The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-31
Democratic Legislators Are Not
Willing to Be Swung
Into Line.
MAJOR DICK CONFIDENT.
Believes That the Proposed Fusion
Arrangement VIII Be Very
Easily Broken,
Special Dispatch to The Call.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 30.-This has
been a day of conferences with the
anti-Hanna Republicans, and from the
best information obtainable the re-
suits have not been altogether encour-
aging, although the claims of the fac
ton have not been modified in the
least.
These conferences have been with the
leaders of the Democracy, who are in
favor Of fusion with the anti-Hanna
Republicans to defeat Mr.. Hanna. The
central figures have been Charles L.
Kurtz, leader of the -Hannaites,
and Allen o. Myers, who is endeavor-
ing to bring the Democratic members
elect of the Legislature into line for
the proposed fusion.
At these conferences, which began
this morning and continued into the
night, the Democrats were asked to
state just how many of their members
could be counted upon in the fusion. 1t
is understood that it was stated that
seven Democratic members had refus-
ed positively to vote for any one ex-
cept a Democrat for United States SEN
ator, not even a free-silver Republic
can. It is also understood that the
number of Democrats who will oppose
a fusion may be increased to ten or
fifteen.
1t is developed that almost the entire
Democratic vote of the Legislature will
be required on fusion to defeat Han
ma, and the Democratic leaders are not
willing to enter into any arrangement
which may fail of success, as it would
expose the party to ridicule. 1t was
determined to summon all the Demo-
cratic members to Columbus at once,
and kilograms were sent to all of them,
requesting them to report Friday after
noon without fail for a conference.
Whether the plans for a fusion will be
pushed or some plan be adopted by
Mr.. Kurtz will probably be determined
by this conference.
The only Republicans conspicuous at
the anti-Hanna headquarters were
Representatives Bramley and Mason
of Cleveland. 1t was given out that
Senator Burke of Cleveland 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 this city the statement could
not be verified.
Major Dick, who has charge Of SEN
ator Hanna'S interests, was feeling
very confident tonight that the pro-
posed fusion arrangement would be
broken. Sentiment among the Republi-
cans of the State is rapidly crystalliz-
ing under the vigorous assaults of the
Republican newspapers on Mr.. Kurtz
and the anti-Hanna movement. It is
claimed that if the anti-Hanna Repub-
licans force a deadlock it will bring
more people to the capital city than
have ever been here before. The sup
porters 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 opposed to
Mr.. Hanna have said publicly that they
will not vote for him.
A breeze was created to-day by a
statement in an evening paper that
Mr.. KurtZ's lieutenants claimed to
have a written pledge from Eepresen-
tave Snyder of Greene County that he
would not support Mr.. Hanna. Mr..
Snyder publicly declared last night
that he would support Mr.. Hanna,
and to-day a delegation Of Governor
BushnelPs appointees at the Xenia
Home for soldiers and sailors or
phans, which is located in Mr. Sny-
der's home county, arrived in the city
and at once began to importune him
to change his mind. Mr.. Snyder was
greatly incensed at this interference,
which he considered came from an un-
warranted source, and promptly re-
Ganfad