The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-31
Not Enough Republican Boilers and
willing Democrats to Control the
legislature on joint Ballot.
MAJOR DICK IS CONFIDENT
THE KURTZ-MYERS FUSION SCHEME
WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL.
Statement from Representative Sni-
Name from the Doubtful Column.

a day of conferences with the anti-Hanna
Republicans, and from the best informa-
ton obtainable the results have not been
altogether encouraging, although the claims
of the faction have not been modified in the
last These conferences have been with the
leaders of the Democracy, who are in favor
of a fusion with the anti-Hanna Republic
ans to defeat Mr. Hanna. The central fig
ures have been Charles L. KurtZ leader OF
the anti-Hanna Republicans, and Allen o.
Myers, who is endeavoring to bring the
Democratic members-elect of the Legisla-
ture into line for the proposed fusion. At
these conferences, which began this morn
ing and continued into the night, the Dem
ocrats were asked to state just how many
of their members they could count on in
the proposed fusion. 1t is understood that
it was stated seven Democratic members
had refused to vote positively for any one
except Democrat for United States SEN
ator, not even a free-silver Republican. 1t
is understood that the number of Demo-
Gratis who viii oppose a fusion may be in
creased to ten or fifteen. 1t developed that
almost the entire Democratic vote of the
Legislature will be required on fusion to
defeat Senator Hanna, and the Democratic
leaders are not willing to enter into any ar
would expose the party to ridicule. 1t was
at once determined to summon all the Dem
ocratic members to Columbus and tele
grams were sent to all of them requesting
them to report Friday afternoon without
fail for a conference. Whether the plans
for 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-Hanna headquarters in the Great
Southern Hotel to-day were Representa-
tives Bramley and Mason, of Cleveland. 1t
was given out that Senator Burke, of Cleve-
land will vote with the Democrats in
breaking the slate of the Republican caucus
in the Senate, but as Mr.. Burke has not yet
arrived in the city this statement could not
be verified.
Major Dick, who has charge of Senator
Hanna'S personal interests, was feeling
very confident tonight that the proposed
fusion arrangement would be broken. Senti-
ment among the Republicans of the State
is rapidly crystallizng under the vigorous
assaults of the Republican newspapers on
Mr.. KurtZ and the anti-Hanna movement.
1t is claimed that if the anti-Hanna Repub-
licans force deadlock it will bring more
people to the capital city than have ever
been here before. The supporters 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 OPP
posed to Mr.. Hanna have said publicly that
they will not vote for him
A breeze was created to-day by a state
ment in an evening paper that Mr. Kurtz's
lieutenantS claimed to have written pledge
from Representative Snider of Greene
county, that he would not support Mr.. Han
ma. Mr.. Snider publicly declared last night
that he would support Senator Hanna, and
to-day a delegation of Governor BushnelPs
appointees at the Xenia Home for Soldiers
and Sailors Orphans, which is located in
Mr.. Snider's home county, arrived in the
city, and at once began to importune him
incensed at this interference, which he con-
sdered came from an unwarranted source
and promptly resented 1t. Tonight he gave
out the following statement:
There appeared statement in the CO.
lumbus Dispatch this evening, which not
only compromised myself, but the good
string to clear our skirts of any blame for
the part which some persons seem to be
Senator Hanna to the United States Sen
ate l sent letter, of which the following
desire to say publicly that for myself and
my county, we shall support Senator Han
ma first last and always, believing that the
treachery to the Republican party:
My Dear Governor-I am informed by
the press that some of our indlscreet friends
have made the statement that you held a
written pledge from me to vote for you for
United States senator, this compes me in
order to preserve your good name, to come
out in a public declaration that / am for
the return of Mr.. Hanna to the United
States Senate. l am very sorry that the
boys came here i believe that had they
had to suffer this indignity. However, 1
shall do all in my power to preserve you
And / wish to use my best efforts to
have recorded by this General Assembly
the will of the people twice expressed in
Ohio-once at Toledo at the state conven-
ton, and again ratified at the polls in No
wonderland l don't believe that any Re-
publican will be so unmindful of the trust
imnOSp0 IN
TO be other than the representative to ac-
cord their wishes.
While ] have up to this time refrained
from breaking into print with statements
from myself it was because of modesty,
not believing that the public cared to read
my interviews, but the time has now ar
rived when all Republicans who are inter-
ested in the future of the party must come
squarely out and record themselves on the
side of the future of the party and our gov
eminent.
Governor Bushnell was too busy tonight
tative Snider's letter. but Mr.. Kurtz, who
was still at the anti-Hanna headquarters,
made the first authentical utterance on any
phase of the senatorial matter that has yet
been published. He said: 'Nothwthstand-
ing Mr.. Sniders statements made from che
end of the State to the other that he was
for Mr.. BoXwell for speaker and against
Mr.. Hanna for United States senator; not
withstanding similar statements made by
MN to-day in this city to score of friends,
we have never looked upon him as reliable
man. We have never counted MIN in our
calculations of our vote" Mr. Kurtz also
stated that he had never counted Represen-
tative Button. who tonight came out for
Senator Hanna. among his forces.
Tomorrow Senator Hannas workers win
open headquarters in the Great Southern
and Chittenden Hotels, in addition to those
opened Tuesday in the Neil House. The
number of persons holding positions by APP
pointment at the various state institutions
and in the various state departments, who
are actively interested in the campaign
against Mr.. Hanna, is the most noticeable
feature of the contest tonight