The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-03
CLASH FEARED AT COLUMBUS.
STATE HOUSE MAY BE THE SCENE
OF RIOT.


cited-Charges of Bribery Fiu the
Air--SenntOr Burke Expected TO
Stay Away So As to Allow the DEM
Ocrats to Elect the Ohlcers of the
Senate-Sluagers to BE sworn in
As Temporary Sergcant-at-Arms
by the Hanna Faction in the
House,
Columbus, o., Jan. 2.-There are indca-
tions here tonight of serious trouble at
least of disorder, at the state house TO-
morrow. Since the caucus of last night
both the Hanna men and the opposition
are claiming enough votes for the organic
eaton of the House. No trouble is feared
in the Senate chamber, as it is believed
that Senator Burke, one of the repubh-
cans, will remain away. and thus permit
the democrats TO elect the officers in that
body
At the republican House caucus last
night there were ten absentees and Alex
ander Boxwell received only ffty-two
votes for the nomination, while It requires
fifty-fve votes tomorrow for election, if
all are present. Under the law after ten
ballots are taken, the candidate receiving
the highest number of votes is declared
elected, even if it is then not a majority
over all,
Mr., Griffith of Clinton county, who was
unable to be at the caucus last night, on
account of sickness, has announced that
he will here tomorrow to vote for Mr.
Boxwel who is the Hanna candidate for
speaker, and Mr. Boxwell, without giving
any names, claims to have the two other
votes necessary for election.
In addition to the absent members many
other republicans have been sent for to-
day by both sides and many are arriving
tonight. II is charged that some of the
arrivals are known as "knockers' on such
occasions as will probably be Witnessed in
the hall of the House tomorrow.
Secretary of State Charles Kinney, a
strong Hanna man, will preside in the
House till that body elects a speaker. In
anticipation of his rulings, there have been
threats made during the day. Mr.. Kin
ney is said to have selected a strong force
of temporary sergeants, and is said to be
ready for any emergency.
The combination of democrats and anti
they will elect Harry c. Mason of Cleye-
land. an anti-Hanna republican, as speak
er, and succeed in seating him.
If the anti-Hanna republicans have the
requisite number Of votes there will be
no trouble about him qualifying and tax.
ing his seat, but there Is apprehension Of
disorder before the balloting begins and
possibly during the balloting and the
counting of the votes.
They claim they have one more than
enough to elect the Mason ticket. They
are figuring very closely, and claim that
the republicans who did not attend the
caucus last night are staying with them.
There are three democrats who are op-
posed to fusion, or rather to voting with
republicans for the defeat of Senator Han
ma. These three democrats were not pres
ent at the democratic caucus last night
until they were assured that they would
not thus be pledged 10 vote for the repub-
lican nominees. But they did not say to-
day that they would not vote for Mason or
the other republican candidates.
With the result depending upon the
change of one vote either way, these three
democrats and the republicans who did not
enter the caucus are undergoing the
strongest pressure tonight of all the in
fiuences that can be brought to bear upon
them. There have been irresponsible
charges during the day of bribery, but no
eViuencGS OF IL are QlSCefnIDle.
The opposition to Boxwell tonight de-
clare that any excess OF 50 votes for him
for speaker will be followed by an inves-
tigation, but there are charges and coun-
ter-charges of undue influences on both
sides and on all hands that cannot be trac-
ed to anything reliable
Hanna claims that Mason will be short
three democratic votes and four republic
cans, and that he will moi have 50 votes
eli hni
their opponents neither side claims more
than one vote to spare, and the circum-
stance seems to require such close watch
ing as to cause the most bitter feeling.
Judge George X. Nash, chairman of the
republican state committee, to-day sent a
letter to Gov. Bushnell resigning his posi-
ton as a trustee of tho Ohio asylum at
Galllopolis for epileptics. for which posi-
ton Judge Nash had been appointed by
Gov. Bushnell. The letter Is said to be
very caustic. but Judge Nash will not give
it out for publication ill after IL has been
received by the governor in his mail to-
morrow.
On being asked for the reasons for his
action Judge Nash said tonight:
ION Friday, l am informed by a most
reliable gentleman, Gov. Bushnell said
that the republican state executive com
mittee in the national campaign did not
do thing to assist him as a candidate. In
justice to my associates on that commit
tee, than whom a more loyal set of men
to party ticket and to a great cause was
never banded together as well as 10 my
self, as the chairman I could do not
otherwise than resent the insult.
Now, IL Gov. Bushnell really believes
was disloyal to him as chairman of the
committee, he must be uneasy as to
whether l can properly perform my duties
an as officer and l will relieve his mind Of
this worry.
II am also disgusted with the conduct
of Gov. Bushnell Before the election in
public speeches, he pretended that he de-
sired Mr. Hanna's return to the United
States Senate. Since that time he has con-
sorted with the enemies of the republican
party to defeat the will Of the peop.e.
look upon this as his excuse to obtain
votes by false pretenses."
Judge Nash as chairman of the state
committee Is taking an active interest in
the election of Senator Hanna, and claims
that the last state convention at Toledo
named Mr. Hanna for senator, as well a
nominated Mr. Bushnell for governor At
the last state convention in Toledo Gov
Bushnell wanted Charles L. Kurtz select
ed as chairman of the state executive
committee a position which Mr. Kurtz
has held for two previous campaigns. in
1895. when Bushnell was first elected gov
ernor, and in 1896, when the presidential