The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-29
DUBOIS BEATEN.
Henry Heitfield, Formerly of
Kansas, Elected
To Represent Idaho In the
United States Senate.
A GOLD REPUBLICAN
Cast the Vote Which Settled
the Long Fight.
Heitfield Is a Populist and an
Alliance Man.

Boise, Idaho, Jan. 29.-Heitfeld (Pop)
was yesterday elected United States
senator to succeed F. T. Dubois. The
vote stood: Heitfeld, SO; Dubois, 80;
T. F. Nelson, II; IA Democrats joined
the Populists for Heitfeld, and he also
received the votes of the silver Repub-
hcans. Four Democrats went to Du-
bois
In the campaign the Democrats and
Populists entered into a fusion under
which the PopuTists were to have the
congressman and senator.
The Democrats refused to indorse any
man named by the Populist caucus for
senator. Judge w. H. Claggett was
overwhelmingly the choice of the Pop
ulists, but the Democrats would not
vote for him in sufficient numbers to
elect.
Finally, on Tuesday night, Claggett
had his friends nominate Heitfe1d.
There were 10 Democrats ready by this
time to vote for most any PopuliSt ex-
cepting Claggett. When the Democrat
ic caucus was held Wednesday morning
it resolved to support Heitfeld. but
there was such loud talk of a bolt that
the purpose was abandoned. The mat
ter was finally fixed up, the ID Demo-
Gratis pledged their votes to Heitfeld
and the deal was closed.
Three Populists bolted, but they were
gotten back, and Heitfeld secured his
had been finished and before any
changes had been made, it was seen
that Heitfeld had IS, one less than a
majority. Then Mr.. Fem. the only
gold Republican elected to the legisla
ture, arose to his feet and said:
Il am glad to be able to cast my
vote as to defeat that great defender of
free coinage, Senator Dubois. will
change my vote from Fisher to Heit-
feld.''
Dubois appeared before the joint as
sembly at an adjourned session He
thanked his friends for the fight they
had made and counseled them to go to
work vigorously to enact good laws for
the state.
Since the legislature assembled Sec
rotary G. A. Walsh of the Democratic
national committee has been here
working in the interest of Dubois, and
every effort has been made by the
National Democratic leaders to secure
for him the support of the party here.
The result is a great disappointment to
Mr.. Walsh, but he declines to make
any statement
Henry Heitfeld is a man of limited
education. He was born in St Louis,
January, 1859 His father, Henry Heit-
field. was of German birth The future
Idaho senator attended the common
schools of st. Louis until 1870. when,
with his mother, he moved to Seneca,
Kan. He lived there until 1882, being
employed at farm work and learning
the trade of stone mason. In 1882 Mr..
Heitfeld moved to the northwest, To-
eating at Pomeroy. Wn. For time he
worked in the shops of the Northern
Pacific road at Sprague, Wn., remain
ing there until the fall of 1888. when he
became a resident of NeZ Perces cOun-
ty, Idaho. Since that time he has been
engaged as a farmer, fruit grower and
cattleman. In politics, Mr.. Heitfeld
was a Democrat until he Joined the
Populist party. He is a member of the
Farmers Alliance, and it was through
his connection with that organization
that he was Influenced to ally himself
with the Populist party. He was elect
ed to the state senate as PopuIist in
1894 and again in 1896.