Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-01-05
Pennsylvania LEGISLATURE.
Both Branches Convene Mt Harrisburg and the
Pun Begins.

senatorial contest overshadows all other
issues, and the capital is crowded as 1t
has never been before with retainers OF
the candidates. Those of ex-postmas-
ter General John Wanamaker and
State Senator Penrose are particularly
in evidence. Exciting as have been
the preIiminaries of the tight, 1t is more
than probable that the contest itself
will be the hottest ever known in the
Keystone state. 1t is the Quay ma
chine against the field. and embraced
IN the latter are not only all the ele-
ments that sought the downfall Of
Senator Quay, little more than year
ago, and the personal adherents OF
John anamaker, but also an army
of merchants and business men who
hold that a clean and upright citizen
of standing and reputation, rather
than a machine politician, should rep
resent the commonwealth 10 the United
States senate as the successor OF j.
Donald Cameron.
There have been rumors that, In the
event of Senator Quay finding it i'm
possible to elect Penrose, he would fall
back on Senator Cameron and permit
h,m to succeed himself; but the latter
has not yet publicly receded from the
position he took last summer, that
nothing on earth could induce him to
remain in public life. The session,
therefore, is likely to be further
memorable from the fact that it will
witness the passing from the political
stage Of the last member of the great
Scotch dynasty that SO long ruled the
political fortunes of the state with an
iron hand. In Pennsylvania, as in
Illinois, the incoming national admins.
tration has manifested decided disin-
clination toward using its influence in
behalf of or against any of the candi-
dates, but it is nevertheless asserted by
the Quayites that The Hanna forces are
doing their best in behalf of John
Wanamaker.
H. X. Boyer, republican, Of Phila-
delphia. was chosen speaker.
THE DELAWARE LEGISLATURE.
DOVER, Della, January 5.-The
Irregular" Legislature convened to-day
Forty-eight hours. hence, a s'rump"
body may be in operation. Oh the
thirty members of the regular body, |
twenty.six are democrats, and conse-
quently, on the face of the returns,
h.ntd kn ~ ha
deadlock, and can end it by the elec-
tion of Willard Salisbury, the caucus
nominee. But the redoubtable j
Edward Addicks, the millionaire gas
man, and who, despite his turning 1
down by the national convention at
st. Louis, is fuller of political fight
than ever, thinks otherwise. He holds
that eight Of the seats from Kent county
and similar number from Sussex
county, belong to the union, or Ad-
dicks, republicans, and these sixteen
with the four remaining republicans,
will give him twenty out of the thirty
mem bers, and insure his election to
the senate. Under the constitution,
the clerk Of the house Of representa-
tiyes OF the last general assembly is
required TO swear in the members OF
the house Of the present legislature.
This clerk is an Addicks republican,
and the program is to ignore the demo-
Gratis of the two counties named and
give the contestIng union repub licans
seats.
In opposition to this programme, the
democrats and the Higgins republicans
have united, and the capital is literally
stormed. to-day, with representatives.
OF the three factions, many Of them
hot-headed and prepared for any
emergency. In response to nnmerr
ously signed petition, Governor Wat
son has the militia In readiness for any
emergency call. The situation is q
grave one, and there are fears that
blood will be shed before the contest is
over.
IOyER, Del., January 5.-Seven
union republicans, from Kent county,
who were declared not elected by the
canvassing board, with defeated rep
from Lussex county, were
found In tho s.rump' house, to-day.
No "rump'' senate being likely, moth
ing can be accomplished 10 the way of
legislation. The regular house organ-
lied, to day, with E. e Higgins, DEM
ocrst, as speaker, and the senate, with
Fl. Harrington, speaker. i
THE SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATURE
PIERRE, >. d j January 5-The
state Legislature assembled to-day. Its
first task will be the election OF a.
UDited States senator to succeed J. H.
KYLE. The senator is candidate for
re- election, but he is antagonized by
Senator Pettigrew, who has a personal
dislike for him, and as the result OF the
recent election made Pettigrew the
practical dictator OF the msjority 10 the
Kyle's chances. are CORES
slim. There are a dozen
,ther candidates, any Of whom would
be satisfactory to Psttigrew. The
usionis.s hays q majority on joint bal
ot of sixteen.
With the senatorial contest out of
he way, the Legislature will take up
measures relating to the liquor traffic, {
for new registration law
Ind revising the present law affecting 1
.ailroads Many OF the populIst mem q
,ers are in favor OF state dispensary t
aw similar TO that in force in South t
Carolina, on the ground that 1t will I