The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-28
The Incidents Of Today Not
Likely to Be Exciting.
THlRTy.FoUR MEMBERS PAIRED,
Speculation as to Possibility of Elec-
tion by a Vote of Forty.
Both Houses Adjourn Out of Respect to
Blaine-The Deadlock Has Become a
Siege, With the Majority Able to
Wait Indefinitely.

OLYMPIA, Jan. 2Z-Ispecial THE attention
OF the Legislators was drawn from the senatorial
contest this morning by the intelligence OF the
death OF James Gillespie Blaine In both houses
resolutions OF adjournment as a mark OF respect
TO the memory OF the dead statesman were
passed unanimously There wss no such pai a.
ful controversy as arose the other day over
the resolution i'll memory of ex-President
Hayes. Democrats and Populists joined the
Republicans in the expressions of SORROWS. The
sessions OF the two houses were therefore short
ana as consequence but little was done in
either. But for ruling of President Luce only
ono ballot would have been taken for senator in
the joint session, as all the members were desr.
GUS OF dissoving the convention after one vote,
as an additional evidence OF the universal re-
gret.
All agree that the senatorial situation has not
undergone any change today. Some little inter.
est has been aroused by suggestion
That as number of the Allen
men had paired and gone home,
the Democrats and Popuists aud few Tur-
ner men might combine tomorrow and elect
senator. This suggestion is based upon the
theory that tn members who have paired with
the Allen men might not respect the binding
force OF their agreement and might attend the
joint session aud vote. Seventeen Alien
men have paired with thirteen Turner
members and four of Griggs' supporters
II only the II Alien members were absent to-
morrow the vote would be o. and az wouId
elect II the full Democratic vote 81, and the
full Populist vote, 9. were cast, it would still
require IL other votes to elect Such a
combination is extremely unlikely. If all
the members respect their pairs, as
1t 10 believed they WILL the vote
tomorrow, providing all the other members are
present, will be rs, requiring 40 to elect In.
cluded in the attendance will be members
fnfo fpty
80; Turner, II; Grggs. %; Teats, 9; Dunbar, l.
10 elect by the combination method suggested
the entire Griggs and Teats strength and others
votes would have to be united 1t will be seen
that with 33 Allen men voting out of 7S there
would be little more danger of a consolidation
OF the opposition than there has been with so out
ll2 voting for Allen. While no one seriously
anticipates the carrying out OF any such
plan as the one suggested, Chairman
Van Devanter tonight informed all the Allen
absentees OF the nature of the scheme that is
being talked OF. and there is no doubt that as
many as can return will do so tomorrow morn.
ing. good many of the Allen members who
are paired are here. as they made their pairs
with men OF the opposition forces to accommo.
date the latter who wanted to go home
Some of the Populists have been quite taken
tonight with the possibility of executing a coup
detat tomorrow by taking advantage of the ab-
sence OF the paired members. They have been
urging the Democrats to Join them in a grand
flank movement, and some of the latter have
been so impressed by the project as to
favor the calling OF Democratic caucus to take
the scheme into consideration, but the plan has
not been looked upon as feasible to the majority
OF the Democrats. 1t is understood tonight
that II the project should be undertaken
tomorrow and has any possibility of success
the Allen men and number of Turner support
ers will squelch il by breaking quorum 1t is
true that the Federal statute on the subject pro-
vtdes that one ballot be taken n day. but tais
provision is not thought TO be mandatory.
OF course those opposed to the Democratic.
Populist scheme would prefer not to raise any
question as to the regularity OF the proceedings,
but If heroic measures are necessary which is
not at all probable, they may be adopted. In
connection with this reported Popuiist design,
the question as to how far pairing under the
rule adopted by the joint convention is binding,
the general opinion is that it is only a matter of
honor for each man paired to decide for him.
sell. The situation has also suggested ques-
ton as to what constitutes quorum
OF the joint convention. One view Is
that the convention is such a dis
tinct body that if both houses are
represented in it and a quorum OF sixty-one
members present without regard to the proper
ton of senators and representatives, that is
sufficient TO proceed with an election. On the
other hand, 1t Is contended that to do business
quorum of each house must be present Ii is
one OF the rurnors OF the evening that IL the
Popuiists and Democrats combined on the DEM
ocratic nominee the Griggs sack would be
opened for the purchase OF the number of Re-
publican votes thought to be needed But since
the middle OF the road" men will not support
Griggs, since he is one of the hated pluto
crats. his sack is his weakness as well as his
strength IN this fancied emergency.
number OF Legislators sought forgetfulness
OF the cares OF state this evening by attending a
charity hop given by the Ladies' Relief Society
at the Olympia hotel. The hop closed with a
german in which a most striking figure was one
in which Representative Roscoe wore a cross
An error IN the house journal of yesterday
eausen Mr.. Hoole's name to be published in the
list of those voting Tor the bill to create the
Office OF public administrator. Mr.. Hoole saws
he Is opposed 10 the creation of new offices ex-
cep, the one OF recorder OF deeds.
J. Z. Buxton. president of the Washington
State Press Association, has called a meeting of
the executive committee 10 be held in OLYMPIA
on Thursday, February ?, to prepare for intro
duction in the legislature measures amending
the law oi libel and providing Tor the publica.
ton OF the laws in the newspapers of the state