Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-10


Fred u. Bach and overheard by some
anti-HiggIns men, gave rise this after
noon TO rumor that the Higgins fol-
lowing Intended to spring to-nighta eau.
cue for United States Senator and
created intense excitement.
Mr.. 3ach's reply to this question,
asked by The GAlETTE's representa-
tive: rs there any truth in the story
that caucus will be held tonight ?"-
81 can't tell; ii will depend on the MEM
bcrs"-gayo plausibility 10 the fiction.
The presence Of Senator Higgins and
Zig delegation from tho Young Mems
iippablicsa Ciub of Wilmington, tho
absence of Mr.. Addicks and nearly all
his friends and the fact that the Senator
was clusetcd with Governor-elect Marvil
aud George s. Capelle also lent coloring
TO the rnnor.
Mr.. Add!cks aud the Sussex delega-
ton arrived late in the afternoon. Up
10 5 o'clock tonight they expected TO
receive at any minute notice of caucus,
but the looked-for summons was not
issued
EVIDENTLY 4 "FEELER."
Now tho Higgins contingent are
credited with having launched the
rumor as a feeler. IL is believed that
they started it for tho purpose Of trying
to make the Addicks people say they
were not ready to caucus, for the pur.
pose OF estimating MIR. Addicks' strength
by tho effect of the story on the Addicks
camp.
TIE BLUFF DID NOT WORK.
If the Higgins people thought they
would rattle Mr.. Addicks' friends they
were mistaken. True, the ramor caused
surprise among the few Addicks peo-
pic who were iE town early in the after
noon, but when Mr.. Addicks and the
5ussex delegation arrived the timid ones
lost their t;midity. Then the Addicks
forces declared that they were ready to
CAUCUS, that they were just MS strong
then as they will be Il week hence. Rep
resentatiye Fleming, they asserted, was
the only man absent and he could be
summoned. They will caucus. they con-
tinGed, any time 10 Republican men,
beers are present II is the custom to eau
Gus the night preceding the third Tues
day in January and TO elect on the latter
date. The Addicks adherents said they
court caucus earlier than that time,
but they will not do anything whereby
they can be accused of breaking the
custom.
Seemingly the two factions arc
equally confident of success. Each side
seems as sure of victory as it is that the
Legislature will convene tomorrow.
FORCED MASSEY INTO THE FIGHT.
The Addicks people aver that the
Higgins men have forced Hon. George
V. Massey into the fight. The latter
admit that Mr. Massey is in the contest
and credit him with having three votes.
For three days his friends have been Gu
deavoring to induce him to withdraw
but their efforts have been fruitless. 10
their appeals he replies: II am not q
candidate hut if anybody chooses to vote
for me l cannot prevent it." Previous to
his departure for Europe last year, it is
alleged, he declared that he would not
be candidate and would not accept the
Senatorship if it were offered him. II Is
claimed that Senator Pierce has said
that he will vote for Mr.. Addicks if Mr.
Massey will publicly announce that he
is not candidate.
HIGGINS A BITTER DOSE FOR HIM.
In an interview to-day Republican
Assemblyman referred TO Senator Hig-
gins in terms of extreme harshness. He
said 1t will be bitter dose for him to
have to vote for Mr.. Higgins, but he
will abide by the decision OF the caucus.
He limited that Representative Fleming
broke pledge last week and laughingly
insinuated that he, himself, might break
one with good grace. Each side seems
suspicious that the other will not abide
by the decision of the caucus.
MIR. PYLE AND THE sPEAKERsHIP.
The statement that Representative
1,fla all tal ,,f H.
House for the reason that it was thought
he can best serve Wilmington by
remaining on the floor, and that Repre-.
sentative McMullen was elected for the
purpose of indicating him (Yindication
in the Hukill fight is pronounced bosh.
One informant says Mr.. Pyle was led to
believe that he was TO be chosen and
that this idea was not disabused until
the result of the first ballot was an
nounced. On the second ballot, it is
asserted, Mr. Pyle voted against Mr..
McMullen and Messrs. Fleming and
Burton voted for him. There are few
who believe that Mr.. Pyle voted thus.
Another version is that at meeting held
last Monday afternoon it was decided to
elect Mr.. Pyle, that Mr.. McMullen de-
clared that he would not vote for him
and that on the second ballot Mr.. Elem.
ing voted with the New Castle county
delegation for Mr.. McNIullen. An AID
dix advocate afflrms that Messrs. Burton
and Townsend were instructed by the
Sussex delegation to vote for Mr.. Hast
ings for clerk, believing that if they
voted for him the result of the ballol
would indicate how Mr.. Fleming voted
and claims that the two Sussex countians
voted in this way and that the result OF
the ballot Enthusiastically shows that Mr.
Fleming voted with the New Castle
county delegation.
FLOODED WITH ADDIoKs BUTTONS.
The town is flooded with Addick
buttons, and it is intended to circulate
them throughout the State. Nearly
every Republican here wears one
Senator Higgins and Representative
Wilson, some claim, arc the only excep
tions. Mr.. Bach has inserted one in BIZ
lapel and II. II. Billany sports two.
HIGGINS CONVERT.
Frank A. Mitchell, for a long tint
supposed to be an Addicks' man, il
credited with being Senator Higgins
latest recruit.
Senator Higgins arrived at noon ant
proceeded at once to his private room
No. Il, at the Richardson. He was il
the hotel lobby for brief period late il
the afternoon. He retired early to
night. -....
MIR. Addicks' private room is Ne.
tic remained in his headquarters al
evening.
Tho Senate non.concurred in the Jous