The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-28

Frankfort, Ky, Jan. 27.-The first
actual test of strength between the
Republican and Democratic forces in
the Goebel-Taylor contest came today,
and by the admission of the Repub-
lican leaders proved d victory for GOe-
bel. This Democrats claim the result
of today's struggle as decisive, while
the Republicans. although freely ad-
hitting defeat, declare that they viii
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
ii. 5. Van Meter of Fayette county for
the seat heretofore held by Henry S
Berry. Both sides realized the test of
real strength would be made on this
issue, and every effort was made to
get out the largest possible vote The
vote in favor of Van Meter was 81 to
a. Hayes (Rep.) and Sledge (Dem)
were absent Berry had no vote, be
cause Of his personal interest in the
contest. Speaker Trimble did not vote
The matter came to a vote on the
question Of the adoption Of one Of two
reports from the committee on the con-
test. The Republicans, being in the
majority on the committee, presented
y
The one Democratic member of the
committee submitted a minority report
in favor Of seating Van Meter.
Majority For Democrats.
The decision of the house was
reached upon a motion to substitute
the minority report in favor Of Mr..
Van Meter for the majority report in
favor Of Mr.. Berry. IA the call pro
c6eded, Representative Baird. who was
considered doubtful By both sides, de-
ciined 10 vote Cochran was The first
Democrat TO vote for Berry; Egbert
followed him. then came Girder, Laf-
ferty, orr, Hilton and Willingham.
When the call was finished the vote
was 46 to e, several members present
not voting
Egbert changed his vote. making it
AZ to A. in favor of Van Meter. On the
call for absentees, Baird sided with
Van Meter, Democratic cheers greet
ing him as he announced his vote.
Three more Democrats who had not
responded to the roll-calI voted for the
minority report. and the clerk an
nOunced the total 81 to A.. The major
ity report az amended by the minority
report was then adopted. and then
Mr.. Van Meter was declared a member
Of the house.
There was much wrath in the Re
publican ranks over. the failure of r.
F Hayes of Pulaski county to vote.
He failed utterly to put in an appear
ance at the state house and was seen
at the depot a few minutes before a
train left After that the Republicans
saw him no more. nor could the mem
bers Of the campaign committee locate
him. although they spent the afternoon
in the search.
Chase For Runaway Republican
Adjutant General Collier hurrfedIy
impressed an engine on the Louisville
& Nashville and made a flying trip to
Lexington in the effort to find Hayes
and bring him back. On reaching Lex
ingtOn ne was informed that Hayes
had gone. He was compelled to return
without his man.
E G. Sebree, the Republican cam
paign manager, declared last night that
the vote on the contest today was a
crucial test Of strength and expressed
himself as confident of at least fifty
votes for Berry. After the house had
adjourned he said:
They knocked US out. There is no
doubt about that. I felt sure of fifty
votes, Of course including Berry, 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. ] presume the Democrats viii de-
eide the other contests now pending as
this one has been decided. We viii
fight it out to the end. however. The
people may be sure of that"
The Democratic leaders, without ex-
ception, claim that the seating Of Van
Meter fOreshadOws accurately the
seating of Goebel. The house now
stands sixty Democrats. including Van
Meter and Speaker TTimble, and forty
Republicans, the senate tWenty-six
Democrats and twelve Republicans.
The Democrats. on q vote in the
gubernatoTial contest. can have but a
possible maximum OF twenty-four, as
Goebel viii have no vote. and Senator
Hill, a GOebeI man, is incapacitated
by illness and has never qualified. Both
sides admit the senate to be very
evenly divided. Seventy votes are
necessary on joint ballot to seat GOebel
as governor.