The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-01

| HARRISBURG, Pa, Dec. 31-The most
| remarkable fight in the history of Penn
| sylvania politics reached its climax tonight
| when the Republicans of the Senate and
| House met separately to nominate candi-
dates for president pro TEN and speaker.
| Upon the election Of these two officers de-
| ponds in large measure the success of
Mathew Stanley Quay in his contest for
| reelection to the United States Senate
| The results of the caucuses are not en-
| tirely satisfactory to Colonel Quay There
| is still too much doubt about the action
| of certain members OF the House. So far
as the Senate is concerned. it is controlled
b. the Quay men by a narrow margin.
Senator Snyder, of Chester. was nomi-
mated for president pro tenn by acclama-
ton. There were twenty-seven Senators
those present were Senator Washburn.
who quit the Democratic party this week
and announced himself as a Republican,
and Senator Rice, of Bucks, who has been
identified with the anti-Quay Republicans
for several years. Rice gave notice that
he supported Senator Snyder for president
pro TEN because Snyder had always voted
for bills in the interest of agriculture
He also notified the conference that he
would not attend the caucus tomorrow
night or vote for ex-senator Quay. This
announcement was an unpleasant sur
prise for those who jumped to the con-
clusion that Rice was steadfast convert
to the Quay cause.
The house caucus was attended by at
least one hundred members. Representa-
tive William T. Marshall, of Allegheny.
the Quay candidate, had no opposition,
and was nominated by reclamation. 1t
developed after adjournment that four
members, whose names were responded to
on the roll call, had been impersonated by
others. The four were Hill and Tiffany,
of Susquehanna; Arnold, of Perry, and
Alexander of Clearfeld. They denounced
the fraudulent use of their names in the
caucus, and authorized the statement that
they were not present and would not vote
for Marshall tomorrow on the organiza-
tion Of the House. This apparently re-
duced Mar=halls votes to SO, less than
the number necessary to elect.
There are 204 members in the House. but
four are detained at home on account OF
sickness, and the number necessary TO
elect is thereby reduced to 101. II is said
however, that all the Democrats are not
in favor of the fusion which has been
agreed upon by the anti-Quay Republicans
and Democrats, and any defections from
the fusion list may still give Marshall a
majority.
Colonel Guffey, the Democratic leader |
says tonight that all of the Democrats will |
support the fusion programme on the or |
ganization tomorrow. General Koontz, of |
Somerset County. has been agreed upon |
as the fusion candidate for Speaker Of |
the House.
While the House caucus was in session |
the anti-Quay Republicans were also in |
session ut the Commonwealth Hotel. where !
ffty-eight Of them met and again pledged |
themselves to stand again Quay. The to-
tal fusion strength tonight is claimed TO |
be 107 votes in the House. The margin |
on both sides is so narrow that the ex- |
element is intense and only the ballot |
can determine the results.
The Democrats and anti-Quay Republic |
cans held separate caucuses today and |
appointed conference committees to CO. |
operate in perfecting a fusion organiza-
ton. These committees have been at |
work all day. and their report has been
adopted by both ends of the combination. |
1t will not be known until the ballot is
taken In the House tomorrow which side |
has won. Quay and anti-Quay leaders |
are still declaring at midnight that the |
other side is whipped.
There was a lively Quay demonstration |
on the streets tonight, and the crowd |
seems 10 be with the Beaver statesman