Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-01-25
First Day.

Madison, Wis, Jan. 10.-The Repub
ican senatorial caucus was called to or
der shortly after o'clock last evening,
with Senator Thayer acting as chairman
and Speaker Ray of the Assembly as
secretary. Speeches nominating and sec
onding candidates were limited to thirty
minutes to each candidate.
Assemblyman Rusk Of Chippewa Falls
presented the name of J. V. Quarles of
Milwaukee, and it was seconded by Sen
ator Julius Roehr of Milwaukee. Sen
at0r McGillivray of Black River Falls
nominated J. W. Babcock Of Necedah
and Assemblyman Philo Orton of Oar
lingtOn made the seconding speech. Isaac
Stephenson of Marinette was nominated
by Senator Whitman of Appleton and
seconded by Assemblyman Harvey Of
OcOnto.
Mr.. Cook was nominated by Assembly
man Williams of Neenah and seconded
by Senator Martin Of Darlington. Judge
Webb was placed in nomination by Sen
ator Kreut2er of Wausau and Senator
RiOrdan Of Eagle River.
The first two ballots were secret, but
the third was an open one, the latter be
ing SO ordered after prolonged debate,
and on close vote. The Quarles men
fought vigorously for this change in
methods, but the result was in doubt for
many minutes. as the field showed dis
position to combine against them on this
issue. When the decisive roll-call was
taken narrow margin Of four in favor
of the Milwaukeean was shown, the vote
being 81 TO 3D. This victory was re-
ceived with cheers by the Quarles men III
the corridors.
After the third ballot. which was an
open one, the caucus adjourned until
o'clock Oh Thursday afternoon.
The ballots deSulted as follows: First
In rlnC n. u oln al
10; Cook 10; Webb 10. Second-Quarles
80; Stephenson 30; Babcock Il; Cook 16
Webb 8. Third-Quarles As: Stephenson
10; Babcock II; Cook II; Webb 10
The result of the first formal ballot
was a complete surprise to the friends of
j. v Quarles. Mr.. Quarles received 81
votes and it was announced just before
the caucus that he had at least 81 votes,
and possibly "a.
The remarkable showing made by Mr.
Stephenson was somewhat of Il reveia
ton. His most Sanguine followers did
not make any claims for him, and it
was generally conceded that he would be
third in the running
The falling away of the vote for Bah
cock was another SURPRISE as it was
claimed for him that he would have at
least % votes.
The vote demonstrated that Quarles'
forces were practically pitted against the
field.
Second Day.
Madison, Wis, Jan. Ex-senator
Thayer called the caucus to order Ut , 40
o'clock yesterday afternoon and the roll
call showed only a few absentees, most
Of whom came in later.
The caucus proceeded Immediately to
take a ballot. The Senate showed no
change. There were four changes in the
Assembly, Messrs. Dengel, GrOOtemaat,
10th and linn going to Mr.. Stephenson.
The ballot stood: QuarleS, A; Stephen
son, %; Babcock, II; Cook, II; Webb, 8.
Messrs. Werheim and Willy were absent.
Senator Munson moved to admit the
public and that four tickets be issued to
each member. The motion was DEBATED
after some debate.
The fifth ballot showed no change.
The sixth ballot gave Quarles 43 and
Stephenson %, Assemblyman Wells
changing from Quarles to Stephenson.
The others remained unchanged.
On the seventh ballot Mr.. Hartung
changed from Quarles to Stephenson and
Mr.. Werheim came in and voted for
Webb, making the vote: Quarles, 40:
Stephenson, "a; Babcock, II; Cook, II;
Webb, 10.
The eighth ballot showed no change.
The ninth ballot showed no change.
There was no change on the tenth bal
lot.
There was no change on the eleventh
ballot
On the twelfth ballot there was no
change.
The thirteenth ballot showed no
change.
There was no change on the fourteenth
ballot
Recess until 80 this evening.
The first ballot of the evening session,
the fifteenth of the caucus, showed one
change. Assemblyman Thiesenhaussen
went from Quarles to Cook, reducing
Mr.. Quarles' vote to Al.
The balance of the vote was affected
by the absence Of some of the members,
but there were no real changes.
On the sixteenth ballot there was no
change.
The seventeenth ballot showed no
On the eighteenth ballot there was no
change. the vote still standing: Quarles,
IL; Stephenson, "a; Cook, IS; Babcock,
II; Webb, 10.
There was no change Of the nineteenth
ballot
The caucus then adjourned until Il
o'clock Friday morning.
Third Day.
Madison, Wis, Jan. 2O.-[Special. /
The senatorial struggle was renewed this
morning after a night of comparative
quiet. After the caucus last night the
members were SO tired that they all
sought their beds and for the first time
since the contest began the corridors of
the Park hotel were deserted at the COM
paratively early hour of - o'clock, save
for the newspaper men and Il few night
owls who never go to bed anyway.
The business of the Legislature was
got out Of the way quickly and the mem
bers We're all on hand for the caucus at
II o'clock
The several managers had conferred
and agreed that there should be three
ballots, after which an adjournment was
to be taken to Monday
Senator Thayer called the caucus to
order promptly at II o'clock and a roll