The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-03-22
The Clark Bill.

Inc btNte HHu udtiOUhl auDIulb-
trations killed the Clark local op.
tion bill.
The bill was up for final passage
in the senate Wednesday Of last
week and was defeated by vote
OF I5 to 18. Every member of the
senate was in his seat and voted.
The defeat of the bill was a sur.
prise to Its friends and many OF its
enemies. Tuesday evening the bill
had IS votes pledged to its support
Three of the IS changed in q night
for reasons best known to the sep
ators who changed when the roll
was called and voted no.
The men who said they would
vote for the bill aud then switched
are Oscar Sheppard, Martin Dodge
and Evan p, Middleton.
Mr.. Middleton has been non. COM
initial on the bill until Tuesday,
when he publicly and positively
announced that he would vote for
the bill. He changed In a night.
Martin Dodge of Cleveland, who
has gained the title Of Dodge, the
dodger, has been counted as q
friend of the bill for the past six
years and once voted for practic-
ally the same measure. Dodge an
nounced in guarded interview
some dayo ago that he expected to
vote for the bill, but that "his mind
was not made up beyond recall"
He recalled it.
The greatest surprise Of all was
the vote of Oscar Sheppard, the
president pro tenn of the senate.
He has been counted for the bill
all along. He said Tuesday even
ing that he would be in his seat
and would vote for the bill. He
voted against 1t.
There are many money stories
af1oat but money did not defeat the
bill. This point can not be disput-
ed. The bill was defeated at the
request of Governor Nash and the
national administration, as repre-
sented by Charles Dick and Mark
Hanna. Dicks friend and neigh
bor and his personal representa-
tive in the senate, Mr.. Sieber, man
aged the fight and applied the ad.
ministration pressure. He was
ably assisted, il is said, by the Rev.
Hissey, preacher from GAINESVILLE
who is connected with the national
headquarters of the Republican
party at Washington, and for
whom Dick introduced a $40 per
month private pension bill last
week. John r. Malloy, the spokes-
man of Governor Nash, was also
active, as was Charley Pryor, Sem
ator FOrakers law partner.
Direct requests were made to
certain men by both Foraker and
Hanna to vote against the bill for
party reasons.
The cry was the bill must be de-
feated to save Ohio for Mckinley
this year and Foraker next year.
The brewers only threatened to de.
feat Mckinley and Nash IL the
bill became a law. The leaders
feared the result and put forth
every effort to kill the bill.
Two of the men who Topped un-
der pressure are old men, and do
not expect to be returned to the
senate. This is the case with both
Dodge Of Cleveland and Sheppard
of Preble. Dodge wants to land In
an appointive Office, and secure the
promise that his road bill would be
passed in the house aud he would
be appointed one of the commis-
sioners at $2500 per year If he as
sisted the administration in killing
the Clark bill. He Topped.
No explanation as to the cause
which led up to the Middleton fiop
can be given at this time. Rumor
says much. but rumor is irrespon-
sible.
There was great crowd In the
senate chamber when the hour for
the consideration OF the bill was
reached. Not foot of standing
room but what was taken early
and many were refused admission.
The visitors were divided. There
were more men than women pres
ent, and almost, II not quite half,
of the lobby was made up OF per-
sons working against the bill.
Promptly at 1890 Mr., Marchant
called up the bill. The clerk read
the entire document and as he
closed the president Of the senate,
Lieutenant Governor Caldwell, who
Is the recognizedNchampion OF the
liquor men, said:
"The question Is on the passage
A.. Il M