The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-03
Yesterdays Developments i'm the Con-
the Ohio Legislature.
SIX UNPLEDGED MEMBERS
ON WHOSE ACTION THE SUCCESS OF
EITHER SIDE DEPENDS.
George II. Cox Now i'm Charge OF the
Foraker Forces at Columbus
TayIer May Oppose Dick.

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 indicate that
one element is as confident OF Price becom-
ing speaker as the other is of McKinnon
winning, but the efforts of both show there
are yet votes to GET by whomsoever be-
comes speaker. The list Of unpledged men,
bers has, however. been reduced to-day TO
q half dozen-Crist, Pool, Mcneil, Nihart.
Foster and Lochery. This does not include
many who are said to have pledged them
selves-some in writing-to both sides.
These six are said to lave made no pledges
to either side. and it 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
lists: Those pledged to Price" 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
u~npledged."
If the caucus dominates by secret ballot
ting there will be no way Of verifying these
1885, 0NNh oANCA NHC Co0S06C0 4 hClhs aAln
for that reason vive voce voting in caucus
is being advocated.
There was still much done to-day from
the homes of Senator Hanna in Washing
ton, Senator Foraker in Cincinnati, Con-
gresham Dick in Akron, Congressman
Tayler in Columbiana and others. and es-
pecially at Toledo, where Representative
Denman is still considered by some as
doubtful. There was much communication
with all the counties in which doubtful
members reside.
The most prominent arrival was that OF
George b. Cox, the Cincinnati leader, who
insists that ne is "as good a friend TO Sem
ator 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 can
didates for clerk and other places who can
bring strength to Price. The leadership on
the side was conceded to Cox
on his arrival.
1t is claimed that the developments to-
day indicate that Congressman Tayler, of
the old Mckinley district, will likely be an
opponent of Congressman Dick for the next
Republican gubernatorial nomination, and
that Tayler from his home is working as
hard for Price as Dick is working for Nc
kinnon.
The lines have been distinctly drawn on
the old question of local option. The liquor
associations have representatives here for
Price and the Ohio Anti-saloon League for
McKinnon. In the last Legislature Price
opposed the Clark local option bill and
McKinnon supported il. But there are
some who voted for the Clark bill who are
row supporting Price and some who OPP
posed it who favor McKinnon, just as some
of Hanna's closest friends are for Price for
local and personal reasons and some Of
Foraker'S to McKinnOn, while the senior
senator himself is actively for Price and
the Junior for McKinnOn.
Although Senator Writ is said to be still
i'm the contest for president pro TEN. and
Mr.. Uni for chief clerk of the Senate, there
does rot seem to be formidable opposition
TO Archer and Scobey for those places. The
Senate standing committees are selected by
the senators themselves and the House
and it is for the control of that office that
the factions are fighting.
There nave been reports that this was not
a contest in which Senator Hanna was in
terested directly or personally or he would
be i'm Ohio now to give the situation his
personal attention, as Senator Foraker is
doing. Some of the Price men, who are
said to have shared in this opinion, and
who said they would have supported Nc
Kinnon for speaker If Senator Hanna had
personally requested them TO do so, re-
ceived letters from Senator Hanna to-day
in which he not only makes this personal
request, but also goes into a history Of his
experience since the election last Novem-
Der. He SAYS he Endorsed Price and others
and was anxious for such an agreement as
would avoid any contest Till he FOUND that
states had been made up Tor Doth the sen
ate and House Republican caucuSes 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, anu
against whom an man was
slated. Senator Hanna insists that there
has been a conspiracy against him and his
friends. and appeals strongly for Mchin-
non, Uhl nd others.