The San Francisco call., 1896-02-17
Their Possible Indefinite Absence
Alarms the Steering
Committees.
THE HUNTER FORCES ANXIOUS.
They Hold a Conference to Try to
Bring Back Boilers TO the
Fold.

FRAN NkFORT, KY, Feb. 16.-Frank-
fort enjoyed a more quiet Sunday to-day
than any Sabbath has been during this
session of the Legislature. But four of
the members have remained in town.
Some of those who left early yesterday
are making their first visit home since
they came, and once there the temptation
to remain over while nay cause COM
motion among the members of the steer
ing committees tomorrow. Most of those
leaving for home, however, provided for
any such contingencies by arranging pairs
before they left. The men likely to be
caught tardy are the fellows from the
mountain counties, who have long rides
from and TO the nearest railroad stations,
and this Is rather unfortunat for DR..
Hunter, as most of them are of his party
Their departure at is crisis with
chance of not being on hand at Mondays
Joint session is a strong indication that the
enthusiasm in his behalf is growing little
cold, and the disposition to try to end the
long and unsatisfactory contest by sub
stituting another name for his is spread
ing.
AS indicated in these dispatches couple
OF days ago, the likelihood is that after
Mondays ballot there will be an effort
made to show what strength the name of
new man will develop.
That man is pretty sure to be ex-Chief
Justice Holt. 1t is very certain that he
will get the vote Of Representative Carroll
from Louisville, who is his son-in-law, and
possibly that of Mr.. Poor, the Popuist.
With these two additions and any short
age on the Dem ocratic side he is elected.
But II is safe TO predict that Mr. CarroIl's
vote will hardly be cast for him if it is the
one to elect him. So it is difficult matter
to make any forecast of the result as far as
Holt is concerned. Judge Burnett might
secure the votes of both the Populists, Ed
rington and Poor. His attitude on the
Goebel bin makes his candidacy dangerous
to the bill. as it points to some trading in
which the fate of the bill in the House is
involved.
That some plan is being laid to-day in
Louisville to end the Senatorial contest is
well assured, but it will not be developed
till Tuesday or Wednesday unless the sit
uation tomorrow offers the opportunity
OF electing Hunter or Blackburn. Gen
eral Echols and his able lieutenants are
not idle to-day, YOU may be sure. And
the matter of whether Kentucky shall
have Republican Senator for the first
time in the history of the party or Joe
Blackburn be sent back to his old seat. is
of small Importance to them, in compari-
son with the question of the repeal of the
Southern Pacific charter.
in spite of the opposition of the Louis
vile Democratic dailies Blackburn is
stronger to-day by reason of the dissatis-
faction in the Republican ranks with the
Hunter prospect than he was the first dav
of the balloting. With Hunters weaken
ing additional efforts are being made to
bring the sound-money men into line for
Blackburn.
The influence of Secretary Carlisle has
been invoked to induce them to stand to
the caucus nominee. If Carlisle consents
to act in the matter he may influence
some, but hardly change Weissinger or
Carroll. The former is too obstinate and
the latter too much under the influence of
the Courier-Journal, which never gives up
fight till it is beaten-when it first up-
braids the treachery of its opponents and
then blacklists them.
With full attendance and Weissinger
and Carroll still refusing to dress up to
the Democratic line, Blackburn can't well
win, but Bronston, Goebel and his other
leaders are very full of resources and there
is no telling what will happen.
Weissinger's persistent obstlnacy is good
for the Goebel bill, as he is antagonizing
the Blackburn men more and more, and
his opposition to it will only serve to make
them support it.
Tomorrow will probably show some
thing of the plans of both sides.