Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-08

Morton came hurrlediy into the senate
chamber this afternoon, about o'clock,
in response to a very urgent message sent
him by Mr.. Hoar. He had retired to his
room n short time before, leaving Mr.
Harris of Tennessee, in the chair.
The Senate was pressing at the time over
conference report on local railroad bill
and there was not the slightest thought
that anything of consequence would come
up during the day. Everything of i'm
portance was supposed to be in suspense
awaiting the result of to-nights caucus.
The Force bill had been laid before the
Senate at 2 O'Clock, but the conference re
port being a privileged matter the regular
order was laid aside until the report in
hand could be disposed of. Mr.. George
was entitled to the floor when consdera-
ton of the Force bill should be resumed,
to continue some observation he had be-
gun last week
The coast being clear, therefore, Mr..
Morton, as he often does retired to his
private room for consultation with friends
Mr. Harris, whom he left in the chair. is
one of the best parliamentarians in the
Senate, and though Democrat is often
called upon to preside over the Senate, 1t
is one of the customs of that body for the
party in control to extend the courtesy at
times of non-partisan debate TO some mem
bers of the minority.
But il the coast seemed clear to Mr.
Morton when he left the chamber, he
found n very different state of affairs when
he returned. The utmost confusion pre-
vailed. The galleries were noisy with
partly suppressed applause. The Demo-
cratic senators on the floor were gathered
together in knots shaking hands and ex-
changing congratulations, while the ma
jority of the Republican senators sat dumb
founded, being still unable fully to com
prehend what had just taken place. Mr.
Hoar in particular looked the very picture
ne 80 it,,1
was all 10 no purpose, however, that the
Massachusetts, senator leyeled his misty
glasses at the other side. The deed in his
very presence stood accomplished.
The long-talked-of union between the
silver senators on the Republican side and
the Democrats had been effected, and the
Force bill had been forced aside for the
financial bill. 1t was the unexpected that
happened.
The situation seemed harmless enough
when Mr. George took the floor after the
Railroad bill had been disposed of and
addressed the chair. The desk in front of
him was piled high with books and papers
and formidable amount of manuscript
was spread for his use. He had spoken
four hours last week in defense of the re-
Gently adopted Mississippi constitution,
and it looked as if he was prepared for
another four hours speech. The Repub-
lcan senators were completely off guard,
by twos to escape the impending oratorical
onslaught. Mr.. Hoar, it so happened, was
in his seat, and so were Mr.. Sherman and
Mr.. Spooner,
In moment the exodus of the Repub-
lcans was arrested and Mr.. Hoar with
wave of blood rolling all over his face, was
brought to his feet. Mr.. George, instead
of resuming his Speech had simply said
"Mr. President, yield to the senator from
Nevada, Mr.. Stewart, to make. a motion"
and Mr.. Stewart, who stood prepared,
had simply said: mir President, move
to lay the pending bill aside and take up
the bill reported from the committee on
finance"
Mr.. lIoar, all nervousness and excite
ment, now advanced down to the front
row of seats on the Republican side and
said: MIR. President, would like to ask
the senator from Mississippi t he feels
that he can yield the floor to the senator
from Nevada under the arrangement he
has entered into with me2''
Mr.. George could not hear Mr.. Hoar,
and making trumpet of his right hand
at his ear he asked him to repeat his ques-
ton. The Senate was all astir. The Re
puhlicans saw the danger and were con-
ferring in loud tones The Democrats
hoping for the. best, almost held their
breath for fear that at the last moment tile
coup might fail.
Mr.. Hoar, starting off again with his
question, had barely begun when Mr..
German made the point of order that the
matter before the Senate, that of the right
Of the senator from Mississippi to yield to
the senator from Nevada, was not debata-
Bile. Mr. German spoke earnestly and
with emphasis. He saw that the moments
were precious,
Mr.. Hoar turned inquiringly to the
chair, and Mr.. Harris promptly decided
that the question was not debatable and
that Mr.. Stewards motion that the Force
bill be laid aside must stand and be voted
on.
Mr.. Hoar sat down in something like
despair. He seemed to feel that he had
been out-mannuvrcd and that his fall was
at hand. The bells were all rlng now for
the absentees, and senators who had been
detained i'll their Committee-rouins came
fiocking in. Mr.. Hoar, himself, demanded
the yeas and nays, and the roll call com
menced. The suspects" as well as those
Republicans known be against the bill,
were all in their seats.
Mr.. Cameron was the first of those whose
name was reached and he voted against
laying the Force bill aside. For moment
Mr. Hoar looked brighter and breathed
easier. Then came the name Of Mr.. Plumb
and the Kansas senator voted mo- But
the comfort was short lived, for not only
did Mr.. Stanford md Mr. Washhurn vote
against the Force bill, but the two new
Idaho senators did also. Indeed, when
Mr.. Shoup recorded himself in favor of
the financial bill, Mr.. Hoar gave an ct tn
Brute glance in that direction and then
gave up the ghost. He saw that the fight
was lost and he dropped into his chair
with the air of a man who had heard n
loud report and felt splinters falling upon
him.
The summary showed that eight Repuh-
licans, the necessary and long-promised
number, had joined with the Democrats
and that the Force bill had been laid
aside. The vote stood "a i'll favor of Mr..
Stewards motion and 20 against AL
though Mr.. Cameron, Mr.. Quay and Mr.
Plumb voted against the motion, none
looked especially cast down at the result.
The Republican senators who voted for
the motion We're: Messrs. Jones and Stew
art of Nevada, Teller and Wolcott of Colo
RADIO, Mcconnell and Shoup of Idaho,
Stanford of California, and Washburn of
Minnesota. The result, as has already
been stated, caused the greatest consterna-
ton among the Republican senators. They
had Just called their absentees back, some
of them from long distance, and arranged
for final caucus. MIR. Hoar and his lieu
tenants, as they thought, were lst grasp
ing victory, when in Il moment their pet
measure was slde-tracked and all of their
plans upset.
II seemed almost too severe to be true,
and yet there stood Mr. Stewart demand
ing the reading of the financial measure
Which had been taken up, and there stood
the clerk, bill in hand, ready to begin.
After the storm had subsidized Mr.. ingalls,,
Just in from Kansas cntertd the chamber.
He was looking we'll, and was soon sur
rounded by senators from both sides
anxious for news about his contest, He
talked in an animated way, and then, after
paying his respects to Vice-president Nor
ton, who had resumed the chair, went
over and examined the tally-sheet of the