Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-04-29
DEBOEIS SENATOR
Long Political Contest in Ken.
lucky ls Ended.
SETTLED BY THE ll2TH BALLOT,

Bradley Signs the Certificate and the New
Senator VIII BE at the National Capital
Monday to Assume His Duties-Close of
IL Viewed at washington-Senate Still
Very Uncertain.
Frankfort. KY. April 29.-Deboe has
been elected United States senator. The
vote stood: Deboe. Il: Martin, II;
Stone, 1; Blackburn, so. After the Of
fetal declaration Of the election of De-
Doe there were such loud demonstrations
that even the telegraph offices in the
LOBBY had to suspend business and moth
ing but the bare ballot could be sent
out. The excitement was intense as 1t
ended a contest that has been waged
here since last year.
Governor Bradley has written out the
certificate Of election for Deboe asjunior
senator from Kentucky. to succeed
Blackburn. whose term expired March
4. Senator Deboe will be in his seat in the
senate Monday next.
Most Memorable Struggle in the State.
Deboe has suffered slight strokes Of
political lightning before. The end Of the
famous struggle which has extended
over two legislative sessions will go into
history as the most memorable ever
Kentucky has known. DR.. Hunter came
here six weeks ago with Republican
majority in the legislature, with clean
majority Of Republicans stanchly for
him. and the additional backing of the
national and state organizations. but cir
cumstances were against him and the
lightning yesterday struck Deboe on the
112th ballot. Republican caucuses, in
formal, irregular and impromptu. were
held from 5 o'clock Tuesday afternoon
till after daylight Yesterday morning.
The Hunter devctees were working like
beavers for Deboe, and work was also
done by Bradley and his lieutenants.
Made 1t a Party Fight ut Last.
The arrival Of John w. Yerkes, ma
ticnal committeeman from Kentucky,
Tuesday night. emphasized the report
that it was at last party fight. From
Tuesday night the Republicans an
ncunced that there was not the faintest
possibility of Deboes election being de-
layed longer than yesterday, but their
appearance and the zeal with which they
worked till the last minute before the
joint session showed that they were not
as certain as they appeared, and were
afraid of the schemes of the Blackburn
people, who never quit working. The
Republicans watched every train with
the eagerness of sailors wife looking
seward. They had kilograms announc-
ing that their four absent members
would surely be here, but they were
afraid of accidents.
All the Republicans on Hand.
They We're told that Liberth and two
others had been in conference with Gov
| ernor Bradley and Deboe and had final
| ly declared themselves in line. When the
last train was in the Republican leaders
announced that all of the seventy-one
Republicans We're on hand; that Deboe
would be absent, and that he was sure
| to be elected by Il votes. 1t looked
this way to the nearly despairing Black
burn Democrats and to the gold Demo-
Gratis. Not only was Yerkes here, but
State Chairman Sam Roberts had come
back and was working hard to keep all
| in line. No such crowd as that which
| gathered before the joint session was
| ever seen in the old state house before.