The Wichita daily eagle., 1898-01-12

| all the fusion Republicans from Hamilton
/ county, except Otis. who did not produce
the dramatic scene that had been an
nounced and was generally expected
MKISSON DENIES.
| Mayor McKisson denies that he pledged
| himself last night TO free silver or to
stand on the Chicago platform when call
| ed into the Democratic caucus. The DEM
| ocrats and others present confirm this re-
| port and state that Mayor McKisson said
| he was a bimetallist and opposed 10 the
| policy of Secretary Gage, but he would
not stand for the free and unlimited coin
| age of silver. The opposition TO Hanna
! had evidently given up the hope this af-
| ternoon of having any chance tomorrow
| on the joint ballot.
Representative Haslitt, who voted for
| General Wiley, was a member OF the
| Democratic steering committee, and had
| beenwo rking to keep the Democratic
| members in line for Bushnell, Kurtz or
any other Republican who could be elect
ed over Hanna. He says he voted for a
Democrat because he had been fooled by
| the Republicans opposed to Hanna. They
! assured him last night that they had ten
| Republicans against Hanna, and only
showed six on the ballot, one in the
senate and five in the house.
CAN'T BE BEATEN NOW.
Representative Gayman, chairman of
the Democratic steering committee. said
Hanna had now enough votes recorded
to elect, and his election, il is now be-
Ieved, cannot be prevented unless some
of his supporters die. become seriously
sick or are absent at the joint ballot to-
morrow at noon.
Charles Gerrish, the coalition chief
clerk of the house, said Hanna was con-
sidered beaten up to an hour before the
legislature convened this morning. when
the combine learned that Representa-
tives Droste and Lane would not present
the name of Jeptha A. Gerard. the sill
yer Republican, who has had headquar-
ters in operation for over two weeks.
1t wes said that Droste would present
the name Of Garrard and Lane second it
and that their two votes would cause a
deadlock and possibly make a compro-
mise winner out of Garrard. When Droste
early in the roll call voted loudly for
Hanna that was the signal for cheers on
the Republican side. He voted before
the names of Griffith, Joyce. Lane, Man.
uel or any OF the other doubtful ones
We're called and all the doubtful ones
were afterward recorded for Hanna. All
the Republican fusionists from Cincin-
natl voted for Hanna except Otis.
HANNA CONGRATULATED.
Hardly had the result of the ballot been
announced until the cheering crowd filled
the corridors and cheered for Hanna,
which swept throughout the house and
out on the streets. Senator Hanna re-
sponded 10 the repeated calls of his friends
and in answer to their demands made
speech congratuating them on behalf of
the Republican party for the auspicious
outcome.
at is not so much matter of person.
ality with me-" said he, "as it is a ques-
ton OF keeping the pledges and uphold
ing the integrity of the party and of
giving heed 10 the will of the people
The excited crowd lifted the senator
from the floor and man after man en-
braced him, while others were shaking
both hands.
Finally the crowd was held back and
got into line and for fully an hour the
senator stood and grasped the hands and
listened to the eXultant congratulations
of the crowd. Thank God. the right
will prevail" Praise God from whom all
blessings flow." and kindred expressions
filed the AIR in choral singing. One voter
with uplifted hat shouted: Senator this
takes a load off me as big as a freight
car"
THAT RELIEVED FEELING.
The crowds cheering continued una
bated during the afternoon. The feeling
of relief among the Republicans was in
describable. They realized only the i'm
pending danger and gave way to extrava-
CANT expressions of pleasure. The whole
city was wild with excitement.
At the Great Southern hotel there were
many complaints against members on the
Republican side as we'll as on the Dem
ocratc side of the house. Some charged
that Kurtz sacrificed McKisson and want
ed to be voted for himself for senator
when there were not enough votes in
sight to elect. The Democratic members
were holding conferences with a view to
bringing out a straight Democratic can
didate for senator tomorrow and for that
honor John r. Mclean was the favorite
In that event it was thought Hanna might |
tomorrow secure the entire Republican