Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-13

Columbus, Jan. 11.-Hanna is be-
lleved now to be one vote short of
election. The opposition is not sure
of 73 votes for any one man as against
only " for Hanna, but it feels con-
tdent at least of preventing Hanna's
election. The democratic steering
committee demanded that Kurtz be
furnished with at least eight affidavits
from republican members that they
would stand with the 65 democrats in
voting against Hanna. These have
been furnished, it is reported, and have
isfed. Representative Gayman,
chairman CT the house democratic
steering committee, went so far last
night as to say that Hannas defeat is
assured. There was no doubt that
Hanna was beaten for the week pre-
vious to last Friday when Represen-
tive Manuel changed in his favor.
Saturday the Hanna men secured
Representative Griffith, but they made
no accessions Sunday or Monday and
it is the general belief that they are
short one vote. 1t has been agreed
by the conference committee that the
palloting of the two houses shall not
begin until o'clock today and there
may be several changes by that time.
The real work of the fight
on both sides is now be-
irg done. There is feel
ing among many of those opposing
Hanna that if he is not defeated on
the first ballot or rather by separate
ballots (today) he will not be defeated
at all. The anti-Hanna workers say
that though they had a majority of
five against Hanna when they exposed
their strength in organizing the legis-
lature week ago Monday and that if
they come down to majority
OF only one against Ham
ma today, their coalition
may not hold together for another day
While the opposition still insists on
Kurtz as the candidate against Han
ma, yet it is said that Bushnell, Kurtz
or any other one will be dropped as
soon as it is demonstrated that he can
not secure all the votes either of the
anti-Hanna republicans or the demo-
cratic members. One Of the names
most prominently mentioned was that
of Representative John p. Jones who
represents Stark county, the home of
President Mckinley. Jones, who is a
free silver republican, is advocated as
fhp 10 hnr candidate n CT 90 nit n l.
list. With the result pending on one
vote either way, there are several who
want to be ON the winning side and
may at any time change according 10
their belief as to which side has the
necessary 73 votes. Owing to the ap-
still numerous rumOrS of bribery for
another vote either way 1t is noticed
by some of the most conservative OBJ
servers that as soon as nc further
changes were announced each day, the
coDtending factions alternated in daily
reports of bribery. The Hanna meT
claim to have stenographic notes of an
offer of 5000 by two prominent mem
hers of the opposition. The opposition
in turn claims that S. D. Hollenbeck,
a member of the republican state ex-
ecutive committee, went to Cincinnati
last Saturday with $4,000. 1t is
charged that Representative Otis was
offered and accepted $4,000. Repre-
sentative Otis is the republican who
voted with the democrats in the or
oaOiZatiOn If 10 said that Ranracanta-
tive Otis will pile the sum received on
the desk today and make a sensational
speech when his name is called on the
senatorial ballot The Hanna men
make a general denial of the Otis
charges and say that they anticipate
other dramatic performances before the
balloting begins.
The democratic caucus was contin-
ued all night. There are said to be at
least five democrats who refuse to
vote for any one except a democrat for
senator and all efforts were centered
on bringing these members into line
to vote for a republican to defeat
Hanna
Governor Bushnell was inaugurated
with the usual ceremonies.
At the mass meeting called by the
republican state central committee to
pI otest against the efforts to defeat
Hanna, resolutions were adopted
strongly denouncing the derelict re-
publicans and others seeking to pre-
vent Hannas election.