The Portland daily press., 1898-01-03
Hanna WAR WAKES HOT.
Troublesome Times Looked For in
Ohio Legislature.
SENATOR'S ENEMIES WIN TEMPOR-
aARY VICTORY In lCAUCUS.

The Triumph May, However, Be Short
Lived-Chairman Nash of State Com
mittee Resigns Position to Which He
Had sBeen Appointed by Gov. Bush
nell
Columbus, Ohio, January 2.-There are
indications tonight here of serious trouble
and disorder at the State House tomor-
row. Since the caucus of last night both
the Hanna men and the opposition are
claiming enough votes for the organiza-
tion of the House. Nc trouble is feared
| in the Senate chamber as 1t is believed
that Senator Burke. one of the Republi.
cans, will remain away and thus permit
the Democrats to elect the officials in that
body. At the Republican caucus last
night there were ten absent and Boxwell
received only fifty-two votes for the
nomination when 1T would require fifty
five votes tomorrow for election If all
| were present
Under the law, after ten ballots are
taken. the candidate receiving the highest
| number of votes will be declared elected,
even If it should then not be majority
over all. Griffith of Clinton county,
who was unable to be at the caucus last
night on account of sickness, has an
nounced that he will be there tomorrow
to vote for Boxwell, who is the Hanna
| candidate for Speaker, and Boxwell,
without giving any names, claims TO
have the two other voues necessary for
election. Secretary of State Kinney,
strong Hanna man, will preside in the
House until that body elects a speaker.
| The combination of Democrats and anti
| Hanna Republicans claim tonight that
they will elect Harry C. Mason of Cleve-
land, an anti-Hanna Republican as
speaker, and seat him. If Representative
Mason should receive the required votes,
there would be no trouble about him
qualifying and taking his seat, but dis
order is feared previous to the ballot, and
possibly during the balIoting, and Il .
counting of the votes. The opposition
claim Al Democratic votes in the House
solid, and 9 Republican votes, or more
than enough to elect the Mason ticket.
Three Democratic members are opposed
to fusion, or rather to voting for Repub-
licans for speaker and other offices. These
Democrats would not enter the Demo
cratic caucus last night unJil they had
been assured that they would not be
pledged to vote for Republican nominees,
but do not say that they Will vote for
Mason Or other Republican candidates,
bnry hot %hn cto de
since the action of the opposition confer
ences they are unpledged. With the result
depending on the change of ono vote
either way, these three Democrats and
the Republicans who did not enter the
caucus are undergoing the strongest pres
sure tonight OF all influences that can be
brought to bear on them. There have
been irresponsible charges during the day
of bribery, but no evidence of it are dis
oernab'e. The opposition to Boxwell to-
night has declared that any excess of
| fifty three votes for him for speaker
would be followed by investigation, but
there are charges and counter-charges of
undue influence on both sides and On all
hands that cannot be traced to any reliable
| source.
The Hanna men claim that Mason will
be short three Democratic votes and four
Republicans that are listed against Box
we'll and that Mason will not have fifty
votes. While both sides ooncede less than
a majority to their opponents, neither
side claims more than one vote to spare
and the situation seems to require such
close Watching as to cause the most bitter
feeling.
Judge George z. Nash, chairman of the
Republican state executive committee to-
day sent letter to Gov. Bushnell, re-
signing his position as O trustee of the
Ohio asylum at Gallopolis. for .Epileptics
to which position Judge Nash had been
appointed by Gov. Bushnell. The letter
is said to be very caustic but Judge Nash
viii not give it out for publication until
it has been received by the governor
Upon being asked for the reasons for his
action Judge Nash tonight said:
''On Friday am informed by most
reliable gentleman, Gov. Bushnell said
that the Republican state executive com
mittce II the recent campaign did not do
a thing to assist him as a candidate In
justice to my assistants on that commit
tee, than whom more loyal set of men
to party ticket and to great cause,
were never banded together as we'll as to
myself, as the chairman, could not do
otherwise than resent the insult. Again,
If Gov. Bushnell really believes that !
was disloyal to him as q chairman, be
must be very uneasy as to whether Will
properly perform my duties as an officer.
l desire to relieve mis- mind of the worry.
am also disgusted with the conduct OF
Gov. Bushnell Before the election In
public speeches he pretended that be de-
sired Mr.. Hanna's return to the Senate.
Since that time he has consorted with the
enemies of the Republican party to defeat
the will of the people. I look upon this
as square case of obtaining votes oy
false pretences.