The New York herald., 1875-12-05
now 1T HAPPENED AND WHAT IT MEANS.
important Speech Of Mr. Lamar, Chair
man Of the Caucus.
The Duties and Responsibilities
OF the Party.
Chairmanship of Important Committees as
Indicated by Mr., Kerr's Nomination.

. week began TO empty at nooa Pennsylvania ave-
nue was muddy and overhung with fog and through IL
abe pedestrians began to pick their way. The
horse We're loaded down that the ponies could
scarcely move A black line Of people climbing
ae steps Of Capitol early the day hours
before the aoor was cleared the long corridors were
ringing with the footsteps Of the Congress- New
members gazed tmdly at the undraped figures in the
lofty dome while others passed rapidly along like Wall
street brokers when stocks tumbling. Groups OF
seedy looking stragglers from the country took pos
OF the gallery and listened to the increasing hum
1hat arose from the floor OF abe House below Committee
full OF people and tobacco smoke, several
Of the being opened specially for delegations
from different States The murmur OF voices increased.
Slowly the hour hand of the great clock swung
and pointed to the gded eagle above them; the bells
Of the city struck Policemen, messenger boys
reporters, lobbyists and members OF lhe approaching
Congress osed against each other like spectators
New Jersey hanging. when Mr. Cox arrived seven
eight rushed for him and at once proceeded 10
clutch at his buttonholes Suddenly file Of men ap-
peared; they divided Some to the galleries.
the committee rooms others the foot OF the
marble saircases. The order had been given clear
the House and the galleries The eountrymen moyed out
sorrowfuy, and in few minutes the floor cleared
and the doors of the galleries barred and bol.ed All
the entrances closed but those on either side OF
ihe speaksgs desk and only hundred feet of the
lobby left even Tor congressmen, inside OF the
guarded doors continuous stream of people fied
up the b6ssagcwsys against these doors and tried
snter. At two the House called to order. Before
Ihe had been fairly begun the crowd outside be-
gan surge and every able-bodied rushed forward
and
WANTED TO KNOW
" the second ballot Dozens of notes
handed begging friend inside 10 come out
and ntercede with the doorkeepcr for the writer's
Then there minging Of the fumes Of onions and
bourbon.
lamar is speaking SAID one.
"Cox has the noor,n shouted another.
"Clear the lobby" growled the sergeant-at-Arms
and in a twinkle the friends Of twenty Congressman
rushed against the dense Of spectators at
lbe door, Then
BALLorTSG
The murmuring ceased for q moment The Kerr
snen waited sullenly and suspciously.
Randall is beaten the words that few from
mouth TO mouth.
"Good for Cox" said red whiskered from
Indiana and the noise was greater than ever
Again the lobby cleared and another ballot taken.
Kerr again ahead For the third and last time
abe crowd pushed back against itself and the
RESULT OF
was given 70 the lobby and there rush for the
and the wires
There great uncertainty and anxiety among the
friends OF the candidates all the morning, and when the
met and the 1oor cleared nobody pretended
be able guess what the result Of the voting would
ae good many of the Southern members freely said
that they fell bound to Mr. Randall in gratitude for his
able management the opposition to the Force bill last
great many members refused to give
their sentiments, and when Mr. Low moved and Mr.
Willis seconded resolution TO make the choice
By vira voce vote, the proposition was promptly
voted down. 1t was remarked, however that
Nr Kerr's friends inclined to favor tho open
vote This morning Mr. Randalts abest managers
privately admitted doubts Of his They had
begun 70 feel that they could not control their
Mr. Cox held his strength pretty firmly, and it
generally said that, he could not be elected those
who supported him free trader and hard money
would be likely, when they had cast their votes for
him on the FIRST ballot, 10 go over TO Kerr. Thus Mr.
Kerrs friends not unreasonaby expected accession
OF strength from that II it should appear the
FIRST ballot that there a chance OF Mr. Kerr's eec-
lion.
DAMAGING REPUBLICAN srPPoaT
II was said, also, that the somewhat conspicuous
countenance given 10 Mr. Randall by the republican
papers here had injured him. especially with some
Southern men, who very suspicious Of sucn sup
port There is no doubt that the republicans here
favored Mr.. Randall Their expressions open on
this subject In their opinion Mr. Kerr's election ss
Speaker was more likely 10 out dangerous the
republican ascendency and prominent republican
Congressman, when be heard that Kerr was chosen,
eaid:-"That mischief for u.s.
THE CAUCUS
was very orderly Mr. Lamars speech was listened 10
by Northern democrats with great satisfaction, and
they freely say that will do the party great good the
unequvoca expressions from Southern leader Of de-
termination to pay the national debt in full and TO
maintain the equal rights OF all men being thought
especially important Lamar's decided language on
the currency and the Revenae laws also attracted
great attention and grathed the Eastern and Northern
democrats After he had spoken and before the ballot
ing began reported that u there should prove to
he serious hitch about the speakership, the nomna-
tlon and election of Lamar as a compromise
thought or
HARMONY.
The proceedings we're every way harmonious, nor
did there appear the least m feeling on any side The
three candidates present at the opening Of the
Mr.. Kerr did appear al all Messrs Ran
dali and Cox in at late hour took no part in
ihe proceedings until Mr. Randall very gracefully and
happily moved that Mr.. Kerr's nomination be made
unanimous When the result OF the last ballot was
made known there was considerable excitement. and
Mr. Kerrs enthusiastic friends declared that the
democratic party had now found not only Speaker
but a Presidential candidate in the same person.
Mr.. TrLpRSs NAME.
In all the loud and open discussions OF the result Ia
ahe lobbies and on the floor Mr. Tndcn's name and
fortunes we're not mentioned and IN fact far
be gathered from tho talk OF members and interested
outsiders the choice or Mr. Kerr does not appear have
brought Mr. Tnden into prominence As Presidential
candidate
THE TEMPER AND ATTITUDE
Of the democrats shown by the summary rejection
Of proposition 20 admit 10 the caucus the Louisiana
members who have come up with certificates OF election
signed by McEDery They were unhesitatingy re-
tected.
M Randalls lrienda naturally feal deeply disap