Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-24
Washington Correspondence.
rHE COMING CoNGREss--wIIO SHALL M SPEAKER,
RANDALL or KERR 2--rIiE GRANDDAUGHTER
CuANCEs-rTnsONAI. AND POLITICAL GOSSIP.

rur COMING CoNaRrss--wIIO SHALL M SPEAKER,
RANDALL or KERR 2--TuE CANDipArFs-ffEln
CHANCES PERSONAL AND POLITICAL GOSSIP.
wAsHiSaroN. d. G., November 90 1915,
MosTs Editors Two weeks from Monday
next the Forty-fourth Congress commences it,
session at the national capital Already large
delegation Of its members have wendell their
way hithcr preparatory tctakug their seats there
in, and as the gathering clans assemble it is but
meet that their presence here should be the prin-
cipal food for public excitement and newspaper
discussion For the past twelve years or more
such an event has created scarcely more than u
ripple Of interest to the public as whole-the
occurrence has been duly noticed and allowed to
pass hy with nothing unusual in It's inception or
importance. Such, however is not the feeling
now The great revolution which took place in
politics last fall changed the democratic minority
Of previous Congresses for many years into good
wholesome majority which gives that party the
absolute control Of all the patronage which attaches
to the lower House Of Congress, and thus involves
the change Of possibly every employee Of that
august body For it is but natural to expect that
the democratic party, when in power, will relig-
ousy incline to and enforce the axiom To the
victors belong tho spells
The next House will be composed Of two hun
bred and ninety-two members; one hundred and
sevonty-sx Of these are simon pure democrats,
one hundred aud two are Radical Republicans,
four are independent republicans, four are indie
pendent reiomers, and six are liberals Over
eighty OF the straight outs are cx-confederatc
officers. while only about thirty Of the Republi-
cans elected were officers in the Union army
Such a state Of affairs is presented as we look
over the ground before the battle begins that it is
not unnatural that the attention Of the whole
Country is arrested at the sight. and that much
curiosity should vent itself in prognosticatins the
result The chief topic Of interest relating to the
next Congress is narrowed down 10 the Speaker
ship, and as this Is q question Of considerable ma
tlonal Importance just now, we beg the indulgence
Of your readers for q brief but careful survey OF
the field, and brds-cye view of tho aspirants iol
honors. Speaker Blaine, in hi. last valedictory to
Congress, is remembered as saying that the posi-
ton of speaker was one Of dignity and rcsponsi.
| bility.' Notwithstanding this truism, there are
no less than four formidable candidates who are
anxious to wear the yoke These are sam D.
Randall, OF rennsy l,auia Michael c.. Kerr, of
| Indiana, Fernando Wood and samuel s Cox, OF
] afNN ANiN AfNNN w ttli0N lil'l hlN iN'A' 'A t''
/ known to all from their somewhat long and mo-
/ torioua services as representative ia Congress.
Each have their strong friend. in the party, who
are just now very busy In pressing their respect
/ i've claims The first TO actively engage In the
canvass was Randall lie began his mission
soon after Congress adjourned and it is gen
orally admitted that, had the selection been made
then, le would undoubtedly have been elected
| Speaker he began his congressional career
rs % member of the Ihry-eishth Congress, and
has been prominent in the councils Of tho minor
| ity OF that body c,ersncc Born in Philadelphia
in 1873. be has continued to reside in that
/ city and before his election 10 Congress wa.
engaged in mercantile pursuits lis education
was simply an academic course lie is described
by those here who know him well as q man OF
much ability, possessed Of a rare fund Of good hu
NOR, an easy grace that attracts the eye, and Of
great social powers Personally, be is considered
as a man who could hardly make enemies. Pout
ically De may have MANY, even with bis owl
party THIS Is found TO be true from the manner
800 which Dom liatt attacks him in last sunday
Clptol. using every di.paragus epithet ia thai
| writer's extensive vocabulary, and two column.
and half OF chat valuable sheet ia lis exhibition
Randalrs chauccs n the race may bo said 70 be-
just 1T present % triae ahead ll. friends already
claim that DC will go into caucus with enough
votes 20 elect him. Il is stated further in his IA
yor that Dir Blaine repeatedly stated, during the
lastsession, that Randall knew more Of the use ant
application Of parliamentary law than any one Oh
the floor OF the House The South entire Il elaine,
ior him, and one of the best causes therefor j. th
fact that Randall is friendly To the early compile
ton OF the southern Pacific railway II there b
any subject upon which the South is united, it i
ON this II this claim is well founded it gives bin
dity-uino votes to start with Next, he ought t.
have with him his own delegation, but this is de
uicd him by his competitors, and time alone vii
tell. 1t is claimed that he did not approve o
tue Pennsylvania platform Of soft money but b
this as it may, he advocated the claims Of the can
didatcs in public speeches for their support, an,
hence acity il directly, gayeoountenanoe to it
Coneediag uiv south to Randall. IL IL but fair Il
give the West TO Kerr There is almost a unani
nous expression in Rcrrs favor from that section
and this gives him start Of thirty-three votes
while the doubtful states, like Missouri Cahforni.
and Maryland, may add nearly as many more
Kerr is, like Randall, iuvulnelable oattacks upoi
Dis private character His public life has also beei
believed TO be pure and his record consistent
lie Is even free from the faint Of the salar,
grab BILL lie was born IN Pennsylvania. il
1877 and after receiving q legal course at Louis
vile took mp his residence in New Albany. Ind
where be has since lived His flint service in Con
gress was in tho 1hirty-nnth, while he has ais,
serediu the fortieth and Forty-drst Congresses
His forte has been more in the delivery Of care
iuly prepared speeches Astounding Ia convinein.
4 argument, rather than in the display Of parliament
AIRY tactics. In manner he Is dignifod and alto
gelher maltcr-oi-fact in his conversation, lackin.
the Development of any humor lie is not a,
! comanionableas Randall his best companions ar,
his books, his time being passed more pleasant,
with them than with his fellows It viii be readil,
{ seen by what We have already said that the can
yass is really narrowed down to a contest be
tween Randall and Kerr These candidate,
now assume to have nearly equal strength
/ but il must be borne in mind that the race /,
[ not always to the swift, and stranger thing,
have happened than that some other man thar
either OF these should come in the winner -
But it is claimed that Woods candidacy mean,
nothing more than the securing OF New York foi
Randall In the event of the failure Of Randall
he and Wood will combine to defeat both Ken
and Cox, and throw their strength for some new
man. The compromise candidates thus far talked
about are Ex-Governor Walker, Of Virginia, and
General Banks. So stands the Speakership and
thus it is likely to stand until the opening Of
Congress
The latest political gossip here is that the mem
beers of the Centennial Commission, and other
friends Of the gentleman arc resting in quiet till
next year with their centennial candidate for the
Presidency The gentleman is Gen Joe lIanley,
President Of the Centennial Commission
Bishop Bissell, Of Vermont, spent last Sabbath
at the Ebbitt House. in this city, and during the
week has attended the Episcopal conyocation in
session here SOL
CKNrRAL RAILROAD. An intelligent Vermont
correspondent Of the Springfield Republican speaks
as follows of the Central and its prospects " It
would seem that tue Central Vermont is get
ting ont Of the woods both financially and other
Wise though to be certain of this we must discount
decisions OF courts and referees that are not yet
matters Of record But this | think, may be
safely done, aud the result will show that Gov
ernor smith has fought through all the perils that
have environed him. aud won victory which will
leave him, for while, master Of the situation
Whatever may be thought Of this result outside Of
the state, it must be put down as a matter Of fact
that ii will not be dispeasng to the great major
ity of our people, who believe that the Governor
has boeh more snned against than SHINING and