Twenty-Three Ballots, No Senator

OLYMPIA, Jan. 28.—(Special.)—The ineffective balloting today is likely to be followed tomorrow with a like result, but there will be a caucus tomorrow night. The call is being generally signed tonight, although some of the Wilson men are hanging back. The number of those who would stand by Wilson for a few days longer was very accurately forecast in these dispatches of last Friday, and twenty-seven today voted for him.

On Sunday morning The Tacoma Ledger published a bogus interview with Senator Crow of Whitman, in which he was made to speak in terms depreciatory of Levi Ankeny. Crow was angry today, denied the whole interview, and declared that, having known Ankeny for over twenty-five years, he should vote for him if it ever came to a question between Ankeny and Wilson.

Ten of the Allen men met in caucus tonight and agreed to stand by him one day more, but further than that refused to pledge themselves. The Wilson men also met, to the number of twenty-six, and it was proposed to refuse to go into caucus, but five declared that they would go into the first caucus that came along, as they were Republicans first and Wilson men second. Ankeny's adherents also held a conference and resolved to urge a caucus and abide by the result.

An effort is being made by a part of the Pierce county delegation to bring on either D. J. Crowley or Nelson Bennett tomorrow, but it is not meeting with much encouragement.

George Turner has withdrawn from the race in the following letter to Senator Helm of Kittitas, who nominated him:

'Hon. C. I. Helm—My Dear Senator: In order that the use of my name in the present senatorial contest may not obstruct the election of some acceptable Republican, I beg that you will cause it to be dropped in the further balloting by the legislature. With the warmest and most sincere thanks to yourself and other partial friends who have supported me, either by their votes or their voices for this high office, I remain truly your friend, GEORGE TURNER.'

Judge Moore, of Spokane, arrived tonight, but there seems to be no movement in his direction yet. John L. Wilson changed his mind about returning to Washington City and is still darting hither and thither, herding his reluctant flock. The fight has practically returned to the status of the first day, and the struggle is between Ankeny and Wilson. The vote tomorrow will probably reach the high-water mark of the two leading candidates, with most probably an accession to the Ankeny ranks of one or two who have before voted for him.

The members of the legislature were tardy in their seats when the balloting began. Gery, Democrat; Hatch and Loggie of King were the only absentees, but these two later took two from Ankeny. When the 16th ballot had shown that there was no change of any consequence, Senator Dyer of Whatcom said he believed that by continuing in session until a reasonable number of ballots was cast they could settle the question. He moved, therefore, that fifteen ballots be cast at that session. Lesh of Yakima seconded, and it was carried by a vote of 82 to 27. The 17th, 18th and 19th ballots showed no change, the first occasion on which there had been such a continuity of choice. On the 20th ballot, Curriss, Milroy, Tull and Gindy changed from Turner to Wilson, amid cheers from Wilson's adherents. This made the 20th ballot: Ankeny, 28; Wilson, 27; Allen, 12; Turner, 7; McMillan, 7.

On the 21st ballot Miller went from Turner to Wilson, making his vote 28, and Turner's only two Populists, Collin and Field, changed from Turner to Mayor Holt, of Spokane.

The 22d was the same as the 21st, and Eddy moved to take a recess till 3, but it was defeated by 66 noes to 45 ayes. There was no significance in the vote, except as showing the condition of the members' appetites.

After the 23d ballot, Senator Dyer proposed that the clerk be authorized to cast the remaining ballots, and that the members go to lunch. After a little discussion the convention dissolved, having taken eight out of the proposed fifteen ballots.