The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-04
to be fully confident in claiming the sena-
torship on joint ballot.
LOSS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
Vote of One of the Members COntrolI-
ed by His Wife.


Owing 10 the senatorial contest. unusual
interest was taken in the organization of
both houses. The caucuses last Saturday
night were not on the usual lines between
the republicans, owing to some of the re-
publican members having formed fusion
with the democratic members for the de-
feat of Senator Hanna. The Senate stands
eighteen democrats and eighteen republ-
cans, with party lines drawn in the SEN
ate, Lieut.. Gov. Jones. rep, would have
the tie vote to cast, and he has been con-
sidered as opposed TO Senator Hanna.
The House stands 60 republicans and for
ty-seven democrats, the former including
four fusionsts from Cincinnati.
At the republican House caucus satur-
day night, nine republican members were
absent, because they were opposed to SEN
ator Hanna, and regarded Mr.. BoxweIl as
the Hanna candidate for speaker These
nine republican members met with the
democratic members and indorsed Harry
c. Mason of Cleveland, an anti-Hanna re-
publican, for speaker.
In the hall of the House the widest
scenes were witnessed during the first
hour OF the session. All of the 100 mem
bers were in their seats. After the name
of Mr.. Boxwell had been presented as the
regular republican candidate for speaker,
the name of Represent tatiVe Mason rep,
was presented by Representative Jones,
rep, and seconded by two other republi-
cans. The democrats did not participate
in the speaking.
AS the ballot was proceeding there were
loud cheers as the doubtful members re-
sponded to their names, and when the roll
call approached the close and Mr.. Mason
secured the necessary majority, there was
great demonstration that delayed the off,
cial announcement of the vote.
The first ballot resulted: Mason, 56; Box
well, 81, as had been claimed since Sat-
urday night by the combined opposition to
Senator Hanna.
The combine then completed the organi-
zation of the House.
The morning sessions of the Senate and
House caused no surprise at the Hanna
headquarters at the Neil house or in the
opposition headquarters in the Great
Southern hotel. The demonstrations of re-
joicing at the latter place were beyond de-
scription. The opposition insisted that Mr..
Hanna was not as strong as Mr.. Boxwell,
that Mr.. Hanna would not have 30 votes
in the House or II in the Senate or a total
of 81 votes on joint ballot, which Is six
short of election. 1t is considered that
Speaker Mason will dispose of all the pa
tronage of the House in the interest of
Mr.. McKisson and Gov. Bushnell and
against Mr. Hanna, and the state execu-
tive administration being also against Mr..
Hanna. his defeat is predicted, unless rad
ical changes are made within the next
week.
1t is stated that the Hanna men will
tomorrow enter on another programme,
which includes visiting delegates from
some OF the counties to hold Indignation
meetings at the capital to express pro.
tests on the action of certain republican
members in voting against their regular
party caucus nominees and in proposing
to reverse the action of the last republi-
can state convention that nominate Mr..
Hanna for senator
Previous to the convening of the legisla-
ture the democrats and the anti-Hanna
republicans Joined arms and marched from
the Great Southern hotel to the state
house, corning quite procession, and
during the noon recess they went over to-
gether, Joining in luncheons and various
gatherings of jollifcation.
During the noon recess quite a crusade
was made in telegraphic protests to some
of the democratic members who had voted
with the republicans. The most notable
case was that of ]. H. Griffith, the re-
publican member from Union county. who
forty-seven democratic and nine republl-
can votes. He received kilograms from
constituents asking him to resign, saying
he would be hung in effigy and that dele
cations were en- route to Columbus to hold
an indignation meeting. Mr.. Griffith has
withstood much agitation the past week
Last midnight the Hanna workers got
him into conference at the Neil house.
and 1t is said that he was almost "per-
suaded" about o'clock this morning, but
that he did not want to change without
consulting his wife, who was strongly in
sympathy with the combine that nominate
ed her husband for the speaker pro tenn
The Hanna workers at 3 a. m. went TO the
Great Southern hotel, got Mrs. Griffith
up, escorted her to the Neil house, where
she remained with her husband till s o.
M, when the Kurtz workers missed both
Mr.. and Mrs. Griffith, and proceeded to
the Neil house after them. While they
were being escorted out of the Neil house
several of the workers got into a fight
over Mr.. and Mrs. Griffith. The anti.
Hanna men succeeded In getting Mrs
Griffith to return to the Great Southern
hotel, where she had the last interview
before the procession started to form foi
the state house for the opening session.
The wives, relatives and friends of mem
bers who are on the doubtful list have had
some experiences during the last few days
and nights almost like those of Mr.. and
Mrs. Griffith and their troubles have prob
ably Just begun in that line.
While the joint senatorial caucuses are
held next Wednesday night, the balloting
in the legislature does not begin for nine
days, on Wednesday, Jan. 12
The Hanna men have this afternoon car
ried the war into the counties of nine of
the republicans who voted with the demo-
Gratis, and trains will be chartered to
bring their constituents to the state capt.
tai TO make Rome howl" as one of the
Hanna managers expressed 1t.
The caucusses Of Saturday night and
the organization to-day were against SEN
ator Hanna and 1t is believed that when
he receives the denomination of the Joint
republican caucus on Wednesday night
next. it viii be by a vote that is Six
short of enough to elect but the Hanna
men say that there will be such a revolu-
ton in Ohio within the next week as In
insure Mr.. Hanna's election by the fuIl
party vote of at least rs to H.
At 3:15 o'clock the House took a recess
till 4 O'Clock.
When the House reassembled al O'Clock,
and just previous to the reading of Coz,
BushnelPs message. several bills and reso-
lulions were offered, two OF them being
aimed at Senator Hanna, and both of these
measures being introduced by republicans
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