The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-12
SENATOR MESSENGER, A SOUND
MONEY DEMOCRAT, DIED
AT FRANKFORT.
SITUATION COMPLICATED As EVER.
His Last Words to a Fellow Legislator
Were to Stand Out Against Black
burn and Free Silver-Other Po-
litical Pointers of Interest.

Frankfort, KY, March 9.-For the
second time death has added to the COM
plexity of a senatorial contest that has
engrossed public interests in this State
for two months, and attracted wide at
tention throughout the country. The
death of Senator Rosel Messenger of
Louisville today removes, besides dis
tinguished member of the Louisville
getic figures in the senatorial fight; a
man who has within the past few weeks
defeated DR.. Hunter, the Republican
nominee, and successfully baffled every
attempt of the followers of Blackburn
to secure the reelection of that candi-
date. The bearing of this sad event on
the election can not now be told, but
tonight the election seems more remote
than ever. The Republicans have GS
supporters, the Democrats 67, with a
probability of the support of two Popu-
lists as long as Blackburn is their nomi-
nee. Taking into account the determi-
nation, as announced by the Republi-
cans, to force a, vote in the house tomor-
row in the Kaufman contest, the situa-
ton seems to be that the Republicans
will gain an adherent in seating Dun
lap. This would give them 60 votes,
but the Democrats with the Populists
will have an equal number.
This session will expire before u sue
cessor to Mr.. Messenger can be elect
ed.
1t is almost certain that tomorrow a
vote will be taken on the Dunlap-Kauf-
man case, and Kaufman, the Demo
cratic member will be unseated.
Whether the Democratic senators re-
taliate or not, the Republicans assert
that the election of Mr.. Boyle is a GER
tainty. The Democrats say they will
not go into joint session until an at.
tempt is made to unseat Kaufman
Beyond that the politics of the situa-
ton can not be fortold. The scenes
throughout the day were attended with
intense excitement and profound pathos
The high tension to which the feelings
of the public and the members of the
legislature had been wrought by the ex.
citing events of the past few days is
| indicated by the GREATNESS expectancy
of the crowds that jammed the cor.
ridors of the capitol or tiptoed through
! the lobbies of the capitol halls, eager tc
catch the latest news from the scene OF
that death struggle overhead, and by
the incident of unwonted partisanship in
| the house, when barely a quarter of an
hour before the time for the joint SEES
sion, a motion for brief recess unit
II O'clock out Of respect for one of the
most beloved members of this legis
lative body was made, objected to anC
argued-put through the routine of ex
ecutive action as ineXOrably as the mos
commonplace parliamentary question
/ thus, even in the presence of death, the
partisan task of the day was laid aside
with reluctance.
The feeling that today must decided
the conflict was all powerful, and boil
sides were eager to end the deadlocl
which has provoked such party strif,
and personal bitterness. Plans hat
been formed and preparations had beer
made for the final struggle today, and j
was not until the announcement tina
the life that had hung by thread al
morning had flickered. broke in upol
the confusion of political debate, tina
the strain was relaxed.
AT today's joint session there was N
attempt to elect. The death of Mr.
Messenger having been announced be
fore II o'clock it was agreed between
the leaders that the proceedings be con
fined to formal ballot to fill the re
quirements of the law but one vote be
ing cast for the nominee of each party
after which no quorum was announce,
and the session adjourned
Afterwards both houses recOnvened
appointed committee to take appro
PIRATE action upon the death of Mr.
Messenger. The adoption of the reso
lutiOns drawn up by these committee
were followed in both branches b,
| adjournment