The age-herald., 1900-01-28
DEMOCRATS HAVE
 DECIDED MAJORITY First Actual Test Goes Against the
 Republicans. G0EBEL MEN ARE JUBlLANT TaylOf'S Friends Will Continue the Fight to End. DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE SEATED The Democrats Claim That the Result of Yesterdays Test Foreshadows
 the Final ousting of Gov
 ernor Taylor
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE sEA1El

AoinhOit' ny, January N.-The first actual test of strength between the repub- lbaan and democratic forces in the Goebel- Iaytor contest came today, and by the ad- mission of the republican leaders, proved a Very clear majority for Goebel. The dem ocrats claim the result of today's struggle as decisive, while the republicans. although freely admitting defeat declare that they will fight to the finish, and have still strong hopes of retaining Governor Taylor in his seat. The fight today came on the vote of the house in the contest brought by H. S. Van Meter, of Fayette county, for the seat heretofore held by Henry S. Berry. Both sides realized that the test of the real strength would be made on this issue, and every issue was made to get out the largest possible vote.
 There were before the contest 59 demo- crats, including Speaker Trimble, in the house, and 41 republicans. The latter ca.m- ed jeontidentially last night that they would be able to swing at least 50 votes, with ex- cellent chances of two or three additional. The democrats claimed to be certain of 52 votes. The vote in favor of Van Meter was 51 to 45. Hays, republican, and Sledge, dem ocrat, were absent. Berry had vote be- cause of his personal interest in the con test. Trimble, speaker did not vote.
 As soon as dlne session began w. A. Burkamp, chairman of the committee which had heard the evidence in the con- test rose to speak in behalf of the adoption of iuhe majority report which he had pre- pared and presented yesterday. Under spe- cial rules of the house adopted yesterday. each side was to have no less than twenty aor more than fifty minutes for argument and 'nhe member presenting a report to have thirty minutes to speak for his cause. MT. Burkamp made an elaborate legal ar- s,.., t,sfA Afr and ron hes had consumed his time Representative e.. A. Holland spoke the full fifty minutes in. behalf of Van Meter. He was stopped by the speaker, his time having expired. MT. Burkamp announced that he wished to divide his time with Representative Slack, the house leader of the republican minority The speaker ruled that he could divide his time with nobody.
 Vote on Motion to Substitute
 The vote was on. the motion to substi- ute the minority report in favor of Mir. Van Meter, in favor of the majority report for MT. Berry. AS the call proceeded Rep reseptative Baird who was considered doubtful by both sides, declined to vote Cochran was the first democrat to vote for Berry. Eeoert followed him, then came Grider, Lafferty, Orr, 44.nton and Willing ham. When the call was read the vote stood 46 to 46, several members present not voting.
 Egibert changed his vote, making it 47 to 40 dn favor of Van Meter. On the call for absentees Baird sided with an Meter, dem ocrat, cheers greeting him as he announced his vote. Three more democrats who had not responded to the roll call voted for the minority report, and the clerk announced the total to be 51 to 45. The majority re- port, as amended by the minority report, was then adopted and MT. Van Meter was declared a member of the house
 There was much wrath in the republican u.inks over the failure of D. H. Hays, of Pulaski county, to vote He failed entirely to put dn an appearance.
 Adjutant-General Collier hurriedly char tered an engine on the Louisville and Nash vile railroad, and made a flying trip to Lexington in the effort to find Hays and bring him back On reaching Lexington he was informed that Hays had gone He was compelled to return without his man.
 E. G. Sebree. the republican manager declared last night that the vote on the contest today was crucial test of strength and declared himself as confident of at least 50 votes for Berry. After the house had adjourned he said:
 s'They knocked us out. There Is no doubt about that. l felt sure of 50 votes of course, including Hays, and counted on ten democratic votes for Berry. However this is not the vote for governor, although the seating of Van Meter increases the odds against us. I presume the democrats will decide the other contests now bending as this one has been decided We will fight it out to the end however. The people may be sure of that"
 The democratic leaders, without excep- Hon, claim that the seating of Van Meter foreshadows accurately the seating of Goe- bel
 2 The house stands now 60 democrats in- cluding Van Meter and Speaker Trimble, and 40 republicans. The senate, 26 demo- crats and i2 republicans.
 Foreshadows Seating Of Go' bel 5 The democrats on a vote in the guberna- toriad contest can have but possible max mum of twenty-four in the senate, AS Goebel will have no voice, and Senator Hall, Goebel man, Is incapaci- tated by illness and has never qualified. Both sides admit the senate to be very evenly divided Seventy votes are neces- sary on joint ballot to seat Goebel as gov ernor.