The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-02-08
Mr.. FULTON CONFIDENT
ASTORIA MAN N SURE OF
ELECTION TO SENATE.
Says That His Supporters Will
Hold Together and That
He VIII Win Ont.


| are voting for me are unanimous In
their determination to stay with me TO
the end. / shall certainly be elected
United States senator" said Charles
W. Fulton this morning with an en-
| phasis and an air OF confidence that
carried conviction Of his own faith in
his assertions.
There is absolutely no warning
among my friends he added, "and
there IL not the slightest danger that
| they VIII leave me. Those who are re-
sponsible for these rumors Of disinte-
grafton among my supporters know
they are false and the stories are start
ed merely in the hope Of exciting un-
easiness in the minds Of my friends.
shall surely win my fight"
Fulton has certainly succeeded In i'm
buing his friends with great degree
OF his own confidence az TO the final
outcome Of the intricate struggle in pro
grcss at the state capital. II can BE-
stated positively that Binger Hermann
who arrived Thursday night from
Washington. does not propose to enter
The senatorial fight so long as Fulton
continues 80 decidedly In the lead. and
this assurance has materially strength
ened the position OF the Clatsop candi-
date. Hermann's probable attitude
has been the topic OF much anxious
speculation for 1t Is well known that he
has warm personal friends In each fac
ton in the senatorial fight who woulf
probably rally to his standard Il he
should enter The lists.
With Hermann out Of the running,
the danger OF defections from Fulton is
materially lessened. From the outset
his greatest menace has been the pos
slble appearance Of some dark horse.
strong enough to draw votes from the
other candidates. The situation is re-
n.arkable in that with the exception OF
Hermann and Jonathan Bourne there is
no prominent republican in the state
whose advent in the contest has seemed
10 be seriously feared by Fulton and his
friends. II is extremely doubtful whe-
ther Bourne's name will ever be pre-
sented to the legislature. for he will not
become an avowed candidate unless
reasonably sure Of success. AS for
Harvey Scott. he is now decidedly out
of it.
The vital question now is whether
Fulton will be able to hold his follow
ing together up to the last round OF the
fight. The legislature will adjourn at
midnight on Friday, February 20. so
that less than two weeks of the session
remains. 1t is the general belief that
no senator will be elected until the last
day of the session, and II. when that
time comes, Fulton should still hold his
present strength, he will certainly De
most formidable candidate.
There Is strong sentiment in the
legislature that the session must not
end without the election of senator,
and this will naturally be powerful
aid to any candidate who is decidedly
in the lead when the hour arises for the
final struggle. Fulton enjoys one great
advantage. Despite the keenness of the
struggle, the desperate efforts that have
been made to defeat him, and the heat
ed fight over the organization of the
legislature. Fulton has so conducted his
campaign as to retain the personal
friendship of a large number of the
members who are voting for other can
didates for senator. Some of the
adherents of Ex-Governor
Geer, and even among the Multno-
nah members there are several who
express the same sentiment. If the is
sue should finally become Fulton or
no senator" it is safe to say that some
at least, of these members would cast
their ballots for the Clatsop candi-
date. i