The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-03-17
TO THE DAILY INTBI1IGBNCER
THE sPEAKERsHIP.
Randall and Blackburn ContestinE
F Hotly for II.
The Greenbackers Say that they Car
be Induced to Support Sam Cox,
and TheyWlll Nominate Him.
Our Senator Henry has Choice ofTwo
Chairmanships s---AgriCuIture
Considered His Best Hold.

]
for the Speakership is fast assuming shape.
Over one hundred members are in the
city, and all day long the political caldron
has seethed at white heat. The hotel cor
ridors are crowded with tho friends Of
both Randall and Blackburn, and make
theatr ring with their badinage, bets, oaths
and confident assertions. Twenty -four
hours ago it looked as Il Blackburn could
win the fight. At midnight last night
heavy inroads had been made upon Rand.
all's strength, and when the full Of early
morn set in the friends of the Kentucky
champion went to bed fully confident that
the battle had been won. Up to noon to-
day the confidence was mistaken. To-
ward afternoon the result Of a careful can.
vass convinced the cooler heads, who
were managing Joe's canvass, that the op-
position to Randall was stronger than
Blackburn's strength-that is to say, that
while there was developed an opposition
TO Randall sufficient to defeat him in the
caucus, Blackburn's strength alone was
not sufficient to accomplish the result. 1t
was found that there are all the way from
ten to twenty men, who while they will
not vote for Blackburn, are willing to &C.
cept a candidate less objectional than
either. II the opposition which is array
cd against both Of the prominent candi.
dates hold out-and it is Of a kind which
has both grip and grit-it will absolutely
hold the balance of power IN the caucus,
and
NEITHER BLACKBURN NOR RANDALL
can get the nomination. Itmay be added,
too, that the opposition spoken OF is ire.
spective and Independent OF the Green
back men. Tonight the situation is as.
suming the shape Of a question as to who
can command all the strength Blackburn
now has, and at the same time absorb the
floating vote which Is against both Ran
dali and Blackburn. A good deal OF quiet
caucusing and sCheming has been going on
to-day. Old politicians have put their
heads together, and are still in a state of
perplexitya as to the proper manto be put
forward who can unite all the elements of
opposition to Randall. What adds good
deal Of perplexity to the opposition to Ran
dali is that ut q conference held this after
noon between the Nationals and Ellis, of
Louisiana, and Mills, OF Texas, acting as a
committee in behalf Of Blackburn, the Ma
tionaIs indicated that they would support
Cox, OF New York, in case he received tie
Democratic caucus nomination. II he did
not, and the contest could not be settledin
caucus, but was thrown into tho House,
they would vote for him in such an event,
The Nationals display good deal Of tim.
idity in pledging their support to Black
burn, and indicate they are not fully satis-
fled that his financial record is so clearly in
accord with their principles and faith to
induce them to go TO his support. 1t is
urged on behalf Of the Blue.Grass candl.
date that his record in Congress will show
that on every financial question which
came before the House he always voted
for the principles for which tho Nationals
have contended; and, moreover, it was
urged that in his letter OF acceptance OF the
nomination TO Congress he ulcquivoCalIy
placed himself In sympathy with tho Ma
tional movement. In support OF this latter
declaration the letter is being telographed
hence In full by the General Press Agents.
10 uso vulgarism, but which In tho pres.
ent complex condition OF affairs Is really a
truism,
Things ARE VERY MUCH MlXED."
| One thing is very certain, and that is,
that il the opposition to Randall can be
united he will be beaten. Ills real strength,
and he knows 1t full we'll, Is the hope that
il can not be rallied against him. II it is
divided, he will be elected; but it is not
yet too late TO get dark horse, aud Just
now the dark horse has the pole, but who
hc will be is yet conjectured. McSIahon
is still talked Of So is Carlisle, OF Ken.
tuCky, and Housp, Of TenneSsee. NIcMa.
hons probability Is handicapped and
lampened by John q. Thompson's Candi.
dacy for the smaller Office he now holds.
1t would break Jongee's heart 10 be left
out in the cold, and OF course lie will give
no aid or Countenance TO any .McAlahon
movement. There is one outcome which
looks probable II u new candidate is not
: thrown into the breach, and that is that
from twelve to fifteen men will 60 into the
. Democratic caucus who will hold the bal.
, ancc Of power. There will bo failure to
nominate, and the contest will then be
| thrown into the House. The danger which
in suph contingency looms up Is that The
Republicans, after all, might help Randal
out, despite the dcnials put out by theil
r leaders that they intOnd to keep their
hands of. There isa disposition among
the Ohio delegation 10 hold q meeting OH
Monday and present MCAlalOn rs tlleil
choice in case Blackburnsis withdrawn
,, The New York delegation hold meeting
tonight, but it had no significance, owinG
to the absence OF two OF the members. i
! is not thought the delegation will suppor
y Cox as candidate,
81 NFnSlaMF
!, Tho hotels are still crowded, and TAT
4 Spcakership fight iSstiIl on. blackburn i
A still confident that hU has votes Onough Il
, give him the caucus nomination. This III
bases on reports which have been JUS
: made. md Is attained in tho followin,
. way: The Executive Committee, wht
. have charge OF the details Of his canvass
/, held a nEstlFg ta'niEht, at which there
was present one member lroH, GaSlf State
The roll OF the membership OF the House
/ was gone over, and no claims were madC
} for Blackburn except those vouched for b,
. members OF the respective State delega
] lIqEs present. The result OF this canvass
5 claimed 70 ho 6xleealnglY CAUTIOUS AM