The San Francisco call., 1898-01-03
TROUBLE IS
 EXPECTED AT
 COLUMBUS Indications of Strife Tn the Legislature
 of Ohio. It Is Feared That Forcible Attempts May Be Made
 to Seat Officers. Large Number of Sergeants-at- Arms to Be Ready for Any 
Large Number of Sergeants-at- Arms to Be Ready for Any
 Emergency.
HANNA MEN CONFIDENT.
Notwith standing the Opposition They Expect to Ret urn Him to the
 Senate.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 2.-There are indications tonight here of serious trouble, at least of disorder, at the State House tomorrow.
 Since the caucuses of last night both the Hanna men and the opposition are claiming enough votes for the organi- zation of the House. No trouble is feared in the Senate chamber, as it is believed Senator Burke, one of the Republicans, will remain away, and thus permit the Democrats to elect the officers in that body.
 At the Republican House caucus last night there were ten absentees and Alexander BoXwell received only fifty two votes for the nomination, while it requires fifty-five votes for election, if ali are present. Under the law, after ten ballots are taken the candidate re- ceiving the highest number of votes is declared elected, even if it is then not a majority over all. Griffith of Clin- ton, who was unable to be at the eau GUS last night on account of sickness, has announced that he will be here to- morrow to vote for BoXwell, who is the Hanna candidate for Speaker, and MT. BoXwell, who, without giving any names, claims to have the other two votes necessary for election.
 In addition to the absent members, many other Republicans have been sent for to-day by both sides and many are arriving tonight. It is charged that some of the arrivals are known as knockers on such an occa- sion as will be witnessed in the House tomorrow. Secretary of State Charles Kinney, a strong Hanna man, will pre- side in the House until that body se- lects a Speaker.
 In anticipation of rulings, there have been threats made during the day. MT. Kinney is said to have selected a strong force of temporary sergeants- at-arms and to be ready for any emer- gency. The combine of Democrats and anti-Hanna Republicans claim to- night that they will elect Harry c. Ma son of Cleveland, an anti-Hanna Re publican, as Speaker, and seat him.
 If Representative Mason should re- ceive the requisite votes there will be no trouble about his qualifying and taking his seat, but there is apprehen- sion of disorder previous to the ballot being taken, and possibly during the balloting and counting of the vote. The opposition claim they will have the forty-seven Democratic votes in the House solid and nine Republicans, or one more than enough to elect the Ma son ticket. They are staying with the anti-Hanna and anti-BoxwelI Repub- licans very closely, and claim that those Republicans who did not attend the caucus last night are staying with them.
 There are three Democratic members who are opposed to fusion, or, rather, to voting for Republicans for Speaker and other officers. Three of the Demo- crats would not enter the Democratic caucus last night until they were as- sured they would not thus be pledged to vote for Republican nominees. But they do not say to-day that they will not vote for Mason or other Repub- lican candidates. They simply an- nounce that as things stand since the action of the opposition conference they are unpledged. With the result depending on the change of one vote either way, these three Democrats and the Republicans who did not enter the caucus are undergoing the strong est pressure tonight of all influences that can be brought to bear upon them.
 There have been irresponsible charges during the day of bribery, but no evidences of it are discernible The opposition to BoXwell tonight has de clared that any excess of fifty-three votes for him for Speaker will be fol- lowed by investigation, but there are charges and counter-charges or undue influence on both sides.
 The Hanna men claim that Mason will be short three Democratic votes and four Republican, that are listed against Boxwell, and that Mason will not have fifty votes. While both sides concede less than a majority to their opponents, neither side claims more than one vote to spare, and the situa- tion seems to require such close watch ing as to cause the most bitter feeling