The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-03-24
CULBERSON WITHDRAWS.
MILLS AND Chiffon WILL NOW LOCK
HORNS.
The Senatorial Race Now Assumes a New
Aspect and Leaves the Election
of Roger @. Mills An Absolute
Certainty.

Speculation as to the outcome of the
Senatorial race is now thing of the
past and the election of Roger O..
Mills, the undoubted choice of the
great majority of Texans, is an as
sured fact. The Mills men since their
first caucus, have been canvassing
the vote of the Senate and grad
ually making new converts
until at the caucus last night they
had on their list the names of seven
ty-five members who they claimed
would vote for their man on the first
ballot.
The Culberson forces also held a
caucus last night but it was sad and
gloomy affair. They saw the set of
the tide and felt that it was useless to
attempt to stay its course. but the
little band was determined to stick to
the last. They had a noble man to
support and they were firm in their
determination to stick to him until
the last hope of success had been car
ried away. In the midst of their
deliberations, however, a telegram
was received which decidedly
changed the condition of affairs. 1t
was from the Hon. ID. b. Culberson,
and was dated Washington, and was
in substance as follows:
IL understand that a decided
change has taken place in the condi-
ton of affairs in the Texas legisla-
ture. l entered the race to make it on
my own merits, and if it appears that
the people of Texas desire the cleo
ton of some other candidate and that
my candidacy will embarrass the
man of their choice and involve my
friends in any unpleasant complica-
tions, l authorize you to withdraw
my name at once, as L do not desire to
be the cause of any such state of af-
fairs.D
The dispatch was read amidst great
silence and when it was concluded it
was felt that load had been removed
from the mind of every man present.
His friends had seen which way the
tide was setting but they hated to
play the coward and desert theirman.
The dispatch decided it, however, and
it was soon afterwards announced that
he had been withdrawn from the
race.
In the meantime the followers of
Mr.. Mills were holding o meeting in
another room, delighted with their
present success and certain that their
man would be elected on the first bal
lot. When the news of Mr.. CUlberson's
withdrawal was conveyed to them
they went wild with excitement, as it
was then certain that Mr.. Mills would
be the successor of Judge Reagan.
The speculation now is as to how
Culberson's strength will be divided
how much of it will 60 to Mills and
how much of it to Chiffon. The Mills
men in their caucus last night were
claiming 70 votes when things settled
down, while the supporters of Mr..
Culberson numbered 40. At present,
deducting the absentees, there
would be on a joint ballot
100 votes, and subtracting from
that he asserted strength of Mills and
it would leave Chiffon Is
votes. OF the supporters of Mr..
Culberson the Mills men claim that
not less than one-half or 20 of them
will come to their man which would
give him % votes on the first ballot
and leave Chiffon 35 votes. The
believes that the above
figures will not be found very far
from correct next Tuesday morning.
THE STATESMAN also ventures
another prediction and that is that
Chiffon will withdraw from the race
between now and Saturday night.