showed the result the same on the
last ballot OF Saturday night,
mark the first significant change OF the day. Mr..
Cable, of Illinois. abandoned the support OF Mr..
Springer and voted for Mr.. Mills. A few min
utes later Mr. Newberry. of Illinois. also deserted
the Illinois candidate and voted for the gentle
man from Texas. This gave Mr.. Mills gain Of
two votes, and Immediately the friends of Mr.
Crisp made strenuous efforts To Offset this by a
corresponding gain for their candidate. In this
they were partially successful Mr.. Tarsney. ~
Missouri. who had steadily supported Mr.. Hatch
up to this time, now left the Missouri candidate
and voted for the gentleman from Georgia.
Those three were the only changes, and the
tweDty-second ballot gave Crisp 95 votes; Mills
90; McNIilln, 10; Springer Is; Hatch 4. and
Stevens i.
During the succeeding ballot the exctem ent
was intense, as IL was confidently expected that
the changes already made would provoke others.
This expectation was promptly realized Mr..
Shively, of Indiana, had days ago served notice
on Messrs. Cable ana Newberry that whenever
they deserted Springer for Mr. Mills he and his
friends would Offset this by voting for Mr. Crisp.
This threat was carried out by Mr.. Sbively. and
Mr. Stout, OF Michigan. also changed 10 Mr..
Crisp. There was suppressed applause from the
adherents of Mr.. Crisp. and Immediately Mr.
Mills's managers drew upon his latent strength
To counteraet this gain. Messrs. Cobb and Dear
mand. or Missouri left Mr.: Hatch and voted for
Mr.. Mills. Immediately there was tho widest
excitement. Mr.. Catehings and others of the
Crisp forces rushed from the hall AID into the
headquarters OF Mr. Hatch. There was brief
five minutes conversation, and Mr. Catchings
reappeared. followed by Mr. Hatch. and both
gentlemen entered the hall OF the House.
HATCH VOTES FOR CRISP.
"Hatch is going TO withdraw" "Hatch is 10 go
to Crisp" was the simultaneous cry from n hun
dred throats. The spectators were not mistaken,
for the entrance OF Mr.. Hatch 10 the caucus
could have but one meaning. The gentleman
from Missouri cast his vote for Mr. Crisp. and