t of his
administration, while Republican defeat would mean its repudiation. The
most effective way, then, in which they could make good their
ante-election pledges and promises was to vote for the candidates of
the Republican caucus for officers of the House.

The two Carroll County Independents informed the Senator that he had
correctly outlined their position and their attitude, and that it was
their purpose and their determination to give a loyal and effective
support, so far as the same was in their power, to the policies and
principles for which he stood and of which he was the accredited
representative; but that they were apprehensive that they could not
successfully defend their action and explain their votes to the
satisfaction of their constituents if they were to vote for a colored
man for Speaker of the House.

"But," said the Senator, "could you have been elected without the votes
of colored men? If you now vote against a colored man,--who is in every
way a fit and capable man for the position,--simply because he is a
colored man, would you expect those men to support you in the future?"

The Senator also reminded them that they had received very many more
colored than white votes; and that, in his opinion, very few of the
white men who had supported them would find fault with them for voting
for a capable and intelligent colored man to preside over the
deliberations of the House.

"Can you then," the Senator asked, "afford to offend the great mass of
colored men that supported you in order to please an insignificantly
small number of narrow-minded whites?"

The Senator assured them that he was satisfied they had nothing to fear
as a result of their action in voting for Mr. Lynch as Speaker of the
House. He knew the candidate favorably and well and therefore did not
hesitate to assure them that if they contributed to his election they
would have no occasion to regret having done so. The conference then
came to a close with the understanding that all present would vote the
next day for the Republican caucus nominees for officers of the House.
This was done. The result of the ballot the following day was as
follows:

Lynch, Republican caucus nominee, 63
Chandler, Independent Republican, 49
Necessary to elect 57

It will be seen that Judge Chandler received the solid Democratic vote
while Lynch received the vote of every voting Republican present,
including Chandle