Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-05
FUTURE OF HANNA.
1T IL ~ \ VERY DELrCATEy.y
POISED BALANCE.
EXPECTED CAUCUSES ABANDONED.
Steering Committees Trying TO Lo-
cate all Members Before Actual
Haiioting begins-A scandaIous
Scnsation-DcadlocI


COLUMBUS. O.. January 4.-The po-
ltical future OF Senator Hanna is GER
tainly tonight in a closely-poised bal
ance. While there are now reported TO
he nine disscnters among the eighty Re
publican membors-one in the Senate and
eight in the House-yct the really doubt
ful list is limited to two or three. Some
Of the dissenting Republicans are not
likely ever TO be reconciled to Senator
Hanna. They have burned the bridges
behind them. and openly admit IT,
Representatives Griffith and Joyce, who
voted with "the combine" on the orga-
niza,ion Of the House. stated to-day that
they would vote for Senator Hanna This
gives Hanna "a in the House and II in
the Senate. or two short Of the neces-
sary majority. Drost. Of Hamilton. who
voted for Boxwell for Speaker. announced
a. the time that he would support Jeptha
Gerard, a silver Republican, for Senator.
so that the net gain for Hanna to date,
over the vote on the organization, is only
one. The Hanna men say they expect to
yet the votes Of Scott. of Fulton, and
Rutan. Of Carroll who are instructed
for Hanna, and yet voted with the
combine" on the organization. on the
other hand the combine" managers say
that Scott and Rutan will remain with
them 10 the finish. and that they expect
10 get Snyder. of Greene. and Redkay. Of
HiEhland. who voted for BOxwen for
Speaker. The doubtful members are be-
ing offered their choice Of chairmanships.
and given the opportunity TO make all
other selections they want The power or
the organization of the House is GER
tainly being used 10 the greatest possible
advantage-and it's influence is not to be
underestimated-in connection with the
support Of the State administration.
While Mr. Kurtz and his associates will
make no statements. yet they are holding
back the appointments Of the commit
tees and other patronage in the hope
of gaining several votes in the senate
rial ballot In holding their men in line,
the combine" is having trouble with
some Of the g. Democratic members. II
IS believed that Mayor Mckisson VIII
give way 10 Mr. Kurtz for the short
term for Senator, while Cover nor Bush
nell has all along been regarded as the
candidate for the long term Representa-
tives Wiley Powell. Niles, and other
radical free-silver Democrats are not sat
they are 70 vote for Republicans they
want them with pronounced silver re-
cord ike that of Gerard and others
they mention. Some of the Democrats
insist that the breach is so wide ana
deep now between the Republicans that
John p Mclean or some other free-sllVer
Democrat could be elected over Hanna.
REPUBLICAN PROTESTS.
Letters and kilograms to-day poured
in on Governor Bushnell. the dissenting
Republican members. and others. protest
ing against the action Of the Republicans
who are cooperating with the Demo-
Gratis.
The announcement to-day by the Repub-
iicens chat they would have no joint SEN
atorial caucus tomorrow night. or at any
time previous TO the ball0ting for sena-
tor will compel all to continue in this
guerilla warfare for another week. But |
with the result depending on the action
az two or three doubtful members neither
side could show its hand without expos
ing the recruits or the descrters 10 ter
rife fire for at least a week.
II was expected by the public that there |
would be decisive results at the caucuses |
tomorrow night. but there viii be no |
caucuses. and the steering committees |
will try TO have all members located be- |
fore balloting begins.
The Senate and the House will ballot |
separatelv next Tuesday for senator. The |
Senate will stand 10 10 II against Hanna,
by Senator Burke's voting with the Demo-
Gratis The House on Monday stood So /
TO So 1t Is now - 10 a against Hanna.
This would settle the contest, If the com
hine" I'm both houses could count on any |
one candidate against Hanna, and when
the two houses met on Wednesday, jan
nary 18th TO canvass I'm joint assembly
.f Ia ~
each branch separately. there would be
nothing to do except 10 announce the
total result as "A 10 Il ageinst Hanna.
PREDICTION OF DEADLOCK.
But If Senator Hanna has not ma
iority a week hence IT is doubtful whether
any opponent will nave IT. and the general
prediction is Of "A deadlock.
In the event that the bailoting next
Tuesday does not show a majority Tor
any one, the General Assembly will pro-
ceed on the next day TO ballot in joint
assembly. and continue to do so till there
IS an election. The balloting may not
do any more than compel the contestants
10 show their names on roll-can, and
after that the same fight may be con-
tinued for an indefinite period.
The combine" tonight r. charging that
Senator Hanna Is in such desperate straits
as to be forced 10 swap horses while
publicans' deciding TO hold no caucus.
They also charge that he has been an
ex-senator since the Legislature met yes
terday As Senator Hanna was appointed
when Secretary sherman went into the
Cabinet. Article H., section ,. Of the
Statutes Is being quoted as follows: IF
vacancies Qn che Senate) happen by
resignation or otherwise during the recess
Of the Legislature of any state. the Exc
cutive thereof may make temporary ap-
pOintments thereto untn the next ses-
sion"
II is explained that the same action is
wanted now as was accorded Senator
Foraker two years ago. Foraker had
been endorsed at the GAINESVILLE cOnven-
iiOn IN 1894 for senator. and was elected
without any caucus or any Republican
opposition in the Legislature. The Hanna
men say they ask that the same
courtesy and loyalty" should now pre-
vail.
senator Burke. Of Cleveland. arrived
to-day from Chicago. and completed the
FUN attendance OF senator's. Burke voted
with the Democrats. but took his seat
on the Republican side Of the chamber.
In the House all sorts Of bills were in
troduced against corporations. These
measures were regarded 4 thrusts at
Senator Hanna, whose &airs are OF
varied interest.
BULLDOZERS OF BUSHNELL.
While these measures were being