The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-07
TIE SENATORIAL CONTEST
HANNA'S CHANCES OF SUCCESS
EXTREMELY SLENDER

Present Indications Point to Three Major
fty Against Him on "A Joint BaIlot-His
Party Say They Will Overcome This-The
Combine Say IL is Greater-Repubiica:s
to Hold No Senatorial cus-Dan of
Extreme silver Democrats Breaking Up
the Combine
Columbus, o., January 1.-THE polit-
ical future of Senator Hanna is GER
tainly tonightina closely poised balance
While there are now reported to be only
nine dissenters among the eighty re-
publican memers-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. Rep
resentatives Griffith ard Joyce, who
voted with "the combine or the or
ganiZation stated that they would vote
for Senator Hanna. This gives Hanna
fifty-four in the house and seventeen
in the senate, a total of se~venty-one or
two short of the necessary majority.
Droost, OF Hamilton, who voted for
BoxWell for speaker, at the
time that he would support Jep Thag-
gard, 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 sui
ton, and Rutan, of Carroll, who are in
structed for ann and voted with the
combine on the organization.
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
members are being offered their choice
of chairmanships and given the oppor-
tunity 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
influence is not to be under estimated
in connection with the support of the
state administration. While Mr.. KurtZ
and his associates will make no state
ments, yet they are holding back the
appointments on the committees n
other patronage in anticipation of gain
ing several votes on the senatorial bal
lot.
In holding their men in line, the
-combine' is having trouble with some
of the sixty-five democratic members.
1t is believed that Mayor McKisson
will give way to Mr.. KurtZ for the short
term for senator, while Governor Bush
nell has all along been regarded as the
candidate for the long term. Repre5en-
tatives Wiley Powell, Miles and other
radical free silver deocrats, are not sat-
isfied with Kurtz and Bushnell and if
they are to vote for republicans they
want them with pronounced silver re-
cords like that of Gerard and others
that are named. Some of the demo-
cratic 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.
Letters and kilograms today poured in
on Governor Bushnell, the dissenting
republican members and others, pro-
testing against the action of the repub-
deans who were cooperating with the
democrats.
The announcement today 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
this guerilla warfare for another week.
But with the result depending on the
action of two or three doubtful men,
bers, neither side could show its hand
without exposing the recuitS or the de-
serters Ito terrific fire for at least a
week. 1t was expected by the public
that there would be decisive results at
the caucuSeS tomorrow night but there
will be no causes, and the steering
committees will try to have all men,
bers located before balloting begins.
The senate and the house will ballot
separately next Tuesday for senator.
The senate 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 fifty five to
fifty four against Hanna. This would
settle the contest if the combine" in
both houses can concentrate on any
one candidate against Hanna when
the two houses meet on the following
day, Wednesday January 18th, to can
vass in joint assembly the vote Of the
previous day as cast by each branch
separately, there would be nothing to do
except the total result as "A to
1against Hanna. But if Senator Hanna
has not a majority a week hence, 1t is
doubtful whether any opponent will
have it and the general prediction is for
a deadlock. In the event that the bal
loting next Tuesday does not show a
majority for any one, the general as
sembly will proceed on the next day to
ballot in joint assembly and continue
to do so till there is an election. The
ballOting may not do any more thar to
compel the contestants to Show their
names on roll call and after that the
same fight may be continued for al in
definite period.
THE combine" tonight is charging
that Senator Hanna is in such deSper-
ate straights as to be forced Ito swap
horses" while crossing the stream,
owing to the republicans 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
Sherman went into the cabinet, arti-
Gle 2, section 2, of the Statutes is being
quoted as follows: 'If vacancies Gin
the ~senate) happen by resignation. or
otherwise, during the recess OF the leg
islature of any state, the
thereof may make temporary appoint
oa,H. until tho rovt ooafinc~ Of thn loo