The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1902-05-17

All during the sixty days strenuous
efforts had been made on the part of
the majority to elect a senator, but
during the campaign of the fall before
it 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 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 besides, a
clean election would give their party
I, large amount Of prestige, as it would
serve to give a 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 scat
tered, but day by day, as the balloting
proceeded, and the session came near
rr to an end, it 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 Wiccpull.
ing Of the opposition, as the candi-
dates were old rivals and one would
never give way to the other.
The minority, on the other hand.
had been hanging closely together, and
il was clear that they were being
maneuvcred by clever political
schemer During the early part of
the session that had cast their 35 votes
for former Representative Moore,
man who had borne spotless reputa-
ton, but on the 45th day Of the sit.
ting they switched and cast their vote
.olidly for a man who had the repu.
tation Of being the smoothest po]ti
cian in the state-Jchn Flaherty-
who since his defeat for Congress four
years before had held fat federal po.
sition and had built up political ma
chine powerful in it's environment
When the minority switched to Flaher
ty the leaders of the other side began
10 look worried for they knew that
the skillful politician would stop at
nothing to secure an election
Thus it went On during the remain
!ng days of the session. enough mem
hoIs to cause q deadlock or elect the
minority candidate, remaining stub
born and mean, on account Of not re-
;eiving the price for their vote.
The session ha d just taken a five
minute recess. after a twelve hours
sitting, and the members were lust
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 been
brought from all parts Of the state to
lend moral courage" to the men who
were to lie purchased, and was imne.
di2tely whispered around that FIaher.
ty had fixed the insursent members of
the majority and that he would be
elected on the next ballot.
The session was called to order, and
ar intense quiet seemed to come over
the packed throng
I've will now proceed with the two
hundred and eighteenth ballot for the
Election Of United States senator to