Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-01-03
The Ohio Legislature Opened
Its Session.
sENAToRsHIP STILL IN DoUBT.
Serious Trouble Expected over the Con-
test-Both sides Making Vigorous
Fight-Judge Nash Sends His Resigna-
tion to Governor Bushnell.


disorder, at the state house today.
Since the caucuses both the Hanna men
and the opposition are claiming enough
votes for the organization of the house.
No trouble is feared in the senate
chamber, as it is believed that Senator
Burke. one of the Republicans, will re-
main away and thus permit the Demo-
Gratis to elect the officers In that body.
At the Republican house caucus Satur-
day night there were ten absentees and
Alexander Boxwel received only 81
votes tor the nomination, while it re-
CURES 30 votes To-Day for election, if all
are present. Under the law after ten
ballots are aiken, the candidate recelv-
ing the highest number of votes is de-
clared elected even If it is then not
majority over all. Griffith of Clinton
county. who was unable to be at the
caucus on account of sickness, has an
nounced that he will be here today to
vote for oxwell, who is the Hanna
candidate tor speaker. and Mr.. Box
well, without E1vlns any names, claims
to have the two other votes necessary
for election.
In addition TO the absent members
many other Republicans have been sent
for by both sides. 1t is charged that
some Of the arrivals are known as
knockers" on such occasions as will
be witnessed in the hall of the
house. Secretary of State Charles
Kinney, strong Hanna man, will
preside i'll the house till that body
elects a speaker. In anticipation of his
rulings there have been threats made
during the day. Mr. Kinney is said to
have selected a strong force of tempo
rary sergeants at arms and to be ready
for any emergency. The combine of
Democratic and anti Hanna Republic
cans claim that they will elect Harry
@. Mason of Cleveland, an anti Hanna
Republican, rs speaker and seat him.
If Representative Mason should re-
ceive the requisite votes there will be
no trouble about him qualifying and
taking his seat, but there is apprehen-
sion OF disorder previous to the ballot
being taken and possibly during the
balloting and the counting of the vote.
The opposition claim that they will
have the - Democratic votes in the
house solid, and nine Republican votes
or one more than enough to elect the
Mason ticket. They are staying with
the anti slanna ana anti Boxwell Re-
pubhcans very closely and claim that
these kepubEcans who did not attend
the caucus are staying with them.
There are three Democratic members
who are opposed to fusion, or rather to
voting for Republicans for speaker and
other offices. These three Democrats
would not enter the Democratic caucus
until they were assured that they
would not thus be pledged to vote for
Republican nominees. But they do
not say that they will not vote for
Mason or other Republican candidates.
They simply announce 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 I'M
dergoing the strongest pressure of all
Influences that can be brought to bear
on them. There have been irresponsi-
BILE charges of bribery, but no evidences
of it are discernible. The opposition to
Boxwell has declared that any excess of
53 votes for him for speaker will be fol
lowed by investigation, but there are
charges and counter charges Of undue
influences on both sides and on all
hands that cannot be traced to any re-
liable source.
The hanna men claim that Mason
will be short three Democratic and four
Republicans that are listed against
Boxwell, and that Mason will not have
so votes. While both sides concede
less than a majority to their opponents.
neither side claims more than one vote
to spare, and the situation seems to re.
Quire such close watching as to cause
tho most bitter feeling.
Judge George K. Nash, chairman of
the Republican state executive COM
mittee, has sent letter to Governor
Bushnell resigning his position as
trustee Of the Ohio asylum at Gallipolis
for epileptics. to which position Judge
Nash had been appointed by Governor
Bushnell. The letter is said to be very
caustic but Judge Nash will not give
it out for publication till after it has
been received by the governor in his
mail today. On being asked for the
reasons for his action, Judge Nash
said
ION Friday. I am informed by
most reliable gentleman, Governor
Bushnell said that the Republican
state executive committee in the recent
campaign did not do thing to assist
him as candidate. In justice to my
associates on that committee, than
whom a 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 Governor Bushell really
believes that was disloyal to him as
chairman. he must be very uneasy as
to whether will properly perform my
duties as an officer. | desired to re-.
Leve his mind of this worry.