New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-08

SHIP CoNrFsT-APPIICASr FOR MINOR OFFICES.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO HE TIIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Oct. THE contest for the Speaker
ship has not yet begun in Washington. Mr.. Randall
arrived here two three days ago. but has scarcely
been seen on the Streets and a. he resides III re-
tired portion of the town Capitol Hill, his pres
ence here has hardly been known. Mr. Cox is at his
headquarters, at the Riggs House, and receives his
friends. and talks the subject with confidence
such numerous pledges of votes only is likely to
beget and Mr.. Morrison. who has been in
Washington for two three days, is surrounded
by few friends, some of whom will support
him on the first ballot in the caucus. The people
who doing most of the talking about the or
ganization of the House at present are chiefly per-
manent residents OF Washington and applicants for
position under the several officers after they shall
have been elected but the real work Of canvassng
for the Speakership cannot, of course begin here
until the Representatives, who are to vote in the
caucus arrive. pretty careful examination of
hotel and clearinghouse registers show that not
more than twenty-five or thirty members of the
House have yet taken up their abode in Washing
ton and of these only about one-haf are Demo-
Gratis
In conversation with those who call upon him, Mr.
Cox openly says that he proposes to steer clear OF
what he calls "mercenary politics. II he can win
by doing So he will be glad; if he cannot, he will
not abandon his principles. Ono remarkable feature
of the desultory talk heard about the hotels and
other public places however is the utter absence of
any discussion of principles entering into or con-
trolling the Spcakership contest. Listening to
the opinions of those who have opinions to
express, one would suppose that the whole contest
is turn upon the of the several candidates
in securing pledges of before the caucus next
Saturday, and that these pledges are not based on
any except personal considerations. Nobody speaks
of Mr. Randall as being stronger on account of his
supposed frlendliuess to the Texas Pacific Road, nor
of Mr.. Cox being weaker because he is openly OPP
posed to it.
For the clerkship of the House there are, thus
far, only two candidates. Mr.. Adams, the present
clerk, desires to be reelected, and Mr.. Caldwell, an
ex-member of the House, from Alabama, has been in
Washington for a week or two. prepared to dispute
his claims before the caucus. Mr.. Caldwell has
many elements of popularity, and was much liked
BY representatives who served in Congress with him.
lie will undoubtedly secure a good many votes from
those whose friendship ne then secured. Mr.. AdamSs
friends do not seem to be in the least alarmed,
however. They say that the support when
Mr. Caldwell has among his people now IN
the city is not effective as he cannot
count among his friends many who are Demo
cratic members Of the next House, and who will
therefore have an opportunity to vote In the eau
Gus. Several hundred persons who We're applicants
for Offices in he gift of the clerk of the last Con-
gress, and who were disappointed. will now do
what lies in their power, Mr.. Adams's friends say,
10 secure Mr. Caldwelps election; but they believe
the members themselves well satisfied with Mr.
Adams's administration. aud will certainly reflect
him.
There seems to be little or no opposition to the re-
election of the sergaant-at-arm5 MI thompson
and none is likely arise unless Mr.. Sayler should
be chosen Speaker in which case it would be lnculn-
beut on the Democratic caucus to select sergeant
alarms from some other State. Very little has been
said about the Office of doorkeeper or postmaster OF
the House A vague impression seems to prevail
that the present doorkeeper will not be reelected
George C.. Weddeburn, of Virginia, Democratic
journalist of some note, is a candidate, and seems to
have considerable support. He has, on former occa-
sionswhen the organization of the House was in the
hands of the Republicans, been honored by the
Democratic nomination for the same place.