The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-02-23
AGAIN ADJOURNS
TILL TOMORROW
Only Thirty-three Present 10 Joint
Convention at the Capital.
REED BECOMES sULpHURoUs
Hot Shot Thrown By Both Sides
Mitchell Writes Another Letter
win Not Change Base

Special 10 the Astorian.
Salem. February 22.--when the SEN
ate met this afternoon several Of the
senators aIosed to have their mileage
I reduced.
I Brown asked that his be struck out
altogether. as he Travelled on a railroad
pass A motion To adjourn sins die
was supported by the Mitchell men.
but Il was lost by vote of Is to IA.
/ The senate then adjourned till tOm0r-
row.
( The Joint convention met at noon,
thirty-six being present, but immedi-
ately adjourned TN tonight al 9 o'clock
When the joint assembly met tonight
| 80 were present. The absentees were
Senators Hughes and Taylor and Rep
resentatives Hodson. Thomas, Vaughan
and Wagner When his name was
called Senator Gowan made a speech
and reviewed at length the situation
I from the standpoint Of Mitchell sup
UDth-fs E1f iatu tNaPyAAoADiItg AK
the hold-up on the opposition. and con-
l tinued:
I'VE demand only what Is right. We
will never surrender TO what is wrong.
They charge that Senator Mitchell
alone Is responsible for this hold-up. We
deny II as a body OF men. and az indi-
/ viduais We deny II on documentary
evidence desire 10 read letter which
will forever set that statement at
rest"
9owan then read the following letter:
"Saiem. Oregon. February p. 1877
Hon. Samuel Hughes, chairman Of the
republican conference. Salem. oregon:
My Dear Sir-I understand there is
strong disposition upon the part Of a
majority OF republicans to adjourn the
legislature sine die. withut further ef-
I fort TO secure the election OF a senator.
+ This would leave the state only partly
represented in the senate Of the United
States. the effect Of which. In all proba-
bility. would be TO place the control
OF the senate In the hands OF those
opposed TO the republican party, in
which event the defeat Of the tariff leg
i islation at the extraordinary session
of congress would be issued. 1t seems
TO me, therefore. there is a paramO0ht
duty resting upon you to make one
more determined effort. before final ad-
Journment. to secure the election of
senator There are many prominent
republicans located in different sections
OF the state eminently qualified for tine
position: men who would do credit 20
the party. state and nation. will CO.
operate with you. and all other repub-
licans In the legislature, in endeavoring
TO bring about the election OF such
republican as the republican conference
to whom this letter is addressed, win
agree upon.
I Yours very sincerely,
! JOHN H. MITCHELL
Gowan then went on TO discuss the
letter. and said:
"The caucus OF SO republicans is be-
hind John H Mitchell and We do not
propose to change base at this time"
/ Gowan concluded; II give 1t as my
opinion that we must adjourn without
securing legislation and without the
election OF a United States senator"
/ Convention then adjourned until noon
| ~.
Senator Reed took from his pocket a
paper which he said had been pre-
sented to the republican conference to-
night by the opposition He started
TO read. and commenting on the fact
that 1t was addressed to nobody, said
They must take us for a lot Of damned
fools" The paper was substantially
an agreement. to be signed by all par
ties, in which the members were
pledged TO organize and secure remedial
legislation and to vote for no candidate
for United States senator, in such man
ner as to elect him, and to so distribute
their votes as TO prevent an election.
The full text of the paper was with
held from publication.
| When he had concluded, Reed said:
"Who in hell is the hold-up? The
proposition just as much affects any
members of the opposition. 1 say We
need remedial legislation worse than
we do United States senator, For
one 1 would be willing to elect John
H. Mitchell, even with less than 46
in this convention.
The speaker continued to say that he
was a friend Of Mitchell and would
stay in the convention to the bitter
end, but" he added. 'if there is any
possibility of an honorable compro-
mise. 1 feel at liberty to unite with
those gentlemen"
The Rev. Mr.. Driver, senator from
Lane, then answered Reeds sulphurous
question. II don't know who in hell
is responsible for the hold-up," he said.
but 1 know who Is responsible in Or
egon."