Evening star., 1896-11-04
AT HEADQUARTERS
Scenes at the Places Where the PARTY
Leaders Gathered.
HOW TIE NEWS WAS RECEIVED
Bulletins Displayed on Screen at
Republican Headquarters.
j O Y A n D G % O NJ

y . Y A n d G L O O NJ
1t was hopeful company that gathered
al the headquarters Of the republican con-
gressional committee in the Hotel Norman.
ole last night. At no time did the posi-.
bll1ty of defeat Of Mckinley seem to find
lodgment in the minds Of the supporters OF
the Ohio candidate. Every one seemed to
look Tor victory, and as the returns came
pouring In hope grew to conviction, and as
the magnitude Of the landslide became ap.
parent there was a joyous demonstration
That lighted up the countenance Of every
one III the assembly. and continuous ap.
pause and laughter greeted the announce
ments OF greater and greater majorities
Ample preparations had been made for
accommodating limited company in the
rooms OF the committee on the second floor
oI the motel, while a screen had. been
erected on 18th street, on which returns
were displayed, much to the satisfaction OF
lne large crowd assembled there cheer
aitgr cneer being sent up evidences OF
Mch1nley'S election were shown =
II was evidently Mckinley crowd that
awaited on the outside of the hotel. as the
likeness of that candidate occasionally dis
prayed. caused every one in the concourse
VI watchers 10 SnCut himself or herself
hoarse. for the enthusiasts included a
large number of ladies, who Joined in the
demonstration as heartily as did the men
chairman j. w. Babcock arrived at the
,head4uarters before Z o'clock, and took
ms place behind a hat-top desk in a large
room. which was formerly the bedroom of
wee President Stevenson, and 1t was In
these precincts, SO familiar to the Illinois
democrat ana at ole time candidate for the
presidency, that the news of Bryan's de-
Rob
soon joined by Representative Mercer Col
NJ NJ Parker, and, a little later Senator
Proctor of Vermont came in, and they
remained unit! the returns seemed n
be conclusive Judge McComas- Commits.
sioners Powell and Truesdell, Major Moore,
ReN Dr. Hamlin of the Church of the
Covenant, Rev. Mr.. Joseph r. Kelly of the
Fourth Presbyterian Church and many
newspaper men and prominent republicans
dropped in. Admission to the committee
rooms was by card only, and the stairca sc
on the first and second floors was guarded
by policemen. Three adjoining rooms were
hlled With ladies, and as the dispatches
were read to Chairman Babcock they were
carried from room to room and the news
was announced to the ladies, whose laugh
Ter ana applause was almost continuous as
the sweeping victory was announced
Only one announcement of republican
victory failed to call forth the approval of
the assemb!age of ladies' and that was
the election of Mr.. Breckinridge of Ken
lucky, which was received in silence.
Shower of TelcErams.
Nearly all the news received by the COM
nittee consisted of Western Union bulIe-
tins received by telegraph or long distance
telephone. great tafle had been con-
structed with separate compartments 10
contain the private kilograms from each
state of the Union, but up to / o'clock I'm
rot over score of these messages had
been filed there, they being chiefly from,
candidates for Congress who wiz ed Mr.
Babcock of their success.
A number of reports Were brought in
from the democratic headquarters, which
seemed to show that the barometer was
indicating bad weather there and they
were received with laughter. Some arrived
with word that the democratic heaiquar-
ters had been closed to all newspaper '1en
and othec visitors which brought forth
from one of those present the remark:
'E:idently they propose to have strict
ly private funeral"
Later It was reported that Chairman
Faulkner had said Bryan would have
thirteen states and that this estimate
might he lowered to eleven states, but later
Mr. Faulkner pronounced this report to he
without foundation. He conceded nothing
during the evening.
Mr.. BnbcOck's Estimate.
AS early as S o'clock Mr. Babcock de-
dared that the returns showed conclusive
" the existence of a landslide in favor of
Mckinley, and at midnight he gave the fol-
lowing statement to Star reporter:
THE returns so far received indicate the
greatest republican victory that has been
known since Lincoln's election.
This committee has maintained from the
beginning that republican success was as
sured. and in the last interviews given to
the press l made the statement that an
avalanche was comirg, compared to which
the cyclone of 1894 would be but gentle
zephyr
This shows that we have carried now
over thirty states. with possibility of its
reaching thirty-five, and it settles the free
coinage of silver for the present at least.
for after such a decided verdict from the
people it would be folly for any party to
bring it before the public again.
1T is impossible to accurately estimate
at the present time the number of republi-
can members in the Fifty:ffth Congress
but Indications are that it will nearly
equal those elected in the Fifty-fourth
Congress and possibly exceeding it, and
that the Senate will rot only have a sound
money majority, but that the verdict OF
the people is in favor of honest money and
against socialistic ideas. 1t will bring into
line for sound money a number of Senators
who have heretofore advocated free silver,
so that Mr. Mckinley will not only have
the House, but the Senate that is abso
lutely reliable for sound money and pro-
tection.''
Some Private Advices.
A late lunch had been prepared for the
guests of the committee. and about mid
night most Of them repaired TO the dining
room, where they were served with re-
fro shments The returns had been so
positive in character that many visitors
did not remain very late, while the crowd
on the outside were satisfied to go home
and to bed at about midnight
Among private adviceS received by Mr.
Babcock up to 1 o'clock am. were the
following:
From Geo. w. Murray, Charleston, S. c.:
Returns indicate that Elliot has been
elected by reduced majority
William Alden Smith, Grand Rapids,
Mich: Have been reelected by 5000 ma
jority."
w. p. Brownlow, Johnson City, Tenn:
'"I am elected by an overwhelming ma
jority."
Philip B. Low New York: Every indi-