The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-21
THE MYTHICAL CONFERENCE.
Views Of congressman GOOde, Doug
las and Steele.
Gossip About the Speakership OF
the House.
wmrrK SULPHUR SPRINGS,

Whoever conceived the idea aud started the report
that democratic conference" to be held here
this season succeeded admirably in quilting the pub
lie but ANONYMOUSLY failed as conference II
such conference ever had boon thought OF those
who should be posted and know all about 1t utterly
ignorant as to Its aims, objects or authorship Not
u single leading democrat that has been ques
toned upon tho subject heard anything
about the so-cacd beyond the reports that
they have The newspapers aud the authority for
these publications greatly puzzles them. Tho HERALD
has already Published the views OF several dlstn-
gushcd democratic statesmen, All OF whom were unan
nous IN the expression that no SUCH conference had
been contemplated But Notwithstanding all this
IL Is still insisted that there TO be democratic
ference, and that 1t Will be held here this Now
happen to have at hand few more authorities upon
this very subject the first OF which Is Hon. John Goode
OF Virginia. who is prominently mentioned as the
Southern candidate Tor the Speakership OF the next
House of Representatives.
VIEWS Mr.. coUDi.
In answer TO the interrogation Of HERALD corre-
spondent Mr. Gooic assured hm mat he knew nothing
whatever OF the proposed conference AT the Wntc
Sulphur Springs. He has never been invited 10 go
there by anybody with av,ow to participate IN such
conference, but he has been written to by quite mum
Der OF Southern and Western CoDgressmcn, asking
what the movement meant, as the newspaper pubhca-
tons they had gavo no explanation He invaria-
bly, replied that knew OF such movement and did
not believe the report had any foundation in act
He OF organization Tor the purpose whatever
and could Ouiy conjecture regarding the matter Mr.
10th oil August IN company with his daughter but ms
visit least will have no political signi cancc He
understood that Milton Saylcr OF ONO. and Fernando
Wood, OF New York, had engaged rooms there, but
had no actual knowledge as TO the fact
d. DOUGLAS,
Congressman from the First Virginia district said
HERALD CORES pondent the other Yin regard TO
Nv White Sulphur Springs conference know nothing
except what see IN the papers. IL is certain, how
ever that proposed Tor, rather, talked OIL confer
Is not the product OF authorized party action
and If II assemblies at ali vii be sci constituted con
clave mutual admirers aud sche mers, who probably
ntend to devise measures for putting the party IN
leading strings and promoting their own personal
ends
CONGRESSMAN STEELE,
Of North Carolina, IN conversation with HERALD
correspondent, disciaamed any connection with the
rumored democratic caucus gathering at the Wuite
sulphur Springs and professed the utmost ignorance
its aims obJecs He sal he has received no
invitation TO attend, and, IN TACT does not know that
any agreed upon gathering Will take place. Tho ma
jorty OF leading democrats with whom the HERALD
correspondents have cuuvcrscd the subject regard
the report as canard and attach no importance to It
whatever could give other authorities showing that
there Is TO DO no conference, but my imprcssion
which Is the general one, too, Is that number OF
democratic Congressman will summer here, and, meet
ing, will very naturally discuss measures und things
Is disavowed.
Among the political goss.ps here there Ia good
deal OF discussion about the Speakershp OF the next
House Of Representatives, and perhaps August there
may be much Of 'conieronce" oil clique 70 de-
veiop some plan 10 defeat Sam Randall. Some OF the
nuOusters charge that while Mr. Randall secretly
sympathized, and even went so far to advise and
instruct the parliamentary tactics they should
pursue he WAS openly III the House their enemy aud
play them false. On the other hand the antt1li-
busters aege hat Randall was tho leader
ibusters aud did all IN his power both In caucus
and in tine open scssI n 81 Ss ao%s 70 assa
WOODS chances quoted low, from tho fact that he
was very decided his opposition to tho hbusterins
movement and consequcntiy,is charged with iroach-
cry TO the party Fibustering docs not seem 10 DO
justified, but the sentiment prevails that as the ma
jorliv OF the the House Nib
the minority and its leaders DC trusted
with the control OF the party IN tho House and the
highest office in its GIT. sayier Morrison ana joan
cided preferences are expressed Ia favor OF either
Singular TO relate, l ind Sunset Cox. qate
sort from any of tho NJ CPS having q
vote in tho organization OF tho next House
friend OF Mr. Cox remarked TO me that he was cor
ta,uly the strongest man now In tho haid Tor the
Spcakcrship I'VE have had" said this gentleman,
IAN extensive correspondence with nearly all the
democratic members Of the next House, ard have SUCH
assurances oil support as to justify the belief that
Will win. If'' he continued ''our friends w!l only
suck all right Randall is dead. Wood has no
chance, and we make such overurcs to and CON-
promises with sayiers Morisons and Goodies friends
| as 10 engineer them into our support" This is tho
It stands, but the sprInkpg Of politicians hero
can hardly be taken indication OF sentiment
| among tue members OF the House.
THE VIRGINIA GrBERyAToRIAL CONTEST.
Another topic that exctes good dcal OF interest
here Is the rather butter contest now being waged be
tween several ex-mtary asprants Tor tho conserva-
tive gubcrnatoria nom nation IN virginia. The can
ddates have each representative here roui old Vir-
GINA prop0rtonate To their respective strength IN that
STATE MAJOR John W. Daniel Is apparently ia tho lead,
General Malone next, FItzhugh Lee third, General
Taintsro ioarth una Colonel +. W. NJ. Holiday last
IL seems 10 be the probabilities, however, that
thore dark horse who will carry oil The przc next
August, when the Convention meets II that body
agrees upon nation. Speculation Is rife az to tho
latter. Some persons express the belief that the Con-
veution VIII bo dividci upon tho subject OF tho state
debt and necessary consequence, thero
will bolt There viii he threc class n the Con
vcntion, each having distinct and different policy in
regard public ucbs Of tho State. Tue nrst Is IN
favor OF the maintenance OF tho public credit and tho
payment vi the debt; the second tavors compromise
REIMBURSEMENT Of the debt. equivalent to the State
going into bankruptcy, AZ that term Is now under
stood, and the third IS ouIspoken IN avor ofth rcpu
daou OF the entire state debt One Of the candidstes
ocally IN favor OF paying tho dcbt and preserving
The public credit. Major Daniel, II - presumed.
stands upon the same platform. General Tafero or
Colonel Holidays views not known, but General
Malone has published u letter advocating compro.
mise and rcadjustment oi the debt upon some basis
consistent with the reduced means aud condition OF
the people. This letter Of Mahonos Is understood by
many 10 squint at reputation, and the opinion pro-
vaiis that reputation candidate Will be brought out
IN any event. IL. then, tho Convention shoud adopt
plank pcising the party to the payment OF the Icbt
and he tho public crcG,t ~ almost
iorcgonc conclus that Manone's friends will with
draw hold another convention and nom innate him on n
compromise reputation platform On the other hand,
~
date viii be brought tho platform ia u the debt
shall and Will b paid aud that The n0nor aud integrity
Of the State sacred and must be preserved. The
contest Is very lively one and will increase In Interest
us II progresses.
MONUMENT RAIL-
10 social circles the event OF the season, the Lee
monument ball. is actively aud anxi0usy discussed.
II possible it is to be made more brilliant affair than
tho famous Custer ball last year, As It Is
10 DO grand dress ball there VIII DO display
OF tho elite, beauty and fashion assembled at the
Springs Tho FIRST Virginia regiment, composed OF
the Hover and gallantry Of Richmond Will leave that
city and arrive hero the llth aud go INTO an
campment. The regimout will remain over week,
and its members will participate In tho grand ball The
immense dining room Will DO used on the OCCASION.
aud What with tho brilliant aud gorgeous dresses Of
tho ladies' and The gitterng uniforms oi tho military
the scene WIZ DC very attractive and Interesting
THE corTOS KINGS AND QUEENS
hero now have given OF vclpcss and gaycty 10
tho Springs that was sally wanting previous 10 their
arrival They have cd tho ballroom and tho parlors
ms well as tho dining room, and added greatly to the
enjoyment OF the assembled guests la TINS respect
think That cot convention beats doocratic con-
| ference s'aii hollow, ~ as the saying is