The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-05
is 2 SHORT OF ENOUGH
THE HOUSE ORGANIZATION A
STRONG LEVER.
SOME DEMOCRATS ARE HARD TO HANDLE
$50 Republicans From Bushnel's Home 10
Re5uke, Walk Into the State HJuse Wear
ing Hanna Badges Witt Inscriptions
Roasting Bushnell.

Roasting Bushnell.
Columbus. Ohio, Jan. 4-The politi-
cal future of Senator Hanna is certainly
tonight in a closely poised balance.
While there are now reported to be only
nine dissenters among the eighty Re
publican members, one in the Senate and
eight in the House, yet the really doubt
full 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 'fthe combine" on the
organization of the House, stated to-day
that they would vote for Hanna.
This gives Hanna 81 in the House
and IL in the Senate, total of II, or
two short of the necessary majority.
Drost. of Hamilton, who voted for Box
well for Speaker, announced at the time
that he would support Jephtha 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 get
the votes of Scott, of Fulton and Rutan,
of Carroll, who are instructed for Hanna
and voted with the combine on the or
ganization.
On the other hand, the combine"
managers say that Scott and Rutan will
remain with them to a finish, and that
they expect to get Snider, of Greene,
and Redkay, of Highland, who voted for
Boxwell for Speaker. The doubtful mem
bers are being offered their choice of
chairmanships and given the opportunity
to make all other selections they want.
The power of the organization of the
House is certainly being used to the
greatest possible advantage, and it's in
fiuence is not to be underestimate 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 appoint
ments on the committees and other pat
ronage in anticipation of gaining several
votes on the Senatorial ballot.
In holding their men in line, the .com-
bine'' is having trouble with some Of the
sixty-fiye Democratic members. 1t is
believed that Mayor McKisson will give
way to Mr.. Kurtz for the short term for
Senator, While Governor Bushnell has
all along been regarded as the candidate
for the long term. Representatives
Wiley, Powell, Niles, and other radical
free silver Democrats, are not satisfied
with Kurtz and Bushnell, and if they are
to vote for Republicans, they want them
with pronounced silver records, like that
of Gerard and others that are named.
Some Of the Democratic members insist
that the breach is so wide and so deep
now between the Republicans that John
GI nfh ell
Democrat, could be elected over Hanna.
Letters and kilograms to-day poured
in on Governor Bushnell, the dissenting
Republican members and others, protest
ing against the action of the Republi-
cans who were cooperating with the
Democrats,
The announcement to-day by the Re-
publicans that they would have no Joint
Senatorial caucus tomorrow night or
at any time previous to the balloting
for Senator, will compel all to continue
IN TINS guerilla warfare for another
week. But with the result depending on
the action of two or three doubtful mem
bers, neither side could show its hand
without exposing the recruits or the de-
serters to terrific fire for at least a week.
1t is expected by the public that there
would be decisive results aft the cauenses
tomorrow night, but there VIII he no
caucuses, and the steering committee
will try to have all members located he
fore baIloting begins.
The Senate and the House will ballot
separately next Tuesday for Senator.
The Senate will stand 10 to IL against
Hanna, by Senator Burke voting with
the Democrats. The House ON Monday
stood SO to 53. 1t is now 50 to 54 against
Hanna. This would settle the contest,
if the combine" in both houses can CON
centrate on any one candidate against
Hanna, and when the two houses meet
on the following day, Wednesday,, Janu-
airy 18th, to canvass in joint assembly
the vote Of the previous day as cast by
each branch separately, there would be
nothing to do except to announce the
total result as "A to II against Hanna.
But If Senator Hanna has not a major
Ity a week hence, it is doubtful whether
any opponent will have it, and the gen
eral prediction is for a deadlock. In
the event that the balloting next Tues
day does not Show a majority for any /
one, the General Assembly will proceed
on the next day to ballot in Joint assem- |
bly,, and continue to do so until thero is
an election. The balloting may not do
any more than to compel the contestants
TO show Their names on roll call, and af-
Ter that the same fight may be continued
for an indefinite period I
The combine tonight is charging
that Senator Hanna is in such desner.
ate straights as to be forced "to swan