The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-11

Columbus, Ohio, January THE sena-
torial situation is practically unchanged.
Senator Hanna's managers were appar-
emily more cheerful today, but the cause
for it was not apparent. They have
adopted quite a different policy in their
canvass from that followed at the be-
ginning of the contest here and are now
following the tactics of Mr.. Kurtz, lead
er of the opposition, whose strong suit
has been to conceal everything possible
from the Hanna people. 1t Is not so
easy now to secure inside
from the Hanna headquarters and this
policy is generally approved by the SEN
ator's supporters. The efforts OF the
steering committee to whip the demo-
cratic members of the legislature into
line to vote for a republican for sena-
tor, has been as successful as was ex-
pected. AS a result 1t Is stated positive
ly tonight that there will be a caucus of
the democratic member next Monday
night. The purpose of the caucus Is to
locate the doubtful members and pledge
those who are willing to carry out the
proposed fusion SO that enough men can
be kept in line to insure the mainte-
nance of a deadlock should one be forced.
The most reliable information tonight
is that Mr.. Kurtz will be proposed as the
candidate Of the opposition both for the
dong and the short term. 1t is believed
by the democratic leaders now that Mr..
Kurtz will be more acceptable to the
majority of the democratic members or
the legislature than any other man
There was a OF activity
about the n headquarters early
in the evening when Allen O.. Myers re-
turned from a mysterious mission. Myers
left the city on an early morning train
and returned in the afternoon, with in
formation that was apparently satiSfac-
tory to Mr.. Kurtz. The opponents of
Senator Hanna are as confident as ever
of winning.
Senator Hanna spent a comparatively
quiet day at the Neil house. The ac-
tivity of his supporters was undated,
however. Speculation on the vote for
senator was not unchanged.
Mr.. Hanna's managers are following
the tactics of the opposition and are not
giving any figures. 1t is generally be
lieved now that the vote on the first bal
lot will show Mr.. Hanna's strength to be
about the same as in the organization of
the legislature. The opposition will be
divided. Two of the Hamilton county
members are counted to vote for q free
silver republican. 1t is claimed by the
leaders of the opposition that all the
democrats will stand together, but this
claim is not borne out by information
from other sources. 1t is claimed by
some that at least twenty democrats will
refuse to attend the caucus, but this is
probably exaggerated. More conseva-
lively, the number is placed at six to ten.
Indications tonight are that the OppOSl-
tion is preparing for a long deadlock.
The calling of a mass convention of re-
publicans in this city next Monday by
the republican state executive
to protest against the attempt to defeat
Senator Hanna somewhat disconnected
the opposition. They claim that it was
merely a move on the part of the Hanna
people to intimidate the republican mem-
bers who refused to vote for Mr.. Hanna.
The calling of the convention has been
generally endorsed, however, by the sup
porters of Mr.. Hanna in all parts of the
state, according to kilograms that have
been received at the Hanna headquar-
tiers.
1t develops tina the Kurtz people had
decided to take advantage of the efforts
of certain republicans to throw cold
Inauguration of Governor Bushnell. The
Governor Bushnel's attitude would keep
city and they set about to bring a big
crowd Of Governor Bushnell's friends
here. 1t is stated that for this purpose
railroad tickets were sent to certain To-
calities where the governors friends
We're thought to be numerous, for free
distribution, for the purpose of bringing
as many people as possible to the city.
The calling of the mass convention will
now bring a large crowd of Hanna sup
porters to Columbus. Agents of the
KurtZ people were today endeavoring to
place pictures of the governor in the
windows of business houses on all the
principal streets. They met with consid-
cradle opposition.
The inaugural parade will be made up
Chiefly Of military, as nearly all of the
political clubs that had decided to par
ticipate have reScinded their action.