The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-09
ONE VOTE LESS.
Senator Weissinger, Carlisle
Supporter, Dies.
The Relative Strength of Black
burn and Carlisle
NOT MUCH CHANGED.
Republican Delegation Arrives
to Persuade POorman y
To Vote Against Blackburn,
But Unsuccessful.

| I RANk FORT, MarC0 S.-O6uAIOE w els
singer, whose death was today announc-
ed, has played a more important part in
| the senatorial contest than any other
member of the general assembly. To
| him is due the arrangement of a pair
with Senator Siege. the Republican
member for Louisville, which prevented
| the Repu blicans from having a maj ority
! on joint ballot on the death of Mr..
| Wilson a few weeks ago. But for this
! DIR. Hunter would now be United
States senator. Mr.. Weissinger has con-.
stituted the backbone on the Democratic
opposition to Senator Blackburn. But
| for Weissinger, the election of Hunter or
| Black burn would have occurred weeks
| ago and neither the Republicans nor the
| Democrats will deny this. The controll-
! ing influence he exercised over the con-
| test was emphasized Saturday when but
| for his release of Senator Chambers,
| Republican. from a pair in order that
the latter might vote for Carlisle, Black
burn would no doubt have carried the
DAY. 1t is doubtful though, if Weissing
| er's death would cause such a change in
the situation today as would give the
| Republicans power to elect. Messrs.
! Burlington and Poor the two Populists,
seem determined to vote with the Black
burn side on all propositions.
This gives the Democrats a majority
| on joint ballot and but for the division in
their ranks, an election would be possi-
BILE. This makes it seem today that the
battle royal is between Carlisle and
| Blackburn and under these circum-
STANCES the only immediate effect of
Weissinger's death may be correctly
stated to be simply one less vote for
| Carlisle.
Everything concerning the situation
this morning seemed chaotic. All day
yesterday and last night until a late
hour, the friends of Blackburn and of
Boyle held conferences in an en-
deavor to perfect plans to be
pursued in todays joint bly,.
| A delegation of ten prominent
Republicans from Populist. Poor's dis
trict are here to urge Mr.. Poor to vote
against Senator Black burn. They were
met at the train by Gov Bradley who
escorted them to Boyle's headquarters at
the Capital hotel. They did not regis
ter and sought to keep their presence
| secret
DR., Barbour was one of the dele CATION
Mr. Poor was sent for but the first in
| terview was not encouraging to the mis-
sionaries. They Will however. keep at
the object of their solicitations when
ever an opportunity offers. Republican
activity seems directed solely to the pre-
vention of the election of Black burn and
| it was given out in this connection that
if it came to a contest between Black
burn and Carlisle the Repub blicans would
vote for Carlisle At least the great
majority of the sixty-eight mem bers
talked this way. Among those most
| positive in such assertions were Speaker
| Blanford, Senators James and Deboe and
| Representatives Howard, Burnham and
Adams, Chambers and others. a few Re-
publicans. headed by Lyons. the free sill
yer mem ber from Campbell county, de-
clared that if any attempt was made by
the Republicans to stampede to Carlisle
they would vote for Blackburn.
1t is significant fact however that the
free silver vote that could be swung
from the Republicans to Blackburn is less
than the Democratic force that is likely
to follow CaTlisle- The secretary's
friends say.hefwill have 25 votes, some
| placing it as high as %.
Excitement was at fever heat long be-
fore the hour of 12 o'clock arrived.
Every body had heard of the exciting
events of Saturdays session, and the rush
to get in the lobbies and galleries began
early The crush was simply frightful.
The ladies': did not seem at all fright
ened and were anxious to
get in as the men. Not only was stand
ing room in the lobbies and galleries at
a premium, but as many as had IN fluence
with members crowded in on the floor of
| the house. Besides these the long line
| of the disappointed who came too late to
get in at ALL stood out in the
| corridors and waited to catch the latest
| news from those on the inside. The
messenger boys were only able to get
out to the telegraph Offices with press
| dispatches at the risk of losing their
clothes, and the old timer who had been
| present when many senatorial fights
| were decided, declared this to be by far
the most exciting of all.
Mr.. Carroll said that it had been mu-
tually agreed by Democrats and Repub-
| Iicans to make no attempt to elect
United States senator. He moved that
! the reading of the roll call be dispensed
with and that only two names, the.
| first Democrat and the first Re-
publican in. the roll be called
This was accsded to and the name of
Senator Bennett Republican,; being
called he voted for Boyle. When Sena-
| tor Bronston's name, which is the first of
the Democrats, was called he voted for
| Blackburn.
An objection was made to this by Sem
ator James who said that he thought
that in order to be sure that the law was
strictly complied with, that enough
names should be called to break a quo
rum. All those except the two already
named, of course, refusing to vote. This
was acceded to aud a call of the roll was
| made.
The chair announced that the ballot
had resulted: Blackburn 1; Boyle i;
Petit l. A quorum not having voted
there was no election.
| BAfora tha assem- blv adiourned which