The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-04
The Ohio Contestants Did Little
on the Sabbath.
GOV. FERRY FAvoRS SHERMAN.
A Report Ont That Foraker Is Dicker.
ing With the Democrats.
Condition of Cengress-Both the House
and Senate Unprepared for Work
Speaker Crisp Scarcely Well Enough
to Preside.

temporary armistlce was declared in the
great political battle which has been waged
SO vigorously for the past few weeks
both senator Sherman and Ex-Governor
FORAKER have remained on the ground but
the day was one of inactivity, so far as
their leutenants were concerned. This
sudden lnaction the Foraker men say is
but the calm which precedes the storm.
Inc sherman men say ii is the rig0r mortis
OF the expiring cause. To the friends of the
distinguished senator the battle is fought
ana Won; to the adherents of
Foraker, the political atmosphere is laden
with hopeful augury and the womb of the
future still contains strange possibilities.
mus the situation tonight is one of COM
piacent expectancy on one hand, eternal
hope on the other, while the impression is
certainly general among impartial lockers
on at Columbus that the speakership con-
test was fought upon senatorial lines, and
Its result must be accepted as indicating
Sherman's denomination
The friends of Foraker still maintain
that several of the Foraker men voted for
LayiIn, and that these, together with the
votes that Foraker will get in the Senate,
Will be sufficient to give him the nomina-
rlon. Foraker's managers assert that the
ex-governor will have not less than eight
votse in the Senate. Conceding Sherman
fourteen in the Senate and admitting
Foraker's claims in the House, Sherman's
vote would stand, in the House thirty
two, and in the Senate fourteen; total,
torty-six. This would leave Senator Sher-
man one short of nomination, Foraker
three short and Dix and Welsh holding
the balance of power, but unable to do
more than create a tie between
Sherman and Foraker, should they vote
for the latter. According to another the ex-
governor will hold thirty-eight IN the
House and seven in the Senate. with
total of forty-fve. Foster will have one
and Mckinley one. 1t will be thus seen
that the mission of Iden to the caucus
might have an important effect on the re-
suit, but the Foraker people claim at least
eight in the Senate, which, if verified
along with the claim of thirty-eight in the
House, would reverse things and give
Foraker forty-six and Sherman forty-five.
Then if Iden be not admitted, Sherman's
men going TO him would give him the re-
quired forty-seven. These are the views
at Foraker's headquarters, but they
are derided by the Sherman peo-
pretensions. The senator's friends are
loudly saying tonight that he will have
majority of not less than fourteen votes
in the caucus, and they profess willing
ness to have either an open or secret ballot,
as Foraker desires. They say that the
loud claims that the Foraker managers
make are made with the hope of keeping
his followers loyal to him in order that he
-. A.
respectable following. They state that
pledge has been drawn that is ironclad in
it's nature and those devoted to the cause
of the ex-governor are being asked to sign
it. By its terms the supporters of the ex-
governor agree to remain true to his can
didacy until he wins or loses and not
weaken or waver in the slightest degree.
The Foraker managers deny that such
document is in existence or is demanded
to insure the continued loyalty of the ex-
governors supporters.
Senator Parker. of Cleveland, who has
been ostensibly in the doubtful list but
generally counted in the Foraker list,
formally declared tonight for Foraker.
1t has been prac tically determined to
hold a senatorial caucus Tuesday instead
of Thursday night. 1t is generally agreed
between Sherman and Foraker men that
the few members remaining doubtful will
be ready, or forced TO declare by that time,
and there will be no advantage on either
side to prolong the contest.
Considerable excitement was created to-
night by the report that the Foraker SEN
ators had determined to prevent Iden
from participating in the senatorial caucus
or being seated over Gaumer, his Demo-
cratic competitor. until after the senatorial
contest was settled. Neither Iden nor
Gaumer have been granted certificates, the
courts holding the case one in which the
Senate alone had jurisdiction, but of
course Iden ultimately will be
seated, as Iden is for Sherman,
and the contest between the candidates
is very close, and the friends of Foraker
insist that there should be no unseemly
haste in seating Iden. The Sherman peo-
pie are preparing 10 make short work of
the contest and seat Iden tomorrow, in
which event this vote will naturally be
available in the senatorial caucus the fol-
lowing day. 1t is said tonight that the
Foraker senator's will move that the lden-
Gaumer case be referred 10 the committee
on elections when appointed. This will
naturally delay the matter two or three
days.
Itls likely that the Sherman senator's
will insis: upon settling matters at once
by seating Iden. The Foraker men, it is
said, will vote against this. and as they
naturally have the support of the Demo-
cratic senators, who, Of course, are opposed
TO the seating Of Iden at any time.
It is stated tonight that the Foraker
men have received assurances from Demo-
cratic senators that they will support the
movement. but the Sherman men still
maintain that the Iden case will be dis
posed Of Tuesday night at the latest. Some
Democrats are in favor of supporting the
Foraker senator's only upon the promise
that Gaumer. Democrat, viii ultimately be
seated This condition the ex-governor's
friends are not willing 20 accept, but il is
said they are willing 10 pledge that the
contest Will finally be decided entirely
upon its merits and without regard to
political considerations. II is likely that
this assurance will be perfectly satisfactory
to the majority of Democrats.
At Foraker headquarters tonight no
public knowledcement could be OBJ
tained Of such plan, neither IS the report
OF such intention contradicted. The re-
port is generally accepted as authentic.
Senator Sherman this evening received
a telegram from Governor Ferry, Of Wash
ington, stating that the Republicans on
the Pacific coast believe your defeat would