The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-12-06
THE SPEAKERSHIP.
Nj. G. Kerr Nominated on the third
Ballot.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The Democratic eau
Gus was called to order by Fernando Wood. j.
@. A. Lamar was chosen presiding officer. Mr..
Banning OF Ohio was made secretary of the
caucus.
On the third ballot 161 votes were cast Kerr
received 80, Randall 60, Cox 7, Naylor l. At
ter the result of the ballot was announced Ran
dali, who had just entered the hall, said:
Mr. Chairman.-Let the wish of the majority
be the voice of all. From this moment differ.
ences among ourselves must be at an end, and
thus present a united point to our adver5aries.
Our mission on this floor must be as far as we
are able to restore the government to its consti
tutional purposes, and to expose the corrup-
ton of the administration. A word more of a
personal character to those who have so stead
lily supported me- They have lost their choice,
but they have gained a lifelong friend. l now
move that the nomination of Michael G. Kerr
of Indiana, be made unanimous.
The motion was adopted amid considerable
cheering The caucus then took recess until
seven o'clock.
During the caucus proceedings Randall re-
manned in the Ways and Means Committee
room, and Mr.. Kerr in the Postofice Commit
tee room. Each was surrounded by friends
awaiting the reception of fresh news from the
inside. Cox also absented himself from the
caucus
The Democratic caucus ithis evening nomi-
mated Adams of Kentucky, for Clerk; j. G.
Thompson of Ohio, for Sergeant-at-Arms; L.
FL. Fitzburgh of Texas, for Doorkeeper form.
erly Sergeant-at-Arms of the Confederate Con-
gress); James Stewart of Virginia, for Post
master; Rev. j. L. Townsend of Wa shington,
(Episcopalian) for Chaplain. Adjourned at
11.30 p. m.
The Republican members held caucus to-
night and renomnated Mr. Blaine for Speaker,
and all the other old officers
MIR. Kerr Congratulated.
WAcuTucTaN Tor INSTRUMENTATION Korr
received many of his friends to-day who called
to congratulate him on his nomination for tn e
Speakership. All parties concede his fitness
for the position. Surprise is expressed that the
West and South carried all the offices. For
the 200 or 300 subordinate places there are at
least 1000 applicants. Some of the defeated
candidates complain that certain members who
promised them their support were guilty Of a
breach of faith, having deserted them at the
last. At least a dozen of the defeated candi-
dates came hither with high anticipations but
now wonder that they bad so little strength
Rev. j, L. Townsend, who his charge of an
Episcopal church in Washington and who re-
ceived majority of the votes of the caucus for
chaplain of the House, was nominated by
Hon. VIM. H. Barnum, who stated that Town
send had been driven out of Connecticut by
the Republicans of that state for his political
views.
[Hon. Michael G. Kerr of Indiana, the
Speaker of the 44lh Congress, was born near
Titusville, Pa, March Is, 1897, aud is conse-
quently nearly forty-nine years of age. He
was chiefly self educated, attending several
academies while teaching school. He after
wards studied law in the University Of Louis
vile. He soon began the practice of law in
New Albany, Ind. In 1856 he was elected a
member of the state assembly, and afterwards
reporter in the Supreme Court. He was first
elected to Congress in 1864 and was bitter op-
ponent of the Republican war and reconstruc-
ton policy. He has been returned to every
subsequent Congress except the 43d. He has
always been among the foremost of his party,
though by no means so conspicuous as Beck,
Wood, Cox. Eldredge, Holman. Niblack or
Randall. He was decidedly averse to taking
Mr.. Greeley for the Democratic candidate for
President. MI. Kerr is classed as a Bourbon,
but is on the whole very good man, unless we
accept the reports of the Randall claquers be-
fore the caucus which would be hardly far.]