The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-25
A Former Deadlock.

~ LOUIS jan IA dispatch to the
Post Dispatch, under date of Jefferson
city. Mo, Jan. 10, says: ut was Just
Iorty-tWo years ago this winter that
the last deadlock i'm the election of a
United States. senator took place in
missouri, and. like the present sitIa-
ton. the candidates. for there were two
senator's 10 be elected were Repub-
licans- That deadlock had so many
points of coincidence TO the present
situation as to make il "A topic of gen
etai conversation today among those
Who took part in Missouri's affairs
nearly half century ago.
5ittinger Held the Key.
At that time John L. Bittenger and
hVe other members held the key TO the
si'ue ton Now it is exactly the same,
as Major John l. Bittenger again holds
tie key TO the situation. and he had
with him today on the first ballot the
same number that he had fOrty-twO
years ago. Then the major occupied
the same room at the McCartv house
inst he does today, and il was i'm that
room that he and his five friends met
IN their little caucus as he and the
same number did Tuesday night when
IL was decided 10 stick TO Kerens- The
50 me wood stove furnished the heat
Il en- as ii did last night. while the same
servant. young negro girl then, at
tended TO his wants. as she does now, a
woman of more than so years old.
Al the last deadlock it took nine
G4atz Brown.
Major Bittenger and his five col
leagues were determined that Hender-
son should be sent for the long term
while the Brown members were opposed
20 Henderson going at all Major Bit
tenger was the speaker of the house
While Colonel r. T. Van Horn of Kan
SaS City was a member of the senate
and the champion of the Brown forces
In Bittenser's little band was also Pat
Dyer, now United States district at
toTney at st. Louis. and who WAS be-
fore the caucus for senator a few nights
aSo Among the remainder of the five
were Bennett Price of Pike and Senator
George W. Anderson of Pike
AT the end of June a recess was
taken until the following November.
when the members got together again.
For four months the baIloting again
went on, and those who were here at
the time say that almost every man in
the state who had ever been pronli-
Hently mentioned for anything received
III those nine months A vote for United
States senator The Bittenger band
voted for nearly everybody it could
think of except Brown.
Democratic Proposition.
Near the end of March. 1854. Major
Bittinger met Lieutenant Governor
Hall in the corridor of the capitol one
evening.
a" 'Bittinger.' said Hall, you can never
elect your man. We Democrats have
held caucus and decided that we will
vote for Henderson in the morning if
your people viii vote for a Democrat
YOU to select the Democrat"
I shall have to consult nv COL
leagues answered Bittinger. and n
shall let you know our decision at II
O'Clock tonight
Given Until Midnight.
"A few moments later Bittinger met
Colonel Van Horn. and told him of the
conversation he had with Hall
- Now said Bittinger. if your crowd
will vote for Henderson in the morning.
we viii vote for Brown Unless you
give me your decision by u o'clock to-
night we shall accept Halls offer
Van Horn Came Running.
''That night Major Bittinger sat in his
rccm at the McCarty house. Twelve
O'Clock struck. Van Horn was not there.
he decided to give him fifteen minutes
grace At 12:15 O'Clock Van Horn had
not come. Bittinger put on his over
coat and hat and started out of the
house. On the porch he met Van Horn.
out of breath He had run
all the way from a caucus of his fol-
lowers. The two men re-entered the
hotel, and there Van Horn told Bittin-
ger that. after hours of wrangling. they
had decided to accept the Bittinger
I'm the morning ]. B. Henderson was
elected TO the six years term in the
United States senate from Missouri
and b Gratz Brown was chosen for the
four-year term"