Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-02
The Wild Hunt for the House Offices


The excitement attendant upon the con-
test for the Speakership increases each day.
The contest, too, has degenerated from what
promis ell TO be a battle fought within the
lines OF dignity, tone and fairness, into a
pell- scramble, discreditabIe 10 both the
party and the candidates. II is true that
both Mr.. Randall and Mr.. Kerr discounte-
nance the means which their friends see nj
TO employ in their respective interests, but
have not control OF the agencies at work IN
their behalf
The stamping ground is WiTarI's. From
ten o'clock in the morning until mituignt,
the moral atmosphere OF the Office floor is
such as 10 shock those innocent enough to
believe in the purity OF politics. The avail
Utility of the candidates aud their merits aud
claims, are discussed, at the bar, over glass
of whisky; in the room above between the
Quaffings Of champaign and pate ne yOt yfTt.
Allied to RaUdalls cause is an element
which is calculated rather 10 damage him
than TO be of service. Ii is in the personal
advocacy Of eX Hon. John MorrisSey. Nor
riSSey's support OF Randall can Oe summed
up in few words: Kerr lent his influence in
the New York city canvass to Kelly. HIS
defeat by MorTissey in the election few
weeks ago thrust the expire champion
again TO the front as the exponent of metro
pOlitan democracy. Hence Mr.. Morrissey's
opportunity to repay Mr.. Kerr'S opposition
to him was not to be lost. He came here TO
return il i'm kind. The indisputsble fact is
that he is actually advancing his adverSary's
interest by his presence.
The use OF money has also begun. Not by
the candidates, for both of them are in the
first place too poor to resort TO IL. and sec
ondly too pure TO use il if they had It. IL
comes from an organization known as the
Free Trade League of New York. the re-
pQblicans having hal such continued sue
ceSsion in the control OF the lower House Tor
years, the strength of the League had fallen
almost entirely away. Its membership had
been reduced. It's bleeding operations on the
business community under the name o. free
trade had died out. With the return OF
democratic majority 10 the lower House, it,
however, has again risen from its slumbers
and its repres entatives are here to-day VI "a
an eXchequer well supplied, championtng
the cause of Mr.. Kerr as the exponent OF
,heir Que principle only, free trade.
To deal sqUarely with the question as TO
how the battle stands, from present indica-
| lions an unimpassioBed observer mast call
| it a draw. Both candidates over estimate
| their strength. OF the southern st ites Rtl-
dali has majority. Kerr, however, will
| receive, il is now alleged, the united q eorgia
delegation, and majority, if not all, Of the
votes of the Tennessee members. Two weeks
| ago Mr.. Randall did not anticipate this. He
| is agreeably disappointed, however, in an
| other direction. New England, watch was
| given 10 Kerr on account OF his money re
| cord, supports Ra ldall, it is claimed, with a
majority OF her votes.
One of the weights which was being USED
| TO handicap Randall was disposed OF last
| night. 1t had been repeatedly stated that
| the Pennsylvania delegation were not wi In
| him as unit. To settle this matter defin-
4
| lest night, at which all were present or rep
| resented by proxies authorized to act, and ii
| was unanimously resolved To stand by the
candidacy of Randall, first, last, and all the
| time. A sub committee was also appointed
| to inform Mr.. Randall of the action of his
| colleagues, and TO request from him infor-
| nation as TO what combinations his friends
| can enter into to ensure the success OF his
! candidacy.
| What strength Randall loses in the South
| is assumed to be cOunteracted ia the West
1 & for Randall a
| against Kerr. The bitterness between the
| eastern and western democracy of the state
engendered during the OHIO canvass, has no,
subsidized. Kerr's record financially and his
| refusal TO help his party In Ohio, because he
| did not believe in their platform, is operating
S9on tb mi issnnri GaIa a anJ R nSse
| but one. This state Randall claimed two
| weeks ago. This is balanced to some extent
by votes said to be pledged for Randall from
the Pacific coast and New England, hereto
l fore conceded To the other side.
By some system of mathematical fneSse
each candidate counts up majority for him.
l self. This result Is brought about by adding
to their own ascertained strength all that is
doubtful. There are a great many crafty
politicians here who are too shrewd to dis
close their intention until it is settled be
yond peradventure who the winning man
is. They will then be found with the strong
est side. Tosum up according to the present
elected as Mr.. Kerr, and vice versa Both are
ON the anxious seat
THE OTHER OFFICES.
| ANY speculation as TO who the clerk VIII
be is impossible. 1t will be either Ban KS, o
Mississippi, Crittenden, of Missouri, o.
aspirants seem to be out OF the race. III Kerr
is elected Crittendens chance is good.
| Randall Banks takes the lead.
I The only office certain Is ,,ue sszssan, O T.
arms. By an ...,nloet universsal consent. tn,
] place % given TO John G. Thompson, of Ohio
I The latest candidate who has arrived Il
| ex-Delegate Cavanaugh, of Montana. HI
| was cleaned ont in Union Pacific in Wal
street last Thursday. He wants to be post
master, and is a tower of strength I'm tn
way of Gen. Boughton, who was ahead be
| fore his arrival.
THE BETTING.
At the Imperial hotel last night pools wer
sold on the speakership. The highest pric
! bid for pools was $50. The betting ran mos
| curiOusly. Randall started OFF as the nrs
| choice, betting even for him against tn
! field. Kerr was then sold for $50 as frs
choice against the field. and finally the fiei,
| sold for $50, with only $40 bid for first choice
The pool selling is to continue during ia,
| remainder Of the week, and the Candidate
for clerk, sergeant alarms and doorkeepe
Will also come into the scramble hereafter.
THE DUEL IN DELAwARE.-The PhiIadel
phia Times gives the following particulars O
the duel fought near Edgemoor Delaware
ON Monday, the principals being X. w. Bay
| IOr, OF Norfolk. Va, who is said to have been
member of MOsby's command during the
war, and Col. James +. Keegan, OF New
| YORK, we'll known as an army correspondent,
during the war, and formerly an officer In
the federal army: alt appears that, as in
most cases, so in this. q feminine charmeI
residing in Philadelphia was the cause of the
l hostile meeting, both man ha va haor O SCI;