The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-31
A FROST FOR FUSION
SEVEN DEMOCRATS REFUSE TO
JOIN THE MOVEMENT.
NEARLY ALL NEEDED TO DEFEAT HANNA
Representative Snyder Raises Breeze by Com
Ing 0u: in Letter For Hanna though
He had Been Slated With
the Kurtz People.

NolumDuS, u, Dec. 0U.-Ih1S has
been day of conferences with the anti !
Hanna Republicans and from the best
not been altogether encouraging al
though the claims of the faction have |
not been modified in the least. These
conferences have been with the leaders
of the Democracy who are in favor of a
fusion with the anti-Hanna Republicans
to defeat Mr.. Hanna. The central fig
of the anti-Hanna Republicans and A.
len o. Myers, who is endeayoring t0I
bring the Democratic members-elect OF
the legislature into line for the proposed
fusion. At these conferences which be-
gan this R4eHning and continued into the
night, the Democrats were asked to state
just how many of their members they
could count upon in the proposed fusion
1t is understood that it Was stated seven
Democratic members had refused posi-
lively 10 vote for any one except Il Dem
ocrat for United States Senator, not even
free silver Republican. 1t IS also un-
derStOOd that the number OF Democrats
who viii oppose a fusion may be in
creased TO 10 or 10. 1t developed that
almost the entire Democratic vote OF the
legislature VIII lie required on a fusion
to defeat Senator Hanna and the Dem
ocratic leaders are not willing to enter
into any arrangement which may fail OF
success. 1t was Determined to summon
oil NAr
bus at once and kilograms were sent to
all of them requesting them to report
Friday afternoon without fail for a con-
ference. Whether the plans for a fusion
will be pushed or some other plan he
adopted by Mr.. Kurtz probably will be
determined by this conference. The on
ly Republican members conspicuous atI
the anti-Hanna headquarters in the
Great Southern Hotel to-day were Rep
resentatiyes Bramley and Mason, of
Cleveland. 1t was given out that Sena-
tor ourke, of Cleveland, would vote
with the Democrats in breaking the slate
of the Republican caucus in the Senate,
but as Mr.. Burke has not yet arrived
in the city this statement could not bel
verified.
Maj. Dick, who has charge of Senator
Hanna's personal interests, was feeling
very confident tonight that the pro-
posed fusion arrangement would he
broken. Sentiment among the Republi-
cans Of the State is rapidly crystaliz-
ing under the vigorous assaults of the
Republican newspapers upon Mr.. Kurtz,
and the anti-Hanna movement. 1t is
claimed that if the anti-Hanna Republi-
cans force deadlock it will bring more
people to the capital city than have ever
been here before. The supporters 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 pub
licly that they will not vote for him.
a breeze was created today by a
statement in an evening paper that Mr..
kurtz'S lieutenants claimed to have q
written pledge from Representative
Snider, of Green county, that he would
not support Mr.. Hanna. Mr.. Synder
publicly declared last night that he
would support Senator Hanna, and to-
day a delegation OF Governor Bush
nelPs appointees at the Xenia Home for
Soldiers and Sailors Orphans, which
is located in Mr.. Synder's home county,
arrived in the city and at once began to
imp0rtune him to change his mind. Mr..
Shider was greatly incensed at this IN
terference, which he considered came
from an unwarranted source and
promptly resented it. Tonight he gave
out the following statement:
'There appeared a statement in the
Columbus Dispatch this evening, which
not only compromised myself, but the
good name Of Governor Bushnell as
well. Desiring to clear our skirts of any
blame for the part which some persons
seem to be taking in opposition to the
reelection of Senator Hanna to the |
United States Senate, / sent letter, of |
which the following is copy to Gov |
ernor Business, and now desire to say
publicly that for myself and my county, |
we shall support Senator Hanna first, |
last and always, believing that the time
has come when anything else is treach-
cry to the Republican party:
columbus, Ohio, Dec. 80, 1897.
Governor Asa S. Bushnell, City:
"My Dear Governor: am informed
by the press that some of our indiscreet
friends have made the statement that
you held a writtent pledge from me to
vote for you for United States Senator;
this compels me, in order TO preserve
your good name to come out in a public
declaration that / am for tho return of :,
Mr.. Hanna to the United Sta'cs Senate.
81 am very sorry that the boys came
here. / believe that had they remained
away that you would not have had to
suffer this indignity. However, / shall