The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-04

he is now, popular with the democrats on
his committee and in the House.
In the Forty-eighth congress he was
given a certificate of election by the COVER
nor of Ohio as on the face of the returns
he had majority of seven votes over his
democratic opponent a man as little
known then as now
The returning boards in McKinley's dis
trict We're in the hands of the repubn-
cans, and through the misspelling of Wal
Iace's name, numbers of the ballots of
iilterate voters were thrown out-a suf-
neient number, according to the evidence,
to show that Wallace was rightfuny en-
titled to the SEAL
A least it was clear to Turner's mind
that this was so, and he brought in a re-
port as chairman of the committee, de-
claring that Mckinley should be unseated
The leading republican on the committee
was Representative Ranney, of Massa-
chusetts, reckoned as one of the finest
lawyers of the House. Ranney brought
IN the minority report signed by the re-
publicans and by Representative Robin
son, OF Kentucky. democratic member
of ability and force.
Ihere was comfortable democratic
majority in this House, and ordinarily
there would have been little doubt about
turning out a republican, but such was
Mckinley's hold on the leading democrats
OF the House-his colleagues on the ways
and means committeeman this case soon
became one of great congressional inter
est if not national Importance.
Mckinley not only had the speeches of
Ranney and the other leading republicans
OF the House made in his behalf, but
some of the most famous democrats of
that time and this entered his lists and
sought to him retain his seat.
Such House democrats as Roger Q. Mills,
now senator from Texas, and the author
OF the famous Mills bill; Frank Hurd of
Ohio, the best talker the House ever
knew and the great exemplar of free
trade; j. c. S. Blackburn, now senator
from Kentucky, then in the prime of his
hfe-hery and eloquent; Darsheimer of
New York, big in body and big in brain
member of the ways and means-ex-
lieutenant governor and adviser Of Samuel
j. Tilden, and Phil Thompson, now a well
known character in Washington-then
member of the House from Kentucky, all
took up the cudge.s for Mckinley and
made speeches in his behalf on the floor.
Against this formidable list was pitted
Turner of Georgia, serving his second
term in congress. With that fidelity and
care which has characterized his congress
sional career Mr. Turner made himself
master of every detail of the case. The
evidence was at his fingers tips and with
the presidents of the United States con-
gress the British parliament and of all
legislative bodies that might have bear
ing on the case, thoroughly fixed in his
mind ne commenced his argument.
The Georgian was practically on trial,
and his fettle rose at the opposition to his
report by these leading democrats. 1t
was freely predicted before he spoke that
these leaders would secure enough votes
to have Mckinney keep his seat.
For more than an hour Turner spoke,
and during that time he held the House
spell-bound by his logic and eloquence.
One after the other he demolished the
arguments of the republicans and demo-
Gratis and when he had finished he had
won his spurs, and an ovation from his
listeners.
So powerful and convincing was Turn
er's speech that Mckinley was immedi-
ately unseated, and the only democratic
votes he received were those of Mills,
Hurd Blackburn, Dorsheimer, Thompson
and Robnson-the six who had spoken in
his behalf.
Against this Georgian serving his Sec
ond term-these democratic leaders could
control no votes, except their own.