The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-18
Washington.

SHSHiuStOB.
NOMINATION OF HON. SAMUEL =. RANDALL Az
sPEAEsR OF THE H0UsE-How MR.. BLACN-
BURN TAKES THE NoBBING
WITH TIRE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES PRO-
cENDINGs-THE SENATE OFFIcEs-roSIT1oN
OF SENATOR'S JOHNSTON AND wITuERs-
CLERK ADAMS AND HIS OPINION AS TO THE
NUMBER OF MEMBERS CONSTITUTING QUo-
RuM-ST. PATRIK's DAY, &C.
Iron Our Regular Correspondent -.,
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE contest for
the speakership, which has ended in the NOM
ination OF Hon. S. J. Randall, has been re-
markable one. On Thursday the fight was
confined TO slim skirmish line consisting
OF political Macaw bers, House employees,
and few members OF Congress who were
establishing the headquarters OF their IA
vorites at the National and Wizards. The
newspaper correspondents mingled freely
among these for want OF more profitable
employment, and were prodigal in advice,
suggestions. and predictions as to the final
result. Blackburn's supporters were
either more numerous or more en-
thusiastic than Randal's, and to the
casual observer it seemed evident that
the fayoritc son OF Kentucky was as sure
to win as was ever Lexington or Ten
Brock. The Randall fellows, who were
calmcr and less demonstrative, however,
said You wait until the members get here,
and YOU will find that Sam. has majority.
And YOUR correspondent waited and i'll
uuircd. only to find that members Of Con-
sress whose Judgment ordinarily is good,
allowed it in this case TO be warped by their
prcjudices and wishes. On Friday the con-
test became more lively, and the partici-
pants were Of Il more substantial type, and
at the close OF the day it was easy to dis
cover that Mr.. Randall and his lieutenants
were alarmed. They said they were still
confident, but newspaper inquiStor could
readily see that their faith in ultimate sue
cess was weaker than on the day before.
THE BLACKBURNlTES WERE NOW JUBILANT,
and declared that their majority would be
thirty on the first ballot. From various
sources came the announcement that Scna-
tors Beck, VOORHEES,, Wallace, and Repre-
sentatives Hunton, Manning. and Morrison
had been locked up for hours, going over
kilograms aud letters from members, and
that they had figured out B!ackburn's vote
to be lightweight. 1t was also stated that
these statesmen had thrown out Of their
calculation every man about whom
there could BE- reasonable doubt.
On Saturday the fight was. renewed
With spirit and activity on both sides,
and 1.-THE National" and Wizards"
showed largely increased crowds, as II the
people were dividing their interest between
the walking match at New York and the
speakership OF the American House OF Com
mons. Each party now worked and tele-
oraphed, and talked aud calculated, until
South Carolnian in despair said to me, II
do believe blanket will cover Blackburn
and Randall at the end OF the race" Al
that afternoon and night the work went
brayely on, each swearing that he was
ahead, and each putting his strength over
50, when a was enough to nominate. Every
once in awhile there would come rumor
that
SAN. cox WAS HoB-NOBBING WITH THE GREEN
| BACKERS
at the Metropolitan, and that he might yet
spoil the calculations Of both Blackburn
ard Randall. A heavy western Blackburn
lite, on hearing remark OF this kind at the
National, replied, in Il rough voice, "D-n
if no stud snowbird can be elected Speaker
this time" The truth was that the witty
New York member did not take much
stock in the fight because he is hostile to
Randall, and thought that nobody had so
good right as himself to run against him.
He is a fine parliamentaran. In fact, a
more accurate one, at moments notice,
than any man in the last Congress except
Milton Sayler. With the close OF Saturday
it was very clear that
RANDALL HAD GAINED,
and that the confidence Of his friends was
again resto red. On Sunday there were two
oxen in the ditch, and religious members OF
the House thought it not unchristian to help
their own bovine sufferer out OF his difficult
ties: and so the conflict continued, each
party claiming gains and enough votes to
nominate. Committees were ut the cars to
receive new members and indoctrlnatc
them with proper views, and some
ludicrous mistakes were made. lir. Rich
mond and General Joe Johnston were
greatly in demand, and they would have
been fiattercd could they have known
how eagerly they were inquired Tor
by brother members, some OF whom had
! vet to meet them for the first time. Gene.
raj Bcale, too, came in for his due share OF
attention until it was known positively that
he bad located on the speakerShip, and was
| no, to be changed by entreaty or argument.
| The zeal and leadership Of General Hunton
were now conspicuous, and he moved from
hotel to hotel in as great hurry as mer-
chant who fears the clock will strike 3 be-
fore he reaches the bank. where he has
note due. Judge Harris was in the mean
time at RandaIlS headquarters giving tue
PENNSYLVANIA candidate the full benefit OF
his wonderful tact and Judgment III the
management OF canvass. ....
CABELL, GOoDE, AND TUCKER
were leading, for Blackburn, and couid De
seen first at Wizards, then at the Metropoil-
tan. and afterwards ct the National-show-
ing that their advocacy Of him was the re-
suit OF deep conviction rather than we're
personal reference. At this iuncture the
rumors were frequent and we'll circulated
4. n1H