Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-01-05
Meeting of the Legislature.

Harrisburg was crowded this week.
All the members of the State Senate
and House are there, and so were hun
dreds of fellows wanting appointments,
and the politicians or the state interest
ed in the organization of the Legisla-
ture and the election of United States
Senator.
The big hotels were illuminated, and
there were receptions, and caucuses,
and parades, and conferences, and every
thing else that goes to make up politi-
cal hippodrome.
On Monday the Republicans of the
House held a caucus and nominated
John R. Farr, an independent Republi-
can member from Scranton for Speaker,
with j. B. Rex of Huntingdon for
Chief Clerk, and d. Feterolf of Harris
burg for Resident Clerk; and Slate
N. Moore of Butler was named.
The Republican members of the Sen
ate also held caucus and named w,
p. Snyder Of Chester for Speaker pro.
tenn, with Smiley of Venango for
Chief Clerk, Cochran of Kittanning for
Sergeant alarms, etc.
Both caucuses agreed to end the ses-
sion on the Goth of April.
The Democrats also held caucuses,
but the fusion move ment seemed to fall
through, and at midnight the air was
full of reported agreements and ar
rangements
Tuesday noon both branches of the
Legislature met and organized, but
nothing was done excepting to read the
Governors message and to pass a reso-
luton to adjourn on April GOTH
That evening 109 of the 164 Republi
can members met in caucus to nominate
U. S. Senator Senator Grady pre-
sided, Quay, Jones and Magee were
nominated; Quay got 9S votes, Jones
and Magee 2; Chris Magee moyed to
make the nomination unanimous and ii
was so made.
The legislature consists of 254 mem
bers. it takes 1913 to elect U. S. Sena
tor. and so Quay TO be elected must
secure 10 of the Republicans who re-
manned out of the caucus, or as many
Democrats.
OF the 50 Republicans who stayed
out there were three Senators and four
teen members from Philadelphia led by
Martin; Senator Finn of Allegheny and
six members; Representatives Moore and
Dindinger of Butler; Martin and Cald-
well from Mercer; Wilson and Har-
grave of Westmoreland: Kountz and
Kendall of Somerset, etc, all of whom
signed a paper refusing to enter a
caucus until the criminal charges
against Quay are disposed of. The
paper reads as follows:
I'VE. the undersigned members of
the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the General Assembly of Penn
sylvania, being impressed with the
gravity of the present situation, and de
string to act for the best interest of the
Republican party and the Welfare o
our State, hereby set forth our views:
Under normal conditions we believe
in party regularity and the use of tn,
party caucus todetermine party polici e
and nominations. We believe that ;
Republican should and will be elected
to the United States Senate, and as on
of the candidates is at the present tim
over-shadowed by grave charges. which
if sustained, would render his election
impossible, and as said candidate ha
alleged that said charges are not honest
ly made and well founded in fact, bu
that he is the victim of political cor
spiracy to defeat and destroy him, W
believe that common fairness demaud
that such candidate should have th
fullest opportunity to present himsel
in the Senatorial caucus freed from th
damaging accusations now pending
the courts of the Commonwealth again:
him. And we further believe that III
due haste in holding the Senatorial car
Gus is unwise until the rule returnabl
in the Supreme court on January Z ha
been disposed of.
Entertaining these views, we there
fore agree with each other and promi
our constituents not to participate in
Senatorial caucus until after the S,
preme court has granted or denied tt
petition of said candidate"
Gov. Hastings in his message advis
the tearing down of the new Capt.;
reviews the condition of the state trea
ury, thinks q. S. Senators should
elected by popular vote, sugges
changes in the ballot.