New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-10
THE SPEAKERSHIP CONTEST.

PARTY POINT OF VIEW, But RANDALL FROM
PUBLIC POINT OF vIEw-1HE LATTrR's CHANCES
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
WASHINGTON. March 9.-Ono thing in regard TO
the Speakership contest may be considered as sct-
fled. and that is that the Republicans will not
nndcr any circumstances, accept the organization
of the House. The policy of that party Will be 10
throw the entire responsibility for the legislation
of the present Congress upon the Democracy III
both Houses. Republican Speaker would De
obliged to share this responsibility with his poitl-
cal opponents, since he would select the commit
fees which in turn would have to perfect and IN
GREAT measure control all important legislation.
The Republicans now in Washington are all
agreed that in strictly party sense it would be
much the best for them If the Democrats should
elect Mr. Blackburn instead of Mr. Randall and
better still If this should be accomplished by
coalition of the Greenback vote with that OF Mr.
Blackburn's friends. There is no general objection
10 Mr. Blackburn personally. lie is much liked by
many as a good parliamentarian and ready debater,
and cool and prompt presiding officer. lie does
not disguise his extreme partisan sentiments now
ever either in the chair or out of 1t. lie STANDS
openly as the leader and exponent OF the pro-
pounced Bourbon element of the House. He repre-
sent the movement to restore the Confederate ele-
mcnt in the Democratic party to power in Congress.
creating the Electoral Commission, and did all in
his mower TO prevent he completion OF any count
of the electoral votes lie was the head and front
OF those on his side Of the House who insisted on
the extra session of Congress now called. His
course as Speaker would of necessity be such as to
tend constantly to soldify the Republicans of the
North For these reasons Republican politicians IN
Washington are a unit in the belief that in a party
point of view alone the election Of Mr.. Blackburn,
even by the regular Democratic vote, is thing
greatly to be desired.
Still more do they consider it desirable that the
Grcenbackers should 90 to him in body and Sc
cure his election, not only for the good effect 1t
would have upon the Republican party, but for the
positive harm which such result would inevitably
do to the Democratic cause in the Eastern and
Northern States. Republicans feel also that under
Mr. Blackburn the extremists in the House would
have full sway, and that the Speaker would rather
encourage than crowd them and they know that
an this would react against the Democracy.
On the other hand, there are many Republicans
WHO are beginning look at the Speakership in the
light of a National Office and one in which the Re-
publicans, IN view of the part they must take in
conducting that part of the public business which
partisan in Its character, have deep interest
They feel that under Mr.. Randall the House would
be continuously under better discipline, and that
while Mr.. Randall is seldom less than a PARTISAN
even he would be fair compared with what might
be expected from the element which Mr. Blackburn
honestly and boldly represents They feel conf
dent that under Mir. Randall the public business
could be more promptly and efficiently performed
In so far as the Speakershp is National office, 1t
would be more perfectly administered as such by
MI Randall than by Mr.. Blackburn.
These considerations are bringing many Republic
cans 10 the point where, if the Democratic caucus
should be unable to control a quorum of the House
and so be obliged TO Let the election of a Speaker
take its chances on general vote the floor of the
of putting the haTd-mOney Democrats OF the House
aud those with most moderate views IN power.
rather than Mr. Blackburn the representative OF
the extremists reinforced by the GreenbaCkeTs.
There Is another consideration that is working
strongly in favor of Mr.. Randall aud that Is found
In the fact that the professional lobby, almost
without exception, is dcnouncmg him and actively
working against him. Tins works against Mi.
Randall and not directly for Mr.. Blackburn. There
j. no claim on the part Of these gentlemen that the
latter would deal more lenentiy with them, but
their conduct concerns Mr.. Randall alone, and IL
prompted solely by sentiments of revenge. These
men saw the late session of Congress end without
having had an opportunity to realize any ploht
from the legislation of the Winter, and they
attribute their failure more generally to speaker
Randall than 20 any other one man, and Tar more
than 10 any other Democrat.
, Mr. Randall still seems to he the strongest can
ddatc and II Is believed by the oldest and most
experienced Observers IN Washington that he VIII
not only receive the nomination OF his party Caucds,
but that he Will be elected TO the SpcakcIshlp OF
the next House.