Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-12-11
COX
Holds Balance of
Power
And Will Decide Le!gis-
lative Fight.
Controls the Hamilton County
Delegation.

Cincinnati, o., Dec. 11.-A sensation
was caused here last night by the
action of the thirteen members Of the
Legislature from Hamilton county.
The meeting was called because of the
reports current during the past week
of a contest between the friends Of
Senator Foraker and Senator Hanna
over the organization Of the Legsla-
ture. which meets Jan. 9. The party
caucuses will be held in Columbus
the preceding week for the nomination
of candidates for president pro tenn
of the Senate, Speaker and Speaker
pro tenn of the House and all other
officers in the Legislature.
The successor of Senator Foraker
will be elected during the second week
of the session and the Republican
caucus for the nomination of Senator
will not be held until after the Legis-
lature convenes and is fully organ
ized. The members of the Legislature
say they have reports from both
Washington and Columbus that the
| friends of Senator Foraker are seeking
| to name the officers under the Legis-
ture and that some of them are work.
ing with view to opposing the re-
| election of Senator Hanna two years
hence. 1t is conceded that there will
be no opposition whatever to the re-
election of Senator Foraker next
month.
The cite published statements that
have recently been made by both Of
the Ohio Senators regarding these con-
tests and also the statement of Hon.
| Charles l.. Kurtz who is credited
with being the head of movement
at this time for purposes of prestige
in opposing Senator Hanna two years
hence, Mr.. Kurtz headed fusion Of
Republicans and Democrats in the
Legislature four years ago in opposi-
tion to Senator Hanna, and it Is
claimed now that he Is preparing un-
der "The Foraker banner for another
fight against Hanna two years hence.
In this connection George 3. Cox
the Republican leader in Hamilton
couty, the home of Seator Foraker,
has been appealed to repeatedly by
both sides. and he has refused to
join either faction. 1t is conceded
with the Hamilton county delegation
solidly back of him, that he holds
the balance of power.
The three Senators and ten repre-
sentatives of Hamilton county tonight
organized, with Senator Eckert as
chairman and Representative Cook as
secretary, and, after discussing the
contest between the Foraker and the
Hanna men for places in the Legisla-
ture, invited Mr.. Cox to the meeting.
He made a statement of the pending
troubles, and urged the delegation to
work for party harmony without re-
gard to personal preferences. Before
adjourning the delegation unanimously
adopted the following order by Sena-
tor Hosea:
Resolved. that the Hamilton county
delegation to the Ohio Legislature,
having thus far been benefited by the
advice and counsel of Mr.. George B.
Cox. hereby agree to be governed
by his further advice in the matter
of the organization of the Senate and
House of representatives"
1t is understood that Mr.. Cox is
opposed to the states that are said to
have been arranged, and that he will
act as a mediator for harmony.
Much significance is also given here
to the fact that Gov. Nash was III
the city today and in consultation with
Republican leaders until he returned
to Columbus tonight.