Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-01-29
IDAHO HAS A VIRTUAL DEADLOCK.
CIagett and Dubois Hold Their
Strength as at First.

Boise, Idaho, Jan. 22.-The vote today
for senator was: Clagett ~, Dubois rs
Nelson Is. Lewis /, George c. Parkin-
son /.
McMurrin of Oneida and Elder of Latah
were the only democrats who voted for
Clagett. Ballentine of Ada voted for
Lewis.
Tonight there has been no caucus, and
the political situation Is rather quiet.
A good many have been inclined to in
terpret the vote for Clagett as an indica-
ton of hopeless defeat for him, and the
anti-Clagett popunsts have been insist
Ing on urging that view. His supporters,
however, are not of that way of think
ing.
One of them said tonight that 1t was
absurd to suppose that he could be drop
ped out Of the field at this stage. He
was the overwhelming choice of the pop
ulists. The democrats had pledged
themselves to support populist. If they
Intended to keep that pledge they should
support Clagett, because he was the
choice of the populists, and because he
was the ablest man whom the populists
could present. The democrats had SO far
refused to elect him, and seemed deter
mined to force the populists to select
some one who was not their choice. The
session was yet young, and In the game
of forcing the populists could play as
strong a game as the democrats. They
certainly could not be forced to abandon
their man at democratic dictation. lie
did not take any stock In the reports
that the democrats would elect Dubois,
If they were not SO determined to name
some populist other than Clagett.
The same argument. he said, was used
with the democrats to get them to break.
they being told that the populists would
go to Dubois in sufficient numbers to
elect unless the democrats yielded. He
was convinced that Dubois could not win
and he was equally convinced that the
democrats would eventually come to
Clagett.
While such Views are held by some of
the more determined of Clagetts sup
porters, 1t is by no means certain that
a majority of the populist caucus will be
Of that opinion. Lewis Is making hard
fight for the populist nomination. If he
gets 1t and the populists vote solidly for
him, he will be elected. 1t Is believed
that Governor Steunenberg has promised
to appoint populist secretary of state
in the event of the election of Lewis.
This Is a point in favor of the latter.
Walton is also active. and 1t is said the
fight In the caucus tomorrow will be be-
tween him and Lewis But the uncer-
tainty about Clagett's action stands be-
tween all estimates The judge shows no
signs of having given up the struggle,
and II he holds the caucus no name will
be sent up that the democrats will sup
port. If he fails Of control, the only hope
of preventing an election will be in the
refusal of his closest supporters to abide
| by the caucus action. Populist and DEM
ocratic members are receiving a great
many messages from their national lead
ers urging them to elect Dubois.
LawmnkinE Matters.
In the senate today the printing con-
| troversy came up again. The committee
reported contract for printing the gov
errors message for $3.50 After the con
| tract had been ratified 1t developed that
| the committee had been led into a mis-
| apprehension, the job not being worth
more than SIS. A breeze over the matter
Is expected in the morning. The house
devoted a part of the day to a debate
upon the advisability of retaining tht
services of the chaplain. After Ions
| discussion the house voted to continue
| the official.