The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-21
He Has Not Yet. However, Made Any
Declaration to When He VIII
Step Out Of the Race.
THREE BALLOTS YESTERDAY
THE DOCTOR STILL TWO VOTES
SHORT OF THE COVETED PRIZE.
First Ballot i'm, FIorida-Results of
Municipal Elections in Illinois
and Nebraska.

FRANKFORT. Ky, April 20-It was
stated this afternoon that DR.. Hunter had
prepared a card Withdrawing as a candidate
for the senatorship. This report has served
TO bring another big crowd of politicians
TO the capital. Many of those who arrived
tonight came to urge DR.. Hunter TO
main on the ticket, and the others are
candidates who hope to be made the new
nominee. The truth seems to be that the
mission of both sides is a useless one. DIR.
Hunter, the knowing ones say, may have
prepared such a statement. but he is not
preparing to withdraw. His enemies say
his intimations that he will withdraw are
made only for effect, and that when the
Franklin grand jury auJourns he will once
more boldly claim his right to fight it out
this line if it takes all summer
Some of those urging DR.. Hunter not to
withdraw hope to inherit his strength.
Even if Hunter were ready to withdraw it
is argued that he would not do SO until he
could be more certain that he had Holt,
whom he has learned to dislike, defeated
for the succession. At present Holt seems
to have the solid support of the Hunter OPP
position and the negative vote, while the
Hunter strength to be inherited by any pos
sibre successor is divided among dozen
candidates, principally among whom and in
whose favor Hunter himself is divided, are:
Mayor George ID. Todd of Louisville, ex-
Congressman George NJ Thomas, of Lewis
county, and State Senator Deboe. The men
who oppose Hunters withdrawal are urg-
ing that with such a state of affairs there
would surely be a wrangle and row that
would make as difficult the election of the
new nominees seems that of the present
standard bearer. There are both friends
and enemies of Hunter who believe that he
will withdraw tomorrow, and that the new
Republican caucus will be held tomorrow
night. But the shrewdest politicians of
them all laugh at the idea, and say the
withdrawal, If 1T comes at all, Is away in
the future.
This morning DR.. Hunter gave out the
following signed statement: Il have gone
over the whole situation carefully, and l
admit that L do not know where my one
vote is to come from. Under the circum-
stances / am willing to say that shall not
prolong the fight beyond reasonable time
when l see that it is hopeless. This pro-
ceedins before the grand jury has had abb
solutely nothing to do with my change of
front. II has not been factor in the hight
except to sohdify and strengthen the
loyalty of my friends. II was simply a
transparent conspiracy to defame me-
A sensation was created just before the
time for the Senate TO meet this morning
1t was known that Mr.. Hager. the new
Democratic senator. had arrived with his
certificate, and would be sworn in this
4.
Senator Ogilvie the sick Democrat, who
has not been here before this session. This
made the Senate full for the first time this
session, with 13S members in a joint session
seventy Republicans and sixty-eight DEM
ocratS-and seventy once more necessary 10
choice in the event of pairs. 1t put
Hunter one vote further from an election,
and made more certain the impossibility of
his election than has the indictment or any
other occurrence this session. 1t also made
Ii necessary for any new nominee to re-
ceive more votes to secure an election.
Many pronounced the bringing here of Sem
ator Ogilvie. who looks like dying man, a
crying shame.
There was no journal reading, but the
Blackburn Democrats demanded a prelimi-
nary roll call. The latter showed present
and impaired los and fifty-tive necessary 10
a choice. The fifty-first ballot was then
taken. 1t stood Hunter, 50: Blackburn,
/ 3S; Martin, II; Boyle, 5; Stone. /. Necessary
to a choice, fifty-five. Nearly all the Re-
publicans opposed to DIR. Hunter were
absent and paired. Siege was away with
out pair. and this explained why Hunter
came within two of an election even with
Hager and Ogilvie here. Two more ballots
were taken without change, and then the
joint convention adjourned.
The announcement that the Bell-Crum-
baugh contest would come up caused a
the Democrat, Bell, be seated. the strict
party vote would be a tie. sixty-nine to
sixty-nine. just as 1T stood during the
memorable session last winter. This would
give the Blackburn people fighting chance
something they have not had since the ses-
sion last winter, their present policy being
solely to prevent an election.