The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-05
Though the "COmbine'' Has an Appar-
ent Majority, Indications Point to
n Division of It's Strength.
HANNA WILL LICK TWO VOTES
UNLESS BOLTERs ARE WHIPPED
INTO LINE BEFORE VAN. IL.
Governor BushneITs Reply to Protests
Gaining Notoriety as FIopper.

COLUMBUS, o., Jan. 4--The political
future of Senator Hanna is certainly to-
night in a closely poised balance. While
there are now reported to be only nine dis
senters among the eighty members-one In
the Senate and eight in the House--yet the
really doubtful list is limited to two or
three. Some of the dissenting Republicans
are not likely ever to be reconciled to Sem
ator Hanna. They have burned the bridges
behind them and openly admit it. Repre-
sentatives Griffith, of Union, and Joyce of
Guernsey, who voted with the combine
on the organization of the House. stated to-
day that they would vote for Senator Han
ma. This gives Hanna fifty-four in the
House and seventeenth the Senate, a total
of seventy-oue, or two short of the neces-
sary majority. Droste of Hamilton, who
voted for Boxwell for speaker announced
at 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 get the
votes of Scott, of Fulton, and Rutan. of
Carroll, who are instructed for Hanna and
voted with the combine on the organiza-
ton. On the other hand, the combine
managers say that Scott and Rutan will re-
main with them to finish, and that they
expect to get Snyder. OF Greene, and Red
kay. of Highland, who voted for Boxwell
for speaker.
The doubtful members 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
ic 1ot 70 ha racfir irna
nection with the support of the state ad-
ministration. While Mr.. Kurtz and his as
sociates will make no statements, yet they
are holding back the appointments on the
committees and other patronage in antici-
patton of gaining several votes on the sena-
torial ballot
In holding their men in line the "con-
bine" is having trouble with some of the
sixty-five Democratic members. 1t is be-
lieved 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 of Wayne, Powell of
Morrow, Niles of Lucas, 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 Ger
rard 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 r. Mclean or
some other free-silver Democrat could be
elected over Hanna.
FLOODED WITH PROTESTS
Letters and kilograms to-day poured in on
Governor BUSHNELL the dissenting Republic
an members and others protesting against
the action of the Republicans who were CO.
operating with the Democrats. In reply
those about the headquarters in the Great
Southern Hotel revived the talk of the
American Protective Association, the work
ingmen and others being opposed to Senator
Hanna. 1t was charged that the senator
had Mrs. Griffith annoyed by his emissaries,
and that the senator was with her two
hours before her husband announced him.
self as for Hanna.
The Republicans announced to-day that
they would have no joint senatorial caucus
tomorrow night or at any time previous to
the balloting for senator. This will comnel
all to continue in the guerrilla warfare for
another week. and with the result depend
ing on the action of two or three doubtful
members neither side can show its hand
without exposing the recruits or the desert
was expected by the public that there would
be decisive results at the caucuses to-mor-
row night, but there will be no caucuses,
and the steering committees will try to
have all members located before balloting
begins.
The Senate and the House will ballot sep
erately next Tuesday for senator The SEN
ate will stand 10 to II against Hanna, by
Senator Burke voting with the Democrats.
The House on Monday stood Sc to SO. 1t is
now 55 to "a against Hanna. This would
settle the contest if the combine in both
houses could concentrate on any one candi-
date against Hanna. and when the two
houses meet on the following day, Wednes-
day, Jan. u, 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 result
as "a to II against Hanna. But if Senator
Hanna has not a majority a week hence
it is doubtful whether any opponent will
have it, and the general prediction is for a
deadlock. In the event that the balloting
next Tuesday does not show a majority
for any one, the General Assembly will pro-
ceed the next day to ballot in joint assem-
bly, and continue to do so till there is an
election. The balloting week hence may
not do any more than to compel the con-
testants to show their names on roll call,
and after that the same fight may be con-
tinued for an indefinite period.
WANT TO ROB HANNA.
The combine tonight is charging that
Senator Hanna is in such desperate straits
as to be forced Ito swap horses" while
crossing the stream, owing to the Republic
ans deciding to hold no caucus. They also
charge that he has been an ex-senator since
the Legislature met yesterday. AS Senator
Hanna was appointed when Secretary Sher-
man went into the Cabinet. Article ., Sec
ton 2 of the statutes is being quoted, as
follows: IF vacancies Gin the Senate) hap
pen by resignation. or otherwise. during the
recess of the Legislature of any State, the
executive thereof may make temporary ap-
pointments until the next meeting of the
Legislature. which shall then I'LL such va
cancies.'' While this talk about Ohio now
having only one senator proceeds, the
Hanna mel explain that they want the
same action now as was accorded Senator
Foraker two years ago. Foraker had been
indorsed at the GAINESVILLE state convention
in 1894 for senator and was elected without
any caucus or any Republican opposition