THE FRONTIER. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY By ; __The Fionm Puimitfl Oo. V O'NEILL. NEBRASKA. OVER THE STATE. At Pierce corn i« being1 sold for 10 Bents s bushel.. The second hotel is to be built in Hy Ennis soon. The Tecumseh banks nil report s very profitable year. Butler county will hold its fair one week after the state fair. The Masonic fraternity are preparing : to organize a lodge at Wilber. The state board .of transportation has ordered that a union depot be built ti\ In Omaha Two York urchins who deserted home and parents were overhauled in St Joseph, Mo. Bids for the state rennion of the G. A. R. of Nebraska will be opened in Omaha February 11th. The county commissioners of Gage county have reduced the salaries of all clerks in county Offices. M. J. Thompkins, a former business man of Fremont, recently died in Phil adelphia from pneumonia. The Bank of Commerce of Grand Is land, closed its doors last week and is now in the hands of the state banking board. The Farmers and Merchants bank, recently closed at Platte Center, will be reopened in the near future under reorganization. ErroHT* are making to obtaln a new • trial for Morgan, the man under the sentence of death in Omaha for the murder of Ida GaskilL Chadroh makes the following offer for a beet sugar factory: Twenty-five thousand dollars in cash, 7,500 acres of free land, 200 town lots, and a site for the factory. Feed A. Howe, a well-to-do-farmer, four miles east of North Bend, engaged t- in shelling corn, and while tightening a belt on the motor wheel, got his right arm caught, breaking it in two ; places. • Fred Taylor's house was burned at r Johnstown last week, the flames orig in Inating from a defective flue The fam - Uy was attending a revival at the Meth odist Episcopal church and lost almost everything. - HAMEfl TTII.UAHB, a yvUUg lUllllCl liTlufttew miles south of Decatur, accidentally shot himself with,a revol ver, the bullet paatlngsthrough his left side nesr the region of the heart. Fatal results are expected. • Au the people who left Nebraska in the dry year are getting back and 1 thousands are coming who were never L here before Already in the winter ; ; months is heard "the first low wave where soon shall roll a human sea ” Luthsr French died at Sutton last week aged 78 yesra lie was born in Ohio and homesteaded the land on which Sutton stands on March 14. 187a On June 5 following he built his dug out on the hanks of School creek and had a blind chamber subterranean pas sage way to the creak , below so he could hide his children when attacked by the Indiana . Bradshaw's creamery, destroyed by • fire last May, has been recently rebuilt' much more substantially than formerly. The new plant is a solid brick building 84x40 feet, with engine and boiler ; ; room 80x80 covered with steel roofing. The machinery is all up to date, and • all conveniences are supplied for hand v ling both cream and milk. Twosepa i ratora are used. Tax governor has commuted the sen r tence of George VV. Copeland, who is :nr confined in the penitentiary under a * three-year sentence for larceny from. : the person. Copeland in 1804 snatched a poeketbook from Mrs. Mary E. '■%- Reeves while the latter was waiting to take a street car in the city of Omaha. He retn*»e4^the money, but it did not save him fromVhe penitentiary. Holt. J. A. Pinion was the victim of an accident while at work with his ; men is putting tip ice at Tecumseh. The rope with which the ice was being : elevated became caught in some man : aer and Ua-a workman pried it loose it flew up and struck Dillon in the head with terriflo force He was thrown back against the building and two Jooggashee cut in his head. Here ; mained unconscious for three houra Tm receipts of the United States ' lend office in O'Neill for the past six months were •08.97&54, an increase over the preceding six months of about f «saooa There were seventy home . stead entries filed and 800 final proofs v. taken. If the receipts are as large the next six months as the past six the ■ dose of the present fiscal year, June 30, ; the O’Neill office, in point of receipts, will be ep near the head of the list of ! land offices in the United States Oeoan J. Smith, . The iimount paid for switching was paid hack to the board by the Omaha Fair and Speed association. 1 he report of the superintendent of [ gates for lfit»5 of admissions between 7 a. m. and 0 p. m. showed total fair ticketa for the five days 40,074, and , total pay tickets 04,02a The number of cheek passes was 3,001; stock con* pons, B.000, and complimentaries, 5,804 The total on grounds are given for the five days at 78.301, and 14,145 in the ampitheater. The total railroad cou pons on all lines is 17,340. In the con solidated report from 1880 to 1805 the ! total on grounds is given at 580,113; made up of state fair tickets, 242,302; j special* tickets, 83,004; check passes, 1 43.160; stock coupons, 40,185; and com' pllmentaries, 6,288. ’ To Grand Army Posts. C E. Adams, department command er, has issued the following to Urand Army posts in the form of general or der No, 11: “The department commander desires to thank tne retiring officers for the at tention and general efficiency displayed in the department work during this year. The reports which are rapidly coming in show an excellent condition of the department, such in fact as could only be brought about by the united ef forts of officers and members. “And to the newly initiated officers, 1 congratulate you upon the high de gree of confidence placed in you by your comrades. Your duty to them is one that should be faithfully and care fully performed. Not only the welfare and stability of our order, but the pa triotism of the country depends upon an intelligent performance of your duties. And as an important item in the line of your duties I urge you to take immediate steps to reinstate all worthy members suspended for the non-payment of dues The national encampment wisely provided liberal regulations for such relief, and posts should at once move to carry out the true spirit of these regulations, and bring back without delay all comrades who, from inability to meet their obli gations, have been dropped from the rolls We are passing through a very critical period in our history, and those who are strong and vigorous should be untiring in their zeal to strengthen the weaker lines, and thereby make it possible for the appeals in behalf of our deserving comrades \o reach the heart of this great nation and com mand its respect and acquiescence in all reasonable demands. The Maw Nebraska. No one questions, says the Hostings Democrat, the healthfulness of the cli mate and its wonderful invigorating effect upon man or beast. The natural grasses are remarkably rich in milk making and fat producing qualities. Water is almost Invariably of a very good quality and usually entirely free from alkalies There are more, clear, nice balmy days than in any other lo cality east of the Rockies. Rain usual ly comes in the spring and with proper tillage can all be -utilized and a most elegant crop grown. The falls are Usually clear and dry, giving the most favoyable time for harvest. The win ters are less severe than In the more humid districts, on account of the dry ness of the atmosphere. Discouraged Mac's Deed. Niobrara dispatch: John C. Santee of this place committed suicide last night by hanging himself in his barn. He has lately been an employe of tha Norfolk licet Sugar company us weigh master, but wss discharged last Thurs day. He has been a habitual drinkw for many years, which was undoubtedly toe cause of his discharge. Through disappointment and while partialljf under the influence of drink he com4 I milled the desperate act He was s' I pioneer settler and well known in po > lit teal circles throughout the state. . A end flvo small children survive GREATSTEAMER AGROUND THE AMERICAN LINER ST. PAUL STUCK FAST ASHORE. CAUGHT IN A DENSE FOG. Imbedded In the Band Off Holbrlghton,. V. J.—Tag* Sent to the AmUtnnee of the Steamer— Bourke Cochran and a Prince Among the Passengers, Alio SI,300,- . 000 In Specie. Saxdt Hook, Jan. 27.—The Amer ican liner, St. Paul, Captain Jamison, from Southampton, January 18, for New York, grounded on the outer bar of Holbrighton, Long Branch, N. J., during a dense fog between 1 and 2 o'clock this morning. She 'was Boon discovered by the patrol of the Long Branch life saving station and prepa rations were made to open communi cations with the vessel. Apparatus was dragged to the point nearest the St. Paul and a shot was fired across the vessel. The hawser was placed on board and the breeches buoy sent off. The passengers on board desired to re main on the vessel, however, as there appeared to be no danger. -Mes-ages were sent ashore notifying agents, the Maritime exchange and wrecking com panies of the accident. The crews from Seabright, Mon mouth Beach and Long Branch life saving stations are in attendance on tlie steamer. When the surf goes down they will go to her in sucUboaJs. Captain Mulligan of the life saving* crew at Long Branch is directing the landing of passengers, among whom are: Ex-Congressman W. Bourke Cochran, Prince Serge Wollkonsky,' Dixon C. Walker, Dr. S. A. • lCnorpf, Harvey W. Brown, H. C. Fellows, Miss Minnie Sachs, Louis R. Worth and W. Whitehouse. The St. Paul has on board $1,300,000 in specie. The passengers were not awt.kened by the grounding of the ship and there was no excitement. There was a high tide at the time and it is feared the big liner will have difficulty in getting off. LATEST SPANISH NEWS. Cuban Rebels Reported Divided end In Critical Positions—“Garza” Dead. Washington, Jan. 37. —Captain Gen eral Marin cabled to-day from Havana to Minister Depny de Lome that it, was believed Jose Maceo’s insurgent band had been located east of the Conto river, in the province of Santi ago de Cuba, and that Rabi was wounded. This is of special importance, as the army of Maceo and Rabi lias been depended upon by the insurgents to succor. Gomez in Havana province. Maeeo’s position on the Conto river is such that it will take him thirty days to reach Gomez, even if unopposed. The wounding of Rabi will cripple his di vision, leaving Gomez alone to with stand the Spanish forces, which pro pose closing in on him. The dispatch also says the “Mexi can,” believed to be Garza, formerly of Texas, who has been foremost in burn ing plantations has been killed. INTO AN OPEN BRIDGE. A Cleveland Fire Engine Flanges Thirty Feet Into the River. Ci.bvei.and, Ohio, Jan. 37. — A fire engine making a rapid run into the lumber district this morning, plunged through an open drawbridge spanning the river at Seneca street. I'river William Burgess and Assistant En gineer Coolidge were percipitated with the engine and horses into the river, a distance of thirty feet. The men were stunned by the fall, but managed to reach some piling and were then rescued,badly hurt, by their comrades. The horses were drowned and the en gine lies a wreck at the bottom of the river. The approaches to the bridge were not provided with safety gates. A Petition to the Popp. Kansas Citv, Mo. Jan. J7.—Applica tirn has been sent to Pope Leo at Rome for a coadjutor for this Catholic diocese The coadjutor will be an as sistant to Bishop .1. J. Hogan and will succeed him in the event of his death jr retirement. The application for a coadjutor will undoubtedly be granted and it is understood that the Rev. Father J. J. Glennon, who had charge of the diocese during Bishop Hogan’s recent trip abroad, will be given the position. 4 Sow York Appeal to (l.a.ral Booth. New Yohk, Jan. 27.-—Women inter* ?st*d in the Salvation Army in this city, and lead by Mrs. Earl Dodge, fiuve arranged a meeting to be held in Carnegie hall on the evening of Feb ruary 3, to adopt some form of a com munication to General Booth request ing that he rescind his ' order and permit Ballington Booth knd his wife to remain in charge of the army wont in America. Chauncey M. De lete will preside. Cannon tor Cuban St.nm.ra Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 27. — The Hart line steamers, plying between this port and Cuba and the West In dies, will hereafter be armed with cannon and Maxim guna Captain Ker, counsel for the owners, has no tified the collector of the port that the Hart steamers will carry bow chasers snd stern chasera Aaaaaaoa*. Troop. Hava Ballad. DubbAlt, Natal, Jan. 27.—The Eng lish troops, who were members of Dr. lameson’s expedition, have embarked for England on board the steamer Harlech Castle, while the colonial troops, who were taken prisoners' at Jhe same time, go on board the Roslin SEALERS’ CLAIMS. British Government Accepts Arbitration to Settle Bering den Awards. Wabhingtok, Jan. 27.—Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British ambassador, called on Secretary Olney to-day to submit the final acceptance by the British government of the plan of a Bering sea commission to pass upon the claims of Canadian sealers seized prior to the Paris award. It remains only for the president to submit the plan to Congress, and as the legislative branch has refused to pay a lump sum for the seizures, it is considered cer tain that the commission arrangement will be approved. It is likely that the president, m submitting the plan to Congress, will suggest once more the desirability of a single payment as the most expeditious means of settle ment, for the commission of arbitra tion, if agreed to, will bind the United States to the payment of any sum which the commission may award. The commission is to be composed of one American commissioner, one British commissioner and an umpire to be chosen by the two. The per sonnel of the commission has not been suggested, but there is a belief that the president of Switzerland will be asked to act as umpire, or some one designated by the Swiss president, if the sessions of the commission neces sitate the presence of the umpire in this country. STATEHOOD AND SILVER. Advocate* of Sound Money May Defeat Arizona’* Admission. New York, Jan. 27.— Nathan p. .Murphy, territorial delegate from and ex-governor of Arizona, said to day: “The people of Arizona are a unit for self government. Six weeks ago there was practically no opposi tion to admitting Arizona. It was generally conceded that the remain ing territories should be admitted and the responsibility and the expenses of their government transferred to their own people. _ But lately consider able irritation has developed on account of the monetary dispute, and motives un-American, sectional and selfish have caused several represen tatives to announce their opposition to the admission of any more Western States whose Senators, they think, would disagree with the East on the money question. The merits involved are temporarily obscured on this ac count. I have, however, too much confidence in the ultimate justice and love of fair play of the American peo ple to think that an entirely extrane ous issue will be allowed to prevent justice being done to a loyal and pa triotic sub-division of this country.” FIFTY AGAINST ONE. A Murderer Entrenched In the Gypsum Hill* Fight* for Liberty. Hennessey, Ok., Jan. 27.—Fifty members of the Anti-Horse Thief asso ciation trailed the murderer of How ard Boberts twenty miles yesterday. The robber’s horse gave out and he en trenched himself in a small canon in the “Gyp” hills, where he was be sieged five hours. Wben one of the posse came within 100 yards of the refugee ho was met with a'volley from a Winchester repeater. A man named Richards received a shot in the arm. Finally by strategy the hunted man was captured and brought to Vilas. He is not known there but several of the posse are sure it is Bill Thompson. The law will take its course. His vic tim died yesterday. FREDERICK LEIGHTON. The Eminent English Artist Succumb* to Heart Trouble. London, Jan. 27.—Sir Frederick I Leighton, president of the Royal academy, is dead. This morning he suffered a chill which was followed by a serious affection of the heart. Ilis condition became critical and during the afternoon he sank rapidly. He died in great agony. Sir Frederick belonged to the modern school of English art, and was re garded as the best developed fruitage of the academic following. He was known best to' Americans in general by reason of his connection with the World’s fair at Chicago. He was chairman of the fine arts committee of the art department of Great Britain in the Columbian exposition. TO FIGHT IN NEW MEXICO. Till" and Maker May Come Together In Title Country After All. / Fokt Worth, Tex., Jan. 27.—It is stated on good authority here that the Maher-Fitzsimmons fight, instead of taking place in Juarez, Mexico, on February 14, will take place on this side of the Rio Grande at a point three miles from El I’aso jnst over the New Mexican line, which can only he reached by the Southern Pacific trains from El Paso. The Last of a Groat Family. London, Jan. 27.—General Richard Lawrence, the last of the five Law rence brothers who distinguished themselves in India, has died at Biar ritz. General Lawrence was one of twelve children whose father was Colonel Alexander Lawrence. These children were born in Ireland, the family being Irish Protestants. Lord Lawrence, the famous viceroy and governor general of India, Sir George St. Patrick Lawrence and Sir Henry Lawrence,, all greatly distinguished in India affairs, were his brothers. A Brutal Assault by Footpads. New York. Jan. 27.—William T. Houston, lormerly a judge of the Su preme court at New Orleans, was as saulted and robbed by two men in La fayette place Wednesday night His left leg was broken and several ribs on the left side were fractured. No re port was made to the police. The rob bers took $50, Judge Houston cannot describe his assailants. Colonel Croftoa's Denial. . Chicauo, Jan. 27.—Colonel Crofton, commandant of the Fifteenth United I States infantry at Fort Sheridan, de- ! nies that he has received a letter from ' Secretary Lamont asking him to ap- I SILVER MEN GATHER. THE CALL FOR A NATIONAL CONVENTION SENT OUT. Strops Declaration for Free and Unlimit ed Coinage of the White Metal 10 to 1 St. Loots the Place and July 88 th« Date for the Convention—Strong Reso lutions Are Adopted. Free Silver Advocates. Washington, Jan. 25.—The silver conference yesterday resulted in the adoption of the strongest kind of a de claration for the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, and the call for a delegate national convention to be held in St. Louis, July 23, IbOG, the datp of the Populist national convention. Tha call for the convention expressly stipulates that delegates to the convention shall be willing to subordinate party allegiance and fealty to the principlesennnciated in the declaration and to support the nominees of the convention. A provisional national committee was organized with headquarters at Washington, and with authority to proueed at once to the organization of States and territories for the success of the movement. There Was an animated discussion, early in the day, of the financial situa tion and the policy to be pursued by the friends of silver. During the dis cussion considerable feeling was aroused by some of the remarks made by General Hatch of Missouri, in Which he stated in effect that if the Populists of Kentucky had done their whole duty the election of Mr. Black burn to a seat in the United States senate would not be a matter of doubt General Field of Virginia and others made heated replies. Mayor Turner of Lansing, Mich., and Senator Stew art of Nevada also addressed the con vention. The committee on resolutions, of which Senator * Jones of Nevada, is chairman, submitted a report, the pre amble of which is a complete state ment of the position of the silver ad vocates. It declares the money ques tion to be the paramount issue* of the day, and that the conflict is between the gold standard, gold bonds and bank currency, on the one side, and the bimetallic standard, no bonds and government currency on the other. The final declaration is as, follows: ‘‘That over and above all other ques tions ot policy, we are in favor of re storing to the people of the United States the time honored money of the constitution—gold and silver—not one, but both—the money of Washington and Hamilton, and Jefferson and Mon roe and Jackson and Lincoln, to the end that American people may receive honest pay for an honest product, the American debtor pay his just obliga tions in an honest standard, and not in a standard that is appreciated .100 per cent above the great staples of our country, and to the end, further, that silver standard countries may be deprived of the unnatural ad vantage they now enjoy in the differ ence in exchange between gold and silver—an advantage which the tariff legislation alone cannot overcome. We, therefore, confidently appeal to the people of the United States, that leaving in obeyance for the moment all other questions, however impor tant, even momentous they may ap pear, and sundering if need be all former party affiliations, they unite in a supreme effort to free themselves and their children from the domina tion of the money power—a power more destructive than any which has ever been fastened upon the' civilized men of any race or in any age. And. upon the consummation of their desires and efforts, we invoke the gracious favor of the Divine Prov idence.”* SILVER REPUBLICANS. They Formulate a Demand for a Flank In the National Flntform( Washington, Jan. 25.—The Repub lican silver Senators have signed a de claration which is intended to be used in the coming campaign as the de mand which the silver men will make for a plank in the na tional convention. In the preamble it is recited that the present financial system endangers the industrial prosperity of the United States, which is threatened by China and Japan, as a result of the decrease in the value of silver and the difference of exchange between silver and gold using countries. It is therefore resolved that the signers favor the free and unlimited coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1 for the purpose of obliterating this difference of ex change, which is declared to operate as a bounty on the export of products from silver using countries to gold using countries. It is also resolved that they favor a tariff which shall equalize the difference in the cost of labor between this country and the countries' of Europe and Asia. It is the purpose of those who are circu lating the declaration to get all the Republican silver men in congress to sign it. Harrison Calls on Cleveland. Washington, Jan. 25.—Ex-President Harrison arrived here at 7:40 o’clock yesterday morning. General Harrison called on President Cleveland during the day to pay his respects. It was an exchange of amenities similar to those during Mr. Harrison's occupancy of the White House, when Mr. Cleveland visited Washington as a private citi zen, and paid his respects to the then President. General Harrison’s visit to Washington is the first since he re tired from the presidency. WITHOUT OPPOSITION. Air. Lodge Says the Senate Will Likely Pass the Davis Itesolntlon. Washington. ^ Jan. S5. — Senator Lodge has made a canvass of the Sen ate on the Davis resolution, affirming the Monroe doctrine, and says that he has not been able to find more than eight votes that will be cast against it. There are still a large number of speeches to be made on the subject and it is too early to say when a vote will be taken. The debate will be pressed rapidly after the bond bill ahull h.r,. henn disposal nf. THE PRESIDENT MAY AC T. Strong Armenian Resolution* Adop'ed b) the 8enate. Washisgtox, Jan. 86.— Mr. Call of fered in the Senate to-day a radical resolution demanding that by either peaceful negotiation or force of arms the Armenian atrocities be stopped. The resolution was defeated w.thout division and the resolution reported by the committee on foreign relations passed unanimously. The resolution directs the President to express to the powers of Europe the hope that Turkey will see that protec tion and just rights are granted the Armenians. It also pledges the sup port of Congress to sustain the Presi- , dent in any decisive measures he may take. Many memorials concerning the Ar menian question were presented to the Senate. Mr. Hill asked what had become of the resolutions for ener getic action by the president. Mr. Cullom of Illinois, who reported the Turkish resolutions from the com mittee on foreign relations, said he desired the speediest possible action and later in the day would ask for a vote on the resolutions. There was a brief flurry when Mr. Cullom sought to secure the passage of a joint resolution amending -the act relative to the llloomington, 111., pub lic building. Mr. Allen 01 Nebraska, said there seemed to be a little ring in the Sen ate as to favorable action on public buildings. The East secured public buildings, but the States of the far West did not Mr. Gallinger of New Hampshire, protested against the extravagance of Mr. Allen's language and there was an extended debate as to the sefftions. which had received public buildings. Mr. Cullom suggested that llloom ington was the home of the Vice Pres ident, the presiding officer of the Sen ate, whereupon Mr. Allen said he would yield to an appeahand the reso lution was passed. Mr. Cafferey of Louisiana called the attention of the judiciary committee to the importance of the sugar bounty question, which had been referred to that committee, saying the subject in volved the right of subordinate offi cials to nulify an appropriation made by Congress. .me JLnrkisn-Armenian resolution was then called up by Mr.CulIom. The Senator spoke of the serious situation in Turkey. A massacre of innocence unparalleled for ages, had been perpe trated. The evidence of tho bloody encounter was given by all classes and nationalities until it was. beyond the slightest doubt. A Turk ish army had bayoneted, robbed* murdered and flayed alive the people of Armenia. There was no war, but a pitiless, merciless tornado of ruin, bloodshed und death. The demon of fanaticism had been let loose. There was a responsibility ( somewhere. It did not rest with the slavish ruler of Turkey, the sultan. Back of this were the disputes of the countries of the European alliance, seeking their territorial advantages.. These countries were responsible. The sultan was but a puppet in their hands. It was a matter of regret and em barrassment, continued Mr. Cullom,. that the policy of the United States, was such as to prevent the sending of a fleet to Turkish waters to put a stop to the bloody rule prevailing. But. Europe, had assumed the obligation of protection to Armenia. The people of the United States were interested in seeing the obligation executed, and the purpose of this resolution, was to press, with the great est earnestness, for the protection of Armenia. It was amazing to the people oi the United States to see the indifference of the Christian powers. 1 There was a double obligation upon England and yet nothing had been done to stay the hand of the Sultan, except by fruitless diplomatic corre spondence. The powers, said Mr. Cul lum, appear to le waiting for the dis solution of the Ottoman empire. The United -States had no purpose to interfere in the affairs of Europe ex cept in protection of American citi zens and in the name of humanity. The United States had spoken in the name of humanity in the affairs of Greece and Hungary. No event in centuries called so loudly to the civil ized world as this slaughter in Tur key. Mr. Blanchard of Louisiana, Demo crat, said that for more than a year the world had been greatly shocked at the massacres in Turkey. Not only was there murder und massacree, but in the case of women worse than mas sacre. As a great free nation it was the duty of the United States to ex press its official repudiation and pro* test against the course of Turkey, MILLER WILL RETIRE. file Congressman From the 8ecoml Kan* sas District Declines Renomination. Washington, Jan. 2-i. — The an nouncement of the retirement ot Judge Miller irom the Republican congress ional race- in the Second district came as a surprise to many of his friends. Judge Miller said: “I |mve deter mined not to be a candidate for re noimnation for Congress from the Second district. I am satisfied that the conditions of the district are all favorable to my nomination and re turn, but I find that a continued ser vice in Congress must result in the de struction of my law business, and that. 1 cannot aflord. When the additional expense necessarily incurred by a member of Congress is eensidered, the compensation paid is not sufficient to justify one as poor as I am in giving up a fairly good law business for the Rfe/’)eCt'Te ^onors *n Congressional Manner of 811ght Modification In the Counting n Quorum. Washington, Jan. 25.—The House resumed consideration of the rules yesterday, and disposed of the last amendment offered by the committee There was substituted for the quorum rule of the Fifty-first Congress the method of compelling the attendance t .? Jluorn® proposed in the Forty sixth Congress by J. Randolph Tucker with some modifications. The Tucker rule is to bring members to the bar of the House and count them, instead of following the Reed Dlan of having the speaker count a quorum. *