The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-31
CHANCES
AGAINST
SUCCESS.

| COLUMBUS, O., Dec. 30.-This has
| been a day of conferences with the
| anti-Hanna Republicans, and from the
| best information obtainable the results
have not been altogether encouraging,
although the claims Of the faction have
not been modified in the least. These
conferences have been with the leaders
of the Democracy who are in favor of a
fusion with the anti-Hanna Republi-
cans to defeat Mr.. Hanna The central
! figures have been Charles Kurtz, leader
| of the anti-Hanna Republicans, and
Allen o. Meyers, who is eudeavorirg 6 to
! bring the Democratic members-elect to
! the legislature into line for the pro-
| posed fusion. At these conferences,
which began this morning and contin-
ued into the night, the Democrats were
asked to state just how many of their
members they could count upon In the
proposed fusion. 1t is understood that
1t was stated seven Democratic mem
| bers had refused positively to vote for
any one except a Democrat for United
| States senator, not even a free silver
Republican. 1t is also understood that
| the number of Democrats who will op-
pose fusion may be increased to ten
or fifteen. 1t developed that almost the
entire Democratic vote of the legis-
| lature will be required on a fusion to
defeat Senator Hanna and the Demo-
cratic leaders are not willing to enter
into any arrangement which may fail
of success as it would expose the party
to ridicule. 1t was at once determined
to summon all the Democratic membe: s
to Columbus at once, and kilograms
were sent to all of them requesting
them to report Friday afternoon with
out fail, for a conference. Whether the
plans for a fusion will be pushed or
some other plan be adopted by Mr.
Kurtz will probably be determined by
this conference The only Republican
members conspicuous at the anti-Han-
ma headquarters in the Great Southern
hotel today were Representatives
Bramley and Mason, of Cleveland. It
was given out that Senator Burke, of
Cleveland, would vote with the Demo-
Gratis in breaking the slate of the Re-
publican caucus in the senate, but as
Mr.. Burke has not yet arrived in the
city this statement could not be veri-
| fed.
Maj. Dick, who has charge of Sena-
tor Hanna's personal interests, was
feeling very confident tonight that the
proposed fusion arrangement would be
broken. Sentiment among the Republi-
cans of the state is rapidly crystalizing
under the vigorous assaults of the Re
publican newspapers upon Mr.. Kurtz
and the antiHanna movement. 1t is
claimed that If the anti-Hanna Repub-
hcans force a deadlock, it will bring
more people to the capital city than
have ever been here before. The sup
rrrters of Mr. Hanna do not admit that
any Republican will vote against him,
and it is significant that none of the
members claimed to be opposed to Mr..
Hanna have said publicly that they will
not vote for him. A breeze was created
! today by statement in an evening pa
per that Mr.. Kurtz's lieutenants claim
ed to have written pledge from Repre-
sentative Snyder, of Green county, that
he would not support Mr.. Hanna. Mr..
Snyder publicly declared last night that
he would support Senator Hanna, and
today delegation of Gov. Bushnell's
appointees at the Xenia Home for Sol
diers and Sailors Orphans, which is
located in Mr.. Snyder's home county,