Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-11-15
WHO SHALL BE SPEAKER

powers of both houses were held by the re-
publican party such an event created hardly
more than passing ripple OF interest.
Such, however, is not the feeling now. The
great revolution which took place iu Anne Il
can politics last fall changed the democratic
minority OF previous Congresses for many
years into good wholesome majority sufli
Client 10 give IL the control of all the patron
age which attaches To this Important branch
OF our popular government. The tr lnsition
OF course involves the change OF possibly
every employe of the House of Representa-
yves. The democratic party when in power
renglousiy incline TO and enforce the
axiom Ito the victors belong the spoils'
ard IL IL hardly to be expected that with the
great pressure which will be brought to bear
by the "outs' that many OF the inns can
even indulge Ia the hope OF retaining their
Offices.
THE CANDIDATES.
Speaker Blaine, in his famous valeiictory
10 the i3d Congress, truly said that the po-
sitiOn OF Speaker was cone of dignity and
responsibility" Notwithstanding the i'm
portance of The trust. there are no less than
four formidable aspirants TO wear the yoke.
The great state of New York furnishes two
andidates-FernandO Wood and samuel $.
(Sunset) Cox. The claims of Pennsylvania
center on Samuel j. Randall, while the west
Is represented in the person of Michael C.
Kerr, of Ind.
the race for the goal. The first to actively
canvass was Randall. He began his mission
sOOD after Congress al jOurned. He has VII
tied every geographical section, and feels
confident of success. Kerr, of Indiana, had
not made an active canvass personally until
two months ago. Previous to that time his
health had been quite poor, and he sought
rest in Colorado and such relief as the waters
OF the springs of that brevet state could give.
Upon his return to Indiana he denied
through the public prints that he had given
up the candidacy, and, with his friends, went
10 work with will to secure enough votes
10 claim the prize. In many respects the
canvass of Randall aud Kerr has been open.
Neither denied that they were candidates,
and neither has failed to use every resource
TO Obtai II the gavel.
Now, just what Fernando Wood aud Sam
Gel Cox have been doing Is not so apparent.
Wood is Of that class OF political manage
who work quietly and accomplish much.
Cox, too, has not proclaimed loudly his
movements, nor given any means To essi
mate what strength, IL any of importance, ne
may have
From the present standpoint. the canvass
may be said TO be between Samuel J. an
da!l, OF Pennsylvania, aud Michael c. Kerr,
OF Indiana.
RASDALL's CHANCES.
1.-THE selection had been made i'm ne iiate
~ upon the day prior to The adjournment of
the last Congress, and with the democrats
then in the Bouse, Randall would have been
elected Speaker by at least two
party recognized that in him they found
che who delivered them from what they
deemed the thrallom of the force bill. As
IaTliamentarian during the exciting scenes
of last winters session he shOne above all
his compeers. He was indefstigabie in his
labors; unceasing in his efforts, indeed SO
much so as to be deemed by many imperti-
nent. AS tactician he surprised even his
friends and won the esteem Of his political adj
versaries. Indeed, Speaker Blaine repeatedly
stated that Randall knew more OF the use
and application of parliamentary law than
any one on the floor OF the House.
AN ESTIMATE OF HIS STRENGTH
Mr. Randall claims, at least bis friends
claim for him, that he will go into caucus
with enough votes 10 nominate him. UpOs
what he bases this suppositious strength it
hard to determine. One thing is certain
that If Randall is elected be will have 9
secure the votes from his owa state delega
ton, the united south, and receive some hell
from New York. An analysis OF the VOC
shows that II ne secures the whole strength o
the southern democracy he will receive
from Alabama, votes; Arkansas, l; Daia
ware, !; Georgia, 9; Louisiana. (; Tennessee
Q; Texas, 6; Virginia. 8: North Carolina =.
and Mississippi, ). This makes total of y.
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
In the assumption that Randall vii
receive the strength of the south, there
enters into IL an element which makes
it somewhat plausible. IL tn rs is
any subject upon which the south is
united, IL is the completion of the Southern
Pacific railway. Indeed, upon the avowed
southern members are indebted for their
election. IL is claimed that Randall is
friendly, or not hostile TO this measure.
While he aid not vote for the bill when it
Ii was before the House, he evinced a will
Hngness to give its projectors fair hearing
which is all its friends requested from one
occupying the position ne mad maintained
against subsidies to railroads. For this
reason IL is thought that the south would
rather have Randall than 10 take hap-hazard
chances on his opponents Hence is this vote
oh q OH yvi,<
have recently arrived from the south assume
to say, that while Randall is the most popu-
lar candidate with that section, that there is
no united sentiment upon which the solid
strength can be anticipated. They state that
TO secure it certain combinations for other
officers would enter into the consideration,
and such com binatiOnS. too. as would be
difficult upon tue part of any one to fulfill.
But, for the sake of better comparison,
cOncede Randall the united south, and he
has good start with fifty mine votes TO his
him his own delegation. 1t is denied that he
has. But Pennsylvania being in favor OF
credit him also with Pennsy lvanias Il demo.
cratic votes, and he has l6.
DOUBTFUL CLAIM.
Randalrs friends claim that the entire Mis-
sonri delegation will vote for him. This is
stoutly denied by the friends of Kerr. In
deed. recent advices from Missouri indicate
that Kerr will receive the votes OF the whole
claim, 1t is but fair to credit both aspirants
with the state. Add these Is from Missouri
and ii fOOts up Randalrs column to 80.
THE POLITICAL COMPLEXION OF THE NEXT
HOUSE.
The next House is composed OF 292 mem
bers; of this number 176 are simon pure DEM
ocrats, lC2 radical republicans, 4 indepen-
dent republicans, 4 independent reformers
and liberals. In canvassing the chances OF
Kerr and Randall, we leave this latter eie-
ment out of the question, and for the reason
that IL is hardly fair 10 assume that the in
dependents win care to go into caucus with
the democrats, or that the democrats will
care to have them act with them. Assum-
ing then that all of the party 60 into caucus
on the speakership question, and that mem
bers viii abide by the dictum Of such gath
ering the nominee of the party for the
speakers chair will have 10 receive In eau
Gus eighty mine votes TO secure q majority
Now If Missouri was not SO persstently
claimed by the friends of Kerr, and Randall
could hold the votes we accord him, includ-
ing his claim OF doubtful Missouri he would
receive the nomination Oh the first ballot
To offset this, however, let us canvas
THE CHANCES OF NIB. KERR.
And In treating thereof 1t is proper to as
| sumo that he FIRST has in his favor the hard
money element of the country. And in this