The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-31
HARD WORK TO DOWN HANNA.
DEMOCRATS NOT A UNIT IN FAVOR
OF FUSION.


seven Have stated Positively That
They Will Not Vote for Any One
Except a Democrat Under Any Cir
cumstances and Their Number
May BE Increased TO Ten or Fiji
feeR-AImOSt the Entire Democrat
ic vote Needed On "a Fusion to En-
sure Hanna's Defeat-COnference
to BE Held.
Columbus, o., Dec. -So.-There has been
d day of conferences with anti Hanna re-
publicans and from the best Information
obtainable the results have not been alto
gether encouraging. although Athe 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 figures have been Charles l..
Kurtz. the leader of the anti-Hanna re-
publicans, and Allen o. Myers. who is en-
deavoring to bring the democratic men,
bers-elect of the legislature into line for
the proposed fusion. AT these conferences,
which began this morning and continued
into the night the democrats were asked
to state just how many of their members
they could count upon in the proposed flu
sion. 1t is understood that it was stated
that seven democratic members had re-
fused positively to vote for any one except
a democrat for United States senator, not
even free silver republican 1t is also
understood that the democrats who will
oppose fusion may be increased to ten or
fifteen
II developed that almost the entire dem
ocratic vote of the legislature would be re-
quired on fusion to defeat Senator Han
ma, and the democratic leaders are not
willing to enter into any arrangement
which may fail of success, as it would ex-
pose the party to ridicue. 1t was at once
determined 10 summon all the democratic
members to Columbus at once and tele-
grams were sent to all of them requesting
them to report Friday afternoon without
fail for conference Whether the plans
for fusion will be pushed or some other
plan be adopted by Mr.. Kurtz will proba-
bly, be determined by this conference.
The only republican members conspicu-
Gus at the anti-Hanna headquarters in the
Great Southern hotel to-day were Repre-
sentatives Bramley and Mason of Cleve-
land. 1t was given out that Senator
Burke of Cleveland will vote with the dem
ocrats in breaking the slate of the repub-
lican caucus in the Senate, but as Mr..
Burke has not yet arrived in the city, this
statement cannot yet be verified.
Maj. Dick, who has charge of Senator
Hanna's personal interests, was feeling
very confident tonight that the proposed
fusion arrangement will be broken. Seuu-
ment among the republicans of the state
Is rapidly crystalizing under the vigorous
assaults of the republican newspapers up
on Mr.. Kurtz's anti-Hanna movement.
1t is claimed that if the anti-Hanna re-
publicans force a deadlock it will bring
more people to the capital city than have
ever been here before. The supporters of
Mr. Hanna do not believe that any repub-
ican will vote against him, and it is sig
nifcant that none of the members claimed
to be opposed to Mr. Hanna have said
publicly that they viii not vote for him.
breeze was created to-day by a state
ment in an evening paper that Mr.. Kurtzs
lieutenants claimed to have written
pledge from Representative Snyder. of
Green county that he would not support
Mr.. Hanna. Mr. Snyder publicly declared
last night that he would support Senator
Hanna and to-day a delegation of Gov.
BushnelPS appointees at the Xenia Home
for Soldiers and Sailors Orphans which
is located in Mr.. Snyder's home county
arrived in the city and at once began to
importune him to change his mind. Mr..
Snyder was greatly incensed at this inter
ference, which he considered unwarran ted
and promptly resented 1t. 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 Gov. Bushnell as we'll
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, l sent letter, of which the follow
ing is a copy, to Gov. Bushnell, 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 treachery to the republican party:
Columbus, O.. Dec. go 1S97.-Caov Asa S.
Bushnell, City: My dear Governor-"I
am informed by the press that some of
your indiscreet friends have made the
statement that you held a written pledge
from me to vote for you for United States
senator; this compels me, in order TO pre-
serve your good name. to come out in
public declaration that | am for the re-
election of Senator Hanna to the United
States Senate.
II am very sorry that the boys came
here. Had they remained away. YOU
would never have had to suffer this ndig-
nifty.
However, I shall do all in my power to
preserve you above reproach.
Believe me, dear governor, sincerely
yours -. ]. Snyder
II wish to use my best efforts to have
recorded by this general assembly the will
of the people twice expressed in Ohio,
once at Toledo, at the state convention
and again ratified at the polls in Novem-
Der, and l do not believe that any repub-
lican viii be so unmindful of the trust
imposed in him by his people as to assume
10 be other than the representative to re-
cord their wishes
Il have always up to this time, refrain
ed from breaking into the prints with
statements in regard to myself, 1t is be-
cause of modesty and not believing that
the public cared to read my interviews,
but the time has now arrived that all re-
puDlicans, who are interested In the flu
ture of the party must come squarely out
and record themselves on the side of the
future of the party and our government.
-. j Snyder"