The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-01-04


go, and his ascension would give the Republi-
cans thirteen. In this situation the new Gov
ernor could not take his Office and the State
would be practically without a government
In the meantime it was learned that rather
than bring about deadlock, Senators
Jackson and Michael had expressed their
Willingness to vote for Senator Bruce, thus
giving him the needed majority. The Cor
man Senators talked the serious situation
over. and Senator Crothers, of Cecil, who
had nominated and insisted upon the selec-
tion of Senator Smith. said that he for one
was prepared to bury the political hatchet
Finding at last that they (the Ring Members)
could not hold their men. the Democratic
caucus reversed its action Of Tuesday night,
and to prevent the Republicans nominating
Senator Bruce, decided to nominate him.
SURPRISE IN THE SENATE.
When the Senate met on Wednesday and
was called to order by secretary j. Roger
McSherry, Senator Crothers nominated Sena-
tor Johnson OF Dorchester as temporary
president, and Senator Randall (RepublicanJ
nominated senator W. Cabel Bruce. After
the swearing in of several new members
Senator jackson said it gave him great pleas
ure to nominate Hon. Vim. Cabell Bruce as
permanent president. which nomination was
warmly seconded by Senator Randall
Chairman Johnson announced that Senator
Bruce had received twenty-five votes and he
declared him duly elected President of the
Senate. Senators Jackson and Randall were
appointed committee to escort him to the
chair which they did.
The newly elected President spoke briefly
and with much feeling. He thanked the
senators most heartily for the signal honor
which had been done him, coming as it did
with absolute unanmity from both Democrats
and Republicans. He would he lost to every
impulse OF sclf-respect and manhood, he said, ,
if. under the circumstances. he should fail to
discharge his duties with absolute impair
tiality. There were perhaps members of the
Senate better qualified intellectually and by
experience to fill the place, but there was no
one with II stronger desire to perform his
duties efficiently and conscientiously. The
present session would be one of vital interest
to the people Of the State. He referred to the
recent election and its results. and said that
certain definite promises and pledges had
been made by the successful party which
involved no party issues, but only issues on
which they all should be agreed.
President Bruce spoke of assessment and
his hope that no other session OF the Legisla-
-. 4 ,,-;tI
relief on this subject being placed on the
statuts-books. He also referred to the need
Of laws to provide further for the purity of
elections and for civil-service reform. There
We're many other measures of which he had
not time to speak, but he hoped the members
would he able to meet fully all the response
bilities which would devolve upon them.
Aguin thanking the members, he declared
that the Senate was ready to proceed to
business.
AN EXTRAORDINARY SPECTACLE.
The nomination of Senator Bruce by his
party associates, and the secondng his
nomination by the Republicans constitutes
n proceeding possibly without precedent
Speaking of it Senator Randall said:
'.This was distinct victory for the reform
movement which swept the State at the last
election. The Democrats had fourteen votes
and the Republicans had twelve in the Sem
ate, but included among the Democrats were
several members of that body who had be-
come very impatient of German domination.
and one OF them, Senator Bruce, had carried
his opposition so far that he had taken an
active part in the Independent Democratic
campaign of last fall against the machine
State ticket, which was headed by John E.
Hurst. MIR. Bruce had avowed his approval
OF the principal features of the Republican
legislative programme, and the Republicans
In caucus had determined to nominate him
as President Of the Senate. They believed he
would. in appointing the committees of that
body. so arrange them as to advance the
with themselves approved. The Democrats
in caucus on Tuesday night selected Hon.
john Walter Smith as their candidate for
President, but Senator Bruce refused to
attend that caucus. Senator Smith repre-
sents that element of the Democratic party
which follows the lead of Senator German
and it is stated that Mr.. Smiths nomination
was recommended by Senator German him
self. The result would have been a dead
lock-l3 for Bruce and 13 for Smith. Find
ing that this result would follow certain
Democrats who had gone into the caucus Of
that party, but who were known to be op-
posed to Senator Gormar's domination.
insisted upon having their caucus recon-
vened, and notified their associates that they
would not vote for Senator Smith if the result
would be a deadlock and obstruction of
Legislative work. Finding that they could
not hold their men the ring gave way, the
caucus reversed its action of Tuesday night
and the Democrats determined to nominate
Senator Bruce themselves. which they did
this morning, and his election was unanimous.
"The Republican members have confidence
in Senator Bruce that he will appoint com
mittees favorable to their reform measures,
and they are very much pleased with the
favorable turn which matters have taken and
with the conduct of those independent Demo-
Gratis who have asserted themselves and pre-
vented what might have been a protracted
deadlock"
On motion Of Senator Cr others the follow
ing subordinate officers were selected: Journal
clerk, VIM. S. Merrick; reading clerk, John
L. Davis; chief engrossing clerk, Duke Bond;
sergeant-at-arms, W. l. Hill doorkeeper,
Montgomery Stagg; assistant doorkeepers.
B. W. Parker, Joseph A. Bailey; postmaster,
Joshua G. Cosden; assistant postmaster, to
be appointed by the president; keeper OF
cloakroom, John II. Gerke; jsnitor, William
Page; folders, w. s. Brewington, N. H. Rob-
ertson, - Percy; messenger, to be appointed
by the President; committee clerks. Samuel
]. Bell, Calvert Orem, James T. Ringgold,
IN fV... mi.