The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-04-24

during the sixty days strenuous
efforts had been made on the part OF
the majority to elect q senator, but
during the campaign of the fall before
1t had been openly stated that the leg
islator of the coming session who did
not go home fixed" for life would be
foolish. Both sides were expected to
use enormous sums of money, and the
senatorship was expected to be the
prize of the man who was willing to
pay the most for it. This was the
sentiment of large number OF people
during the campaign.
Long before the first ballot for
the senatorship had been cast on the
second Tuesday of the session, the
leaders of the majority had decided
that as they had elected a majority
of the members of the body, there
would be no necessity for them to buy
the votes already theirs. They held
that the men could not have the
gall" to go back on the constituents
who had elected them and besideA
clean election would give their party
q large amount of prestige, as it would
serve to give . knockout blow to the
rumors OF corrupt uses OF money In
legislative halls, when their party was
In control.
When the first ballot was cast, the
votes of the majority were badly sat
tered, but day by day. as the bal&oting
proceeded, and the session came near
or to an end, tt was evident that the
votes Of the majority were simmering
down to two candidates, but It was
also evident that this state Of AFFAIRS
was the result of the clever wtre-p0ll-
ing Of the opposition. as the candi.
dates were old rivals and one would
never give way 70 the other.
The minority, on the other hand.
had been hanging closely together, and
1t was clear that they were being
Unanswered by clever political
schemer. During the early part OF
the session that had cast their 35 votes
for former Representative Moore, a
man who had borne a spotless reputa-
ton but ON the 45th day of the sit
ting they switched and cast their vote
solidly for a man who had the ropu-
tation of being the smoothest politi-
| clan in the state-John Flaherty-
| who since his defeat for Congress four
| years before had held a fat federal po-
| sition and had built up political ma
| chine powerful in Its environment.
| When the minority switched to Flaher-
| ty the leaders of the other side began
to look worried, for they knew that
the skillful politician would stop at
nothing to secure an election.
Thus 1t went on during the remain.
ing days of the session, enough mem
| bers to cause a deadlock or elect the
minority candidate, remaining stub
| born and mean, on account of not re,
! ceiving the price for their vote.
The session had just taken FIVE
minute recess, after twelve hours
| sitting and the members were just
getting back to their seats from the
saloon across The street. The floor OF
the House was crowded with lobbyists
for the minority who had baen
| brought from all parts of the state to
lend moral courage" to the men who
were to be purchased, and was imme
diately whispered around that Flaher
ty had fixed the insurgent members OF
the majority and that he would BIZ
elected on the next ballot.
The session was called to order, ant
an intense quiet seemed to come ovel
the packed throng.
eve will now proceed with the two
election of a United States senator t.
represent the state began the presi
dent.
81 demand a call of the house,
shouted a senator who was seated
with the majority. Everyone knew
that this was merely a subterfuge tt
gain time, for it could be told at ;
glance that every seat was full. Ev
eryone wondered what was to b.
gained by the delay, and as soon a
the call began three leaders of the ma
jority were seen to approach each othe
and hold hurried consultation. TIL
clerk rushed through the call wit
marvellous rapidity.
The members of the joint assem-
bly, are all present, Mr.. President,
he announced.
1.-THE sergeant-at-arms will see tina
each member remains in his seat I'LL