The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-17
IOWA'S NEW SENATOR
John III. Gear, Republican Candi-
date, Chosen by the Legislature.
Received no Votes to % for Ex-Gov-
ernOr Horace BOies-POlitica Career
of the Successful Man.

DIES MONIES, Ia, Jan. 1.-THE Legisla-
ture, to-day. took formal action on the
United States senatorship. John II. Gear,
the Republican caucus candidate was NOM
mated in the Senate by Senator Harmon,
and Ex-Governor Boies's name was placed
in nomination on behalf of the Democrats,
by Senator Harper. The vote stood: Gear
80; BOies, II. In the House, the vote was:
Gear. az; Boies. II; w. II. Butler, /. a
joint convention of the Senate and House
will be held tomorrow to canvass the
vote. which makes Gear Senator from
Iowa.
Mr.. Gears career is interesting and in
structive, and shows what a youth of en-
ergy and grit can accomplish even without
the aid of a college education. John H.
Gear was born in Ithaca, n. Y, sixty
eight years ago. In 1896 the family came
West to Galena and in 1899 to Fort SMELL
ing. Mr.. Gear, as a young man. went to
Burlington, Ia, his present home. in 1S49
His education was only such as he had
been able to secure at home and pick up
by contact with the world and he went to
work in a store for $50 a year and board
and lodging. He continued in this way I'M
til taken into partnership by the firm for
which he was working in 1854 and the firm
continued in business until 1870. In 1863 he
was elected Mayor of Burlington on the
Republican ticket by a majority of 133. In
1872 he was elected a member of the Four
teenth General Assembly and was one of
the members of the committee rail-
ways. In the Fifteenth General Assembly
Mr.. Gear began to achieve State wide
reputation. This was the celebrated Gran
ger legislature of 1873, of which he was
Speaker. 1t was during the session of the
Legislature, which did wonderful AMOUNT
of business that Mr.. Gear earned his
briquet of "Old Business which has chung
to him ever since. Mr.. Gear was now
thoroughly in the political current and he
was nominated and elected as a member of
the Sixteenth General Assembly in the fall
of 1S73 while he was absent from the
State and again became the Speaker. In
1877 he was a candidate for the Republican
nomination for the office of Governor The
"Old War Governor" Kirkwood, had been
elected United States Senator, and Lieu
tenant Governor J. G. Newbold had filled
out the unexpired term of the governor
ship He was candidate for the nomina-
ton, and so also was Buren, r. Sherman.
the State Auditor. There were 981 votes in
the convention, and on the first ballot Mr..
Gear received the nomination. In the cam
paign that followed for the first time the
prohibition question was made factor of
some Importance in the governorship con-
test. Mr.. Gear was elected, but by min
ority of the votes cast, thus being the first
minority Governor that the State had ever
had. Two years later, however, he was
a
plurality of 1900, the largest plurality ever
given to State officer in Iowa In 1886
the Republican congressional convention
held at Columbus Junction, nominated him
for membership of the Fiftieth Congress
The sitting member, Benton j. Hall, was
the Democratic candidate. Mr.. Gear was
elected by a majority OF 1.031 He was
again elected to the Fifty-first Congress,
defeating John ]. Seerley, the Democratic
candidate. Governor Gear was renomi-
he was in Washington. The Democrats
again nominated Mr.. Seerley and he was
successful. Mr. Gear going down In the
by reclamation for the Fffty-third Con-
gress. Mr.. Seerley was once more his OPP
ponent and Mr.. Gear was elected by a ma
iorfty of 639. After the election he was APP
pointed by President Harrison to the posi-
ton of Assistant Secretary of the Treas
ury In the Fifty-third Congress he was
appointed to the ways and means commit
tee. and took a prominent part In prepar-
ing the minority report on the wilson :,l
nomination he was, at all times conceded
to be the strongest candidate, and ms easy ,I
derestimated his strength.
The New Jersey TanEIe.
TRENTON, n. j.. Jan 16.-Governor
Vert this morning sent to President Adr1-
an Of the Democratic Senate and President
Rogers, of the Republican Senate, the opin>
ion of Attorney general Stockton on the
senatorial difficulty. Accompanying the
opinion was a message of some length. 1t
was addressed TO Hon. Robert Adrian,
President pro tenn of the Senate" In 1t
the Governor says: II inclose herewith the
reply of the Attorney general, whereby l
am advised that the body which you
have the honor temporarily TO preside Is
the constitutional Senate and that the body
organized under the Pres sid OF MT If K Ne
Jersey" This Is, of course, in favor OF the
Democratic Senate. a strong effort between
the Republicans and Democrats to get to-
gether was started to-day. The Republican
Senator'S appointed MeSSrs. Rogers, Voor-
hees and Stokes a committee on comprom-
ise to MEET a Democratic committee con-
sisting of Messrs. Winton, Adrian and
DAILY.
the Attorney generals opinion, in which
they argue at length to show there is no
precedent that a Senator with proper ere
dentiaIs should not be admitted. They de-
clare the Democrats intended to prevent
Bradley from taking his seat by having
his case thrown into the Supreme Court.
They tell of attempts TO induce Mr.. Ter
hume to contest Mr. Bradley's election 1t
was prearranged, they say, to keep the
Republicans from gaining control of the
fact that the new Senator'S names were
not on their desks, according to custom.
The Colorado Legislature.
DENVER, Col, Jan 16-A bill was in
troduced in the House authorizing the Gov
ernor to present a bar of bullion at the
United States mint for coinage and appro-
priating money to carry the case through
the courts if the government refuses to
coin the silver. The Senate was not in SEES
sion to-day. The members who have stood
out for immediate adjournment held
Gus this afternoon, and 1t is understood
that with one exception, they will hold to-
gether and prevent any legislation what
ever. If they do SO no appropriation bill
can be passed to defray the expenses of
the extra session, and the members of the
House will be unable to cash their salary
warrants.
McKane Determined to Rule.
BROOKLYN, Jan. 16-An unusual scene