The San Francisco call., 1898-01-05
Sequel to the "Flopping" of the Speaker Pro Tenn of the
 House.
HANNA'S MEN EXPLAIN IT.
They Tell What Occurred at an All Night Conference at Which Mrs.
 Griffith Attended.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


 COLUMBUS, Ohio. Jan. 4.-To- night. it Is alleged, the Hanna managers lost the two doubtful members that they had gained to-day, so that it is said there is no material change from that of yesterday, when the House stood 56 to 53 against Hanna. This would give the Senator only 70 votes on joint bal lot. or three less than enough votes to elect In connection with the change of Representative Griffith back to the anti-Hanna camp there are most scan dalously sensational reports in circula- tion. MT. Griffith has been on both sides several times, and so pledged himself Tn writing. In these dispatches yesterday was an account of the Han ma workers spending Sunday night with Representative Griffith and of his sending at a. m. for his wife to come from the Great Southern Hotel to the Neil House to join him in a conference with the Hanna people.
 At a. m. the Kurtz people saw Mrs Griffith and the all-night work of the Hanna men was undone just before her husband went to the State House on Monday nnorni to qualify as Speaker pro tenn. with the other can didates of "the combine" After the Legislature was organized Mir. Griffith had another night of conferences on both sides of the Senatorial case and this morning he gave the Hanna men written pledge over his own sigma ture that he would vote for the Sena- tor. Later in the day he was seen by the opponents of Senator Hanna. and tonight he gave out the following:
 To the public: It is due to the public and myself that I make a statement of my position in the Senatorial matter While it is true that the convention which nominated me passed a resolution requesting me to support Senator Hanna. and while l at various times during the campaign and since declared my inten- tion to follow that request and even promised dozen or more of my constitu- ents in MT. Hannas headouarters on Monday of this week that would do SO ] have, however, since learning the par uculars of the indignities heaped upon my wife Monday morning. reached the conviction that l would be untrue to my manhood should I cast my vote for a man who either uses or employs such HStHodS, ana Snali resent the indigni- ties and insults heaped upon myself and friends, and also do a service for my State and country, by voting for a Re publican other than NIT. Hanna for United States Senator.
 Notwithstanding the threats that have been made to me that I cannot return and live in Union county if I do not vote for MT. Hanna. 1t is my hope and belief that the good people who have honored ( hgf.-
 love and honor will uphold me in this de- termination, that cannot under any cir cumstances now be changed
 J. E. GRIFFITH.
 When a copy of the statement pur- porting to come from Representative Griffith was shown to Senator Hanna this evening he said: 'I do not believe MT. Griffith ever made this statement because 1t is not true. It is represent ed to me that he is an honorable man. and therefore I shall not believe with out some further evidence that he ever made or used any such statement"
 Notwithstanding that MT. Hanna re- gards it as untrue that Representative Griffith himself published the state ment, yet 1t is known that the docu- ment is in Griffith's handwriting. whether he prepared it himself or not. The last letter of Griffith has caused not only sensation, but the most bit ter feeling and the worst of charges on the part of rival workers.
 A signed document was given out to- night by George McPeck, a personal friend of Representative Griffith of Marysville, Union County, in regard to MT. Griffith's statement that his wife had received indignities from Mir. Hanna and his friends. He states that during the all night conference at the Neil House on Sunday night between Griffith and the Hanna leaders Griffith requested that Mrs. Griffith, who was stopping in the hotel, be sent for Act ing upon this request, Mir McPeck says. he and MT. Chapman secured a cab and took Mrs. Griffith to the Neil House. Continuing Mir. McPeck says:
 MT. Chapman accompanied her to her room. Afterward she came to room 15, where her husband was. Her hus- band returned to the Great Southern Hotel and left her in room 15, in com pany with Mir. Chapman and Jerry F. Bliss AS Mir. Bliss did not seem in clined to leave her room and give her a chance to retire, we invited her into the public reception room, with the expectation that MT. Bliss would then leave the room. l also had some con- versation at the same time. At all times while at the Neil House Mrs Griffith received the most courteous