The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-18

POLITICIANS AGAINST HIM
SPECIAL SESSION is THE ONLY WAY
OUT OF THE SITUATION.

NEW YORK, Jan. 1.-THE reporters have
kept close to the heels of Governor Asa w.
Bushnell, of Ohio, and several members of
his staff at the Fifth-avenue Hotel, where
they came to attend the Ohio Society's ban
quet last night. The New York Journal
story says, from what the Ohio men say,
in a guarded way there promises to be
lively time very shortly among Ohio Re-
pubicans. 1t is generally believed among
politicians that President-elect Mckinley
offered the state portfolio to John Sherman
for the purpose of making a place for Mark
A. Hanna With Hanna in the Senate, as
Foraker's associate, the balance of power
between the two factions would be main
tanned. Foraker controls the Governor and
the Legislature, and it now appears that
he intends to capture the other senatorship
in defiance of McKinleys wishes.
"Will you make an appointment to fill
the vacancy caused by Shermans contem-
plated retirement" the Governor was
asked, 'or will you call the Legislature to-
gether in special session."
The Governor smiled in a diplomatic man.
ner, and replied that he had not quite de-
cided on the course he would take.
..Will you appoint Mark Hanna to fill the
Vacancy, or. if the Legislature is called to-
gether, do you think he will be eiected?"
Governor Bushnell smiled again. Then.he
gazed at his interrogation a moment and re-
piled:
II have read in newspapers that Mr..
Hanna is a candidate for United States
senator. He is a very estimable gentle
man; but do you know that 1 have not
heard men high in Ohio's political life men
ton him for the post"
eff you knew him to be a candidate
would you name him for the vacancy"
THAT is not a fair question, replied the
Governor.
Should he be mentioned at the special
session of the Legislature would you sup
port him?'
Il believe in action, not words" retorted
Governor Bushnell.
From members Of his staff it was learned
positively that a special session OF the Leg
islature would be called as soon as the Gov
ernor received official notice that vacan-
Cy exists. which. in all probability. will
not be until March 4, as il is believed that
sherman will serve out the present session
of Congress.
Pending the meeting of the Legislature.
If ii become necessary 10 fill the vacancy
because of "a special session of Congress,
Charles l.. KurtZ, Republican national COM
mitteeman from Ohio will be named by the
Governor. These same members of the
staff declare that under no circumstances
will the Governor be a candidate but that
Foraker and he will throw all their infiu-
ence to KurtZ.
This would mean that there would be
open war between the two Ohio factions
from the moment that Mckinley took office.
KurtZ was named national committee
nan solely in the interests OF harmony and
against the wishes of the MCKINLEY yites,
who yielded. however, TO help the chief.
1t has been openly charged that Foraker,
Bushnell and kurtZ were willing at the Re
publican national convention to throw their
Ohio votes against Mckinley. and would
have done so had they seen any chance of
beating him. During the campaign they
did but little effective work for the major,
and his friends assert that his majority in
Ohio would have been much larger had he
been properly supported The selection of
KurtZ would be regarded a direct slap
at the President-elect, and would probably
mean that the Foraker faction would be
debarred from participation in the federal
Patronage.
Governor Bushnell. while not willing to
talk about the action that may be taken,
was loud in praise of Senator Sherman,
whom he called all manner of pleasant
things. When asked what Mark Hanna
would get, he replied. with a twinkle OF the
eye:
oh suppose he will be postmaster gen.
eral o. hold some other federal position