The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-02-28
DOLPH'S SUCCESSOR.
GEORGB w. M'BRIDE ELECTED
UNITED STATES SENATOR
By the Oregon Legislature-Three Min
utes Before Final Adjournment His
Name Was Presented as a Dark
Horse-Short Biography.

Salem, Ore, Feb. 24.-The struggle 70
election of a successor to Senator DOlp
closed at II: 40 last night by the election
of George w. Mcbride, eX-secretary o
state. The contest has been q bitter on
from beginning to end, and up to tire
minutes before final adjournment it loOke'
as though there would be dead lock. Sen
ator Dolph held 81 votes solid enough t
defeat election up to 11:15 p. M, at which
time the vote was taken.
| The excitement was growing intense
and if was evident that if Oregon was t
have two senators in the next senate some
thing must be done at once, as at midnight
| the hour fell for final adjournment and
| it was rapidly approaching.
When the joint assembly was called
TO order the first few names called showed
no change, but when the name of Cleetin,
strong Dolph man, was reached, he
rose and Immediately the vast assembly
became quiet. 1t was evident some ac-
tiOn had been decided upon by the DOlph
men. He spoke for a couple of minutes
and when he reached the name of Nc
Bride the house broke into a wild hurrah.
He then recorded his vote for Mcbride.
Each succeeding person whose name was
called voted for Mcbride, and when he
had received 40 votes, the number neces-
sar VITO Il choice, amidst the greatest con-
to have all Republican votes recorded
for Mcbride and carried with a rush.
Mcbride therefore received II votes, be-
ing that of every Republican in the legis-
lature.
Mcbride was in no sense a candidate
for the office though his name had been
mentioned in connection with the senator
ship.
The contest has been remarkable in
many respects. One month before the
legislature met it was considered a GER
tainty that Senator Dolph would have
no opposition, but from that time until
the legislature met the free silver men
began a campaign to defeat him. They
had no particular candidate, but simply
were opposed to Dolph on account of his
views on the money question. On the sec
ond day of the sessions the Republicans
went into caucus, when Dolph received
unanimous nomination. The vote, in sep
arate session was taken one week from
the time of the caucus, but % members
who had voted for him in caucus refused
to support him in the house.
He received a majority in the senate
but lacked one in the house. His total
vote however in the two houses amount
ed to AZ, majority of 2. The next day
in joint session four more votes left him,
which prevented his election by one vote.
He continued to drop off until his support
got down to SO. The opposition stood firm
and it became evident several days ago
that Dolph could not be elected, though
his supporters seemed determined to
stand by him to the last. Rather than to
cause a deadlock however they yielded at
the last moment and brought forward
Mcbride, upon whom all factions could
unite, and he was chosen on the Goth
ballot.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
George Washington Mcbride is a ma
tive son of Oregon, having been born in
Yam Hill in 1854. He is q son of DR..
James Mcbride, who was well known as
one of the earliest pioneers of the state.
Mcbride was educated in the common
schools at Willamette university, Salem.
In 1887 his parents left Yam Hill county
and located at st. Helens, Columbia coun-
| ty, at which place he has made his home
ever since. In 1889 he was elected to the
Oregon house and was subsequently
chosen speaker of that body. In 1886
Mr.. Mcbride was nominated by the Re
lpublicans for secretary of state, and was
elected. His popularity is attested by the
fact that the two principal nominees on
the ticket with him-for governor and
treasurer-were defeated. Mr.. Mcbride
performed the duties of his Office so salts
factorily that he was renominated by
aclamation in 1890, and reelected by
n handsome majority. He served out the
full term and retired the first of the pres
ent year to give way to his successor.