The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-03
Hannn's Man VIII Call Assembly 10
Order, but Election of the
Speaker Is I'm Doubt.
DEADLOCK ON SENATORSHIP
HANNA AND MASON BOTH CLAIM MA
JORITY ON JOINT BALLOT.
Wild Talk of Bribery on Both sides
Three of Brjce's Lieutenants
to Take "a Hand.

COLUMBUS, o., Jan. 2.-There are indi-
cations tonight of serious trouble at least
of disorder, at the Statehouse tomorrow
Since the caucuses of last night both the
Hanna men and the opposition are claiming
enough votes for the organization of the
House. No trouble is feared in the Senate
chamber, as it is believed that Senator
Burke, ore of the Republicans, will remain
away and thus permit the Democrats to
elect the officers in that body. At the Re-
publican House caucus last night there
were ten absentees, and Alexander Boxwell
received only ffty-two votes for the nom
ination, while it requires ifty-five votes to-
morrow for the 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. Griffith OF
Clinton county, who was unable to be at the
caucus last night on account of Sickness
has announced that he will be here to-mor-
row to vote for Boxwell, 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. 1t is charged that some of the
arrivals are known as knockers" on such
occasions, as will 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.
Kinney is said to have selected a strong
force of temporary sergeants-at-arms and
10 ho fov rTv1,>
bine of Democrats and ant-Hanna Repub-
icans claims tonight that they will elect
Harry C. Mason, of Cleveland, an anti
Hanna Republican, as speaker, and seat
him.
If Representative Mason should receive
the requisite votes there will be no trou-
BILE about him qualifying and taking his
seat, but there is apprehension of disorder
previous to the ballot being taken and pos
sibly during the baloting and the counting
of the vote. The opposition claims it will
have the forty-seven Democratic votes in
the House solid and nine Republican votes
or one more than enough to elect the Ma
son ticket. They are staying with the anti
Hanna and anti -Boxwell Republicans very
closely ana claim that these Republicans.
who did not attend the caucus last night
are staying with them.
OPPOSED IO FUSION.
There are three Democratic members who
are opposed to fusion, or rather to voting
for Republicans for speaker and other Of
fees. These three Democrats would not en-
ter the Democratic caucus last night until
they were assured that they would not
thus be pledged to vote for Republican NOM
inees. But they do not say to-day that
they will not vote for Mason or other Re-
publican candidates. They simply announce
that as things stand since the action of the
opposition conferences they are unpledged.
With the result depending on the change
of one vote either way, these three Demo-
Gratis and the Republicans who did not enter
the caucus are undergoing the strongest
pressure tonight Of all influences that can
be brought to bear ON them. There have
been irresponsible charges during the day OF
bribery but no evidences of it are discern
ible. The opposition to Boxweu tonight
has declared that any excess Of ffty-three
votes for him Tor speaker will be followed
by investigation, but there are charges ana
counter-charges of undue influences on both
sides and on all hands that cannot be
traced to any reliable source. The Hanna
men claim that Mason will be short three
Democratic votes and four Republicans that
are listed against Boxwell, and that Mason
concede less than a majority to their op-
ponents, neither side claims more than one
vote to spare, and the situation seems to
require such close watching as 70 cause
the most bitter feeling.
Late tonight the fusionists encountered
trouble in the division of the legislative Of
fees. There were two Democrats who re-
fused to vote for Judge Ditty for chief clerk
of the Senate unless they secured their men
for minor places. AT the conferences last
night it was decided what places should be
given the anti Hanna Republicans and what
places should go TO the Democrats, but the
personnel of the assistant cerkships and
sergeants-at-arms was not definitely fixed.
After frequent conferences tonight 1t was
decided to hold a joint caucus of the oppo-
sition at a. m. tomorrow. AT that caucus
the Senate and House steering committees
will report.
The same trouble about the division of the
offices exists in the joint programme Of the
opposition for the organization of the House.
Representatives Powell Wiley and Niles,
three Democratic members. are not yet
pledged to vote for Mason for speaker or
for any Republican. The managers of the
combine say these men will finally vote with
the other Democrats, but these three mem
bers UP to midnight would not say anything
except that they were not pledged. If these
three Democrats vote for a third candidate
for speaker, then the vote would stand 5S
for Boxwell, SO for Mason and 3 scattering.
and there would be deadlock on organiza-
ton. The Democratic steering committee
was busy ali night looking after the Un-
pledged members. All who would sign the
pledge roll were induced to do so. The Ham
ma men express no confidence of a majority
of all for Boxwen. but say they expect to
elect him by receiving the highest number
of votes east for any candidate,
Mr.. Kurtz claimed last night the defeat
of both Hanna and Boxwell Before retiring
tonight he said the combine had not lost
a single man up TO that hour and would
organize both the Senate and the House to-
morrow. Mayor McKisson, A o. Myers and
all at the joint headquarters expressed tie
same opinion. Governor Bushnell was also
of the same belief and he stated that the
defeat OF the Boxwell ticket in the House
and of Hanna for senator would not have
a bad effect on the party. He thought the
party would do as well with any other good
Republican in the Senate. He stated thaf