The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-03-26
or wAsslxsrex LErrsu.
WASHINGTON. March 20. 1874.

WASHINGTON, March 20. 1879.
Up 10 the moment Of the Demo
cratic House caucus, the coDtest be
tween Mr.. Randall and his voun,
southern compet'tor seemed 10 be
neck 10 neck rece. Snch are the il
lasions of political canvass. As 500
as the members met in political eau
Gus, aud voting commenced it wa
seen that the Pennsylvania was fA
ahead Of the kenrockian. Durin,
The last week the general interest ii
The contest has kept Washington in
state Of excitement, and early las
evening the south wing Of the CAPT
tol was crowded with q dense thr0n.
composed largely Of those who bat
come from a distance, aud If III,
class ueil known In Washington &
Office seekers The disappoiatuec.
aud ebagriu Of 80 per cent. Of til;
clsss tbis morning Is unexpressed ex
cept ia bad language. Anticipating
n charge from outsiders MIR Ciy nsr
chairman of the caucus, gave direc
tions 10 the large corps Of doorkeep
ers 10 beFricade the corridors epC
guard the stair ways leading to tbs
House. Yi-iturs were permitted Il
enter the lower hvor as they pleased
but their progress up stairs wa.
stopped at every turn by guards
who said they had orders t. pass no
body except members.
TIE lower corridors were jammsd
and many schemes were resorted I,
ia order 10 reach he Il or above
New members, es a general Thing
were unknown To the guards, aud, II
sOme Instances they were not allow.
ed 10 pass uutil identified. % ID,
other hand, meu frequently got Il
the corridors above by passing Them
selves eff 90 members. This ras,
as played for some tine. and afteI
aboui u hundred outsiders bad sec
ceeded 10 getting through, the guards
smelied a moose and stopped it. Mr.
BIeckbaru's headquarters were es,sb
lisbed 10 the Way aud Means com
mittee room, while Mr. Randall helt
fOrtn Ia the room of the Cpmmilte'
% Appropriations. Each Of The eau
d.dstes was surrounded by a humble
uf personal friends, AID, # course, al
news fiom inside The House wa
eagerly sought after. Whenever
member yenIured outside be was be-
siegeG on every baud. not Only b.
reporters but by scores Of men VIII
felt u deep personal interest in ID
result. The outsiders managed 1
keep advised of each step If tho eau
Gus, asd when il was auneu0eed tina
bAlloiiug had commenced, the crow
pressed a littie nearer to the doors ,
the lobby, eager o hear the ira
statement of the count. Einally
shout was heard in the hall. and tina
was the signal for a general rusb.
member emerged frum tie House
ard fifty voices il quired, "Wbe
is is 7"
.'SeveBty-fve votes for Randall,
and the excited member pressed oil
Voice after voice repeated the voi'
aud In ten seconds 1t reached the ed
Of Mr. Blackburn, who was standiu
near the door of his headquarteri
"Let me pass he said, as he rapid
forced his way to the ball of To
House, reaching there almost oefor
toe cheering OF the Randall men ha
ceased He was immediately recoe
niz-d by the chair, aud in a momeu
everything became quiet. 10 a cali
and firm voice be moved to make th
nomination of Mr. Randall uDan
nous, and this was done amid lou
cheers. Mr. Blackburn was ut Que
called Oh for a speech by every men
Der present, and he took Il e speaker
stand. smid continued cheering. II
thanked bis friends for their supper
while be had hoped it might nav
beea The pleasure Of toe House
confer the Oilice upon one from ID
section with which be was identified
he had only to say that The edict
the caucus was to him final and Col
elusive and that il there was en-
smung the 81 gentlemen whose pa
tisl friendship had given him tbel
votes that hesitates or doubts,
him. be appealed TO make the svrdiC
IF this caucus effective when to-moI
rows vote is called He then NOV,
ed TO make the nomination Of NJ
Randall unanimous. After this m'
tion had been carried, Messrs. Ewins
Hooker, and Wood were appointe
to wait upon Mr.. Randall aud infori
him of his nomination. The thir,
time elected speaker came 10, arm
arm With Mr.. Ewing, and after b
had thanked the caucus for the bono
again conferred upon him and prom
ised impartiality in the admlnistr;
ton of the Office, the caucus proceed
ed to elect the officers Of the HOUSE
Mr.. Adams, the clerk OF the preceC
ing Congress, vas reelected by
majority of eleven votes, his compel
tor being Mr.. Caldwell, of Alabsm'
Messrs. Field and Thompson wer
elected respectively for doorkeepel
and Sargeant-at-Arms By acclams
tion.
la the Republican caucus whic
met at the House yesterday at tip \
Mr.. Garfield was elected as eand
date for speaker, Mr.. Rainey, color
ed, for clerk. ex Representative
Rub, of Wisconsin, S~ergeant-ar
Arms, anu Henry NJ. Sherwood 70
Postmaster. These nominations yer
all unanimous and by aeclamatior
The Greenbackers did not enter eth
er the Republican or Democrat
caucus.
G. A S.
The Conventional Conscience