Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-04
THE OHIO SITUATION.
Anxious Figuring on The Legislative
Result.
REPUBLICAN JOINT MAJORITY, ..
Democrats Claim II Might Be . the
OthCr Way on Contests.
FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
A Proposition That He he Made
the Democratic Nominee I'm 1000
Bushnell May Oppose Hanna for
the Senate.

been day of anxiety for the Ohio
politicians. 1t opened with the Repubi-
cans and Democrats both claiming the
election of their State tickets. and
| majority of the members OF the Iegis-
| lature. Before noon the Democrats
| conceded the election OF the Republican
State ticket by larger pluralitles than
| were claimed last night by the Repub-
| LEANS. Tonight, the Democratic State
| Committee announced no definite Gains
on the Legislature, and the Republican
State Committee raised its claim to q
majority of five on joint ballot, as fol-
| lows:
Senate-Seventeen Republicans, 10 Dem
| ocrats.
House-Fifty-eigh Republicans 81 DEM
| oorats.
Totals-seventy-f Republicans, 70
| Democrats.
| Wood county had been conceded to the
| Democrats until tonight. when the COM
pete returns came in. The Republicans
| now claim 1t. On the returns. complete,
at Republican headquarters, the Demo-
Gratis will have a majority Of two in the
Senate and the Republicans one Of seven
In the House.
In these claims the Fusionists from
Cincinnati are all counted as Democrats.
The Republicans can organize the House
without Fusion aid. There Is only one
OF the four senator's elected on the
Fusion ticket who is a Republican, and
he now becomes a factor III Senator
Voight, of Cincinnati. who is a Repub-
lican. elected on the Fusion ticket, should
vote with the Republicans on tae
organization OF the Senate, or on any
thing else, that body will be a tie, with
Llcutenant-Governor Jones (Republican)
having the deciding vote. IL the Demo
Gratis had secured a majority OF the
Legislature, or the Fusionists held the
balance Of power, it is said that the
Fusionlsts would have voted with the
Democrats. The Republicans now ex-
pect two or more of the Fusion Repub-
leans to vote with them for senator,
in which event they claim majority
of seven on Joint ballot, with n Repub-
Leans and 6S Democrats. None OF the
Fusion votes for senator are counted
on by the Republican managers, II even
they will be needed by the Democrats
to elect their nominee, but speculations
are made about the Fusion votes.
FEAR OF TROUBLE.
When it was thought to-day that the
control of the Legislature might depend
upon one vote, there was an apprehen-
sion of trouble in some counties. Ennis
saries were sent out from State
headquarters to c.ose counties to watch
the counting. The Ohio law provides
that. mot less than one nor more than
five days from the date of election, the
deputy and supervisors in each county
shall begin the official canvass OF the
vote, ana continue 1t from day to day
till completed"
Since the change of the claims at
Democratic State headquarters tonight,
on the complexion of the Legislature, Two
important rumors have been vigorously
circulated. One Is that John r. Mclean
will be pressed by the Ohio Democracy
for the Democratic nominee for President
i'm 1900 and that Senator Hanna will have
opposition in his own party for election
TO the Senate. 1t is claimed by those ad-
yocating Mclean for the presidential
nomination that he deserves credit for
the reduction OF the Republican plurality
to less than half what it was, and the
majority in the Legislature from eighty
five on joint ballot TO five.
The Democrats claim that the majority
on Joint ballot would be five the other
way If they had equal chance on con-
tests. There are thirty-siX members OF
the State Senate, and only one or two OF
these represent districts that are so close
or doubtful as to admit of contests on
which Republican senators could be un-
seated. On the other hand, there are lOs
members of the House. in which the Re-
publicans claim a majority OF seven,
while the Democrats have majority of
two in the Senate, and there are several
counties so close on the vote for repre-
sentatives that several seats could@ be
changed in that body.
REPUBLICANS HOLD THE CARDS.
In the settlement of contested seats
the Republicans would have such an adj
vantage in the House over the Democrats
in the Senate that il is not likely that
the latter will be aggressors in that mat
ter. and this may allow the close margin
of the Republicans on joint ballot for
senator to go uncontested in close coun-
ties, or before the Committee on Elec-
tions in the General Assembly.
There is another alleged movement which
is causing much comment. and that is the
rumor that Governor Bushnell will be
brought out for senator against Marcus
A. Hanna. Allen O. Myers. one of the
managers at Democratic State headquar-
ters, announced tonight that Senator
Hanna would never be elected TO the
Senate on the close joint majority that
- claimed. although Hanna was endorsed
yor Senator by the last Republican State
convention. Mr.. Myers said that # the
close vote on the Legislature went
against the Democrats in the official
count in the close counties. the Legisla-
ture would join with a dozen or more
Republican members of that body in
electing Bushnell instead of Hanna, 10
the Senate. Governor Bushnell and all
others involved in this movement deny
any knowledge of IL, or that they would
have anything to do with it.
Al both Republican and Democratic
state headquarters tonight figures are
being substituted for the claims of last
night and to-day. Chairman McCon-
willie, of the Democratic State Commit
tee. comedies the defeat OF his State
ticket but states that they have reduced
the Republican plurality OF $1,000 last
wear by over one-half Although others
at Democratic State headquarters con-
cede that the Legislature will be Repub-
lican. on a close majority OF one or
more. Chairman McConvile does not
concede the control OF that body TO the
Republicans.
DEMOCRATIC CLAIMS.
After IL p. NJ. he reviewed the claims
OF the Republicans on the Legislature.
Mr.. McConville said the Republicans
claimed the Legislature by 70 10 rs. He
struck the Republican representatives
from Wood and Noble counties from
their list, also the Senator from the
Marion-Logan District, and said these
three changes would make the Legisla-
49, .to,1 no,,ooorato IN II Donuhlf-