The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-05
Deadlock in Nebraska Legislature
May Cost Republican Party
Two Senators.
WILL NOT AGREE TO CAUCUS.
Candidates See Possible Danger in
Every Suggestion Made by Op-
pOnents-Patronage Is
Real Issue.

Lincoln. Neb., Feb. 4.-Cnless Mark Ham
ma brings to bear the powerful influences at
his command n order to save two Senators
TO the Republican party. the Nebraska Leg
islature will adjourn without settling the
deadlock which has now been I'm force for
three weeks
1t is the old story OF the clashing of sell
fish ambitions. AT least five OF the ten or
more candidates have sworn that they will
not yield unless he is made one OF the two
and that II he is not. neither of the leaders
shall have an election.
To add to the complication seven men
have signed a pledge not to go into a caucus
until d. Z. Thompson. the leader is retired
from the race. As Thompson has about
forty men behind him, this Is regarded as
rather persumptuous. and Mr.. Thompson's
managers have retorted that IL that is at
tempted 1t will be a game that two can
play at.
In Nebraska 1t requires sixty-seven votes
to elect. There are but seventy-two Repub-
lican members, and seven, or even SIX men
can block an election. IL they are Repub-
Hcans. Many propositions for a caucus have
been made, but the whole thing has sim
mered down to a difference on the point
whetner the nominations shall be made
son men insist a single nomination
They will go into a caucus that will pro
vide that fifty shall nominate, and that as
soon as any one man Is nominated he shall
Rosewater. insist upon double nomination
on the same ballot. no ballot to be valid
or binding unless & short-term and a long
term Senator are elected thereon. They In
sist, also, upon fifty being required to
nominate.
In Fear of . Combination.
This number is placed at that figure they
say, in order that there can be no combina-
tion. but the next clause provides for the
double nomination which cannot be accom-
pished without combination. Thompson
Will not combine with any Of the others.
insisting that as he is the choice OF thirty
nve OF the forty-three members from the
South Platte country. he ought to be put
through first and his followers released in
order that they might vote for whoever
they pleased from the North Platte section.
Rosewater declines to do this because, as
he says. Thompson will turn around at once
and endeavor to dictate his colleague, or
have sole charge OF the distribution of pat
rOnage In the State.
The patronage part of the problem Is the
vital Issue. Almost every member of the
Legislature has figured out in his own mind
Just what Job he wants, and he is after 1t. |
This factor alone may stop any adjourn
ment without an election, because with that |
would go their hope of "A job unless on |
especially good terms with the National /!
Committeeman.
1t is believed by many. however. that it |
Will be possible to get together In a caucus i
on the proposition to reduce the number \
necessary TO nominate to forty-three or |
forty-fye, made by the Thompson men, in |
nomination plan. Even should 4
2 caucus be held the chances for a dead
lock there are about good as In the open
balloting In joint convention.