The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-12-12
WELKER CONSENTS
TO CAUCUS AFTER HEARING OF
CONTEST FOR HIS SEAT
The Stark County Man Only Smiled
and Doesn't Think the Case
VIII Go Any Farther--Four
Others In Same Boat.

i've SedrS IN 'Ne BGueTd1 dSSeHlDly udNc (
been fled In as many county seats,
and notices have been sent TO the
clerks of the senate and mouse Of iep-
resentatives.
All Of the contestants are Demo-
Gratis. In the senate DR.. s. @. Goode |
of Shelby ctnlests the seat of Senator
elect J: T.. Russell of the Twelfth dis
strict, and Tbaddeus Hoyt of Ashta-
bula contests the seat of Charles
Lawyer of the Twenty-fourth-Tw Twenty
six tn joint district. In the house OF
representatives, Bernard Bell of Mas
sillon demands the seat Of REPRESENTA-
tive-elect James WelIer OF STARK
county; Henry Ficke oil Paulding asks
Tor the certificate now held by Repre-
sentative-elect +. i. Demuth, and II
b. Farnsworth wants the place of
Representative-elect Louis Paine OF
Lucas county.
At the capitol, where about fifty
members OF the general assembly wers
gathered, no surprise was evinced.
AS now constituted, the upper
branch has eighteen Democrats, eight
cen Republicans and one independent.
In case of contest the member whose
seat is challenged has no vote on his
own case. If the supposed Dick plan
of contesting the Huffman case were
carried out, II would give the lieuten-
ant governor, O Republican, the decid-
ing vote, and enable that party to
gaip control of the senate.
In the Twelfth district Russell was
elected over Goode by less than fifty
votes, and a lot of Irregularities are
alleged in Miami county. In the Twen-
| fourth-Twenty-slxth district. MIR.
Hoyt was the only Democrat named
against two Republicans. and he as
serts that the election judges failed to
count his vote alone, always adding
one or the other of the opposing can
didates. The same claim is made by
Bell in his suit against Welker, where
similar conditions existed. In Pauld-
ing county Ficke asserts that the dis
puted ballots will show a plurality in
! his favor. In lucas county Paine has
but four over Farnsworth. who was on
| the Independent ticket. Messrs. Paine
and Welker were here today, and the
| former left for home tonight.
| WEI KER NOT DISTURBED.
Mr.. Welker did not appear to be
disturbed by the notice of the suit
for he smiled and said that he did not
think thot the case would go any fur
ther. The house is Republican by
three majority. and It is not likely
hat the Republicans will vote to de-
stroy their ADVANTAGE.
During the day the lobby and the
| state house presented animated scenes
because of the renewal of the speaker
chip contest among the Republicans
The vqr'ous candidates were on hant
with their retainers, and zest was Civ
Ell affairs generally by the appearance
/ of a large number of competitors foI
the minor places within the gift o.
the caucus. cali for this meeting
was issued this morning by Represen
tative w. q Roll of Warren county
the oldest member in point of service
The cali asks the Reuublicans mem
I bers to assemble in the hall OF thu
/ house OF representatives on Saturday
I December 30. at 2 p. m. Inquir,
among the various candidates for thu
speakership disclOses the fact that al
were willing to take part in this eau
Gus. ReDresentative Welker at frs
demurred. not because he was Opposet
10 caucus as such, but because n
wanted to be sure that IL was not
brace game arranged in the interes
of some particular candidate. Afte
hearing that his seat was conteste
he announced that he would lay asid
his objections and would enter wit
the others. Among the members n
lobieetion was raised that could be lo
Gated.
NO SHOWING OF HANDS.
If there is to be a hold out of seve
members, as predicted, there was N
, showing of hands. If a smoke-out Q
candidates was intended, 1t proved ell
tirely successful. George Little o
Greene, practically took himself OF
} OF the contest today. He frankly ad
, mitted that his boom was not develop
) ing any growth, and that there did nc
/ appear to be any crying need for hi
services. He did not formally with
draw, because he never officially er
tered. 1t is believed tnat! he win
found with Representative earn
I Thompson of Lawrence when the car
I L.. L 4,
not pledged to him. All of the otht
: ontestants-Bassett of Toledo, Ro
: Of Warren, Huey of Youngstown. Frii
zell of Dayton, Demuth of Pauldin
and Thompson of Lawrence, declare