The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-08
OFFICERS FOR The SENATE
A. J. Shaw Nominated for Sec.
rotary and Major Grant
Sergeant.at.Ar
An Interesting Republican Caucus at
Which Heated Arguments
Were Made.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. THE Re-
publican Senatorial caucus this afternoon.
after a debate of an hour and a half. set
tied the question OF a reorganization of the
elective officers of the Senate by the nomi-
nation OF full ticket. A. J. Shaw of the
State OF Washington was nominated to be
Secretary of the Senate, Major H. Grant of
North Carolina to be sergeant-at-a-ms,
Alonzo Stewart of Iowa to be assistant
doorkeeper and Rev. Mr. Milburn, the
blind chaplain, to succeed himself.
A number of speeches were made on the
various candidates and it early developed
that there was such opposition to ex-Sec-
rotary George q. Gorham and ex-Sergeant-
alarms Valentine as would necessarily
eliminate both these gentlemen from the
contest. The fight against Gorham was
led by ii car of Massachusetts and Hale OF
Maine. Both these men expressed them
selves in the eau Gus as being unwilling to
overlook an attack made by Gorh am
against Blaine in a newspaper of which
Gorham Is said TO have been the editor.
Gorham was nominated by Mitchell of
Oregon and seconded by Chandler and
| Perkins. McMichael of Pennsylvania was
| nominated by Lodge and seconded by
| Qquay. A. J. Shaw of Washington was
Dubois.
A letter signed by tea prominent Repub-
! licans of Kentucky placed the name of
Baber of that State in nomination. One
vote was also cast on the first ballot for
Bright, the present sergeant-at-arrns.
Shaw was chosen on the third ballot, re-
ceiying twenty-slx votes. His nearest
competitor was Gorham, who received
| thirteen.
| For sergeant-at-arms Mr.. Curtice of
New Hampshire was placed IN nomination
by Chandler, seconded by Gallinger;
Major FL. L. Grant of North Carolina by
Pritchard, seconded by Hawley of Con-
nectient, Quay OF Pennsylvania and Elkins
of West Virginia.; Smith D. Frye by
Gear, and Mr.. Valentine by Thurston.
Mr.. Grant was victorious on the third
ballot.
| Alonzo Stewart, the present chief of the
pages. was nominated by reclamation for
place so long filed by the late venerable
| Isaac Bassett
| Mr.. Stewart has grown up in the Senate
from boyhood, and Is thoroughly con-
versant with the duties of the office which
be has often filled temporarily. Mr.. Mil
burn, the present blind chaplain, will also
| be retained.
No action was taken on the question as
| to when these officers should be elected in
| the Senate, that matter having been left to
the chairman of the caucus. who will call
| IT up at an opportune time. 1t is under.
stood that action will be had so as to en-
able the new officers to assume their duties
on the first of the month.
The secretary of the Senate nominated
to-day is young man and said to be in
every way fitted for the duties of the office
He is o man of pleasing address, edu-
Gated and cultured and good elocution.
ist. lie was for time Postmaster al
Spokane, Wash Major Grant is an old
Union soldier who went to North Caro-
lima shortly after the war. He is native
of Connecticut and served in the regiment
commanded at one time by General Haw
ley, the present Senator from that State.