The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-03
HANNA-FORAKER FIGHT
RESULT OF THE CONTEST STILL
 IN DOUBT.
George B. Cox Arrives on the Scene and Assumes the Leadership of .the Forces Backing Price
 for Speaker.

Columbus, O., Jan. 2.-The contest be- tween Republican factions over the or ganization of the Legislature Is still in doubt so far as the house is concerned. The claims of either faction would indi- cate that one element Is confident of Price becoming Speaker and the other of Mo- Kinnon winning. but the efforts of both show that there are yet votes to get by whomsoever becomes Speaker. The list of unpledged members has, however. been reduced today to a half dozen-Crtst, Pool, McNeil, Nihart, Foster and Loch- cry. This does not include many who are said to have pledged themselves-some in writing-to both sides. These six are said to have made no pledges to either side, and 1t is conceded that they hold the balance of power.
 Owing to the confusion over lists. there is talk of a Round Robin" There are five iists-those pledged to Prince; those pledged to McKinnon; those pledged to both; those still unpledged; those listed as doubtful, which list includes those pledged to both, as well as those who are unpledged.
 If the caucus nominates by secret bal loting there will be no way of verifying these lists. even after the caucus Is held, and for that reason viva voce voting in caucus Is being advocated.
 There was still much work done today from the homes of Senator Hanna in Washington, Senator Foraker in Cincin- natl. Congressman Dick in Akron, Con- gressman Taylor in Columbiana, and oth- CTS. especially at Toledo. where Represen- tative Denman is still considered by some as doubtful There was much communi- cation with all the counties in which doubtful members reside.
 The most prominent arrival was George B. Cox the Cincinnati leader. who insists that he is "as good a friend of Senator Hanna as ever,' but that he was pledged to Price for Speaker before the junior Ohio Senator broke with Price, and that he is here now to do all he can for Price, and this includes the support of candidates for clerk and other places who can bring strength to Price.
 The leadership on the anti-Hanna side was conceded to Cox on his arrival. It Is claimed that the developments today in: dicate that Congressman Tayler of the old Mckinley district, will likely be an opponent of Congressman Dick for the next gubernatorial nomination. It Is said that Tayler. from his home, is working as hard for Price as Dick Is working for McKinnon.
 The lines have been distinctly drawn on the old question of local option. The
 
 here for Price and the Ohio Anti-Saleon League for McKinnon. In the last Leg isiature Price opposed the Clark local option bill and McKinnon supported 1t. But there are some who voted for the Clark bill. who are now supporting Price and some who opposed it who favor Me- Kinnon. just as some of Hanna's closest friends are for Price for local and per- sonal reasons, and some of Foraker's g for McKinnon. while the senior Senator himself Is actively for Price and the junior Senator for 'Mckinnon.
 Although Senator Wirt is said to be still in the contest for President pro tenn pore and MT. Uhl for chief clerk of the Senate, there does not seem to be for midable opposition to Archer and Scobey for those places. The Senate standing committees are selected by the Senators themselves, and the House committees are all named by the Speaker, and it is for the control of that office that the factions are fighting.
 Congressman Charles Dick, chairman of the Republican State Committee. did not reach Columbus today. as announced. and he is not now expected. There have been reports that this was not a contest in which Senator Hanna was interested. directly or personally, or he would be in Ohio now to give the situation his per- sonal attention as Senator Foraker is do- ing. Some of the Price men, who are said to have shared in this opinion. and who said they would have supported Mo- Kinnon for Speaker if Senator Hanna had personally requested them to do so, re- ceived letters from Senator Hanna today in which he not only asks this personal request, but also goes into a history of his experience since the election last Mo- vember. He says he endorsed Price and others and was anxious for such an agreement as would avoid any contest, till he found that slates had been made up for both the Senate and the House Republican caucus, with all his friends left out. He refers to the case of W. B. Uhl of Cleveland. who had only one term as Senate chief clerk, and against whom an anti-Hanna man was slated. Senator Hanna insists that there has been a con- spiracy against him and his friends, and appeals strongly for McKinnon, Uhl and others.
 Up to late hour tonight the Speaker ship was still in the balance, with odds In favor of Price.