The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-03-29


From our regular Corrc,pondcnt.D
WAsuINGroN, March Is, 1919
Up To the moment of the Democratic hOus'
Icaucus, the contest between Nr. Randall AM
his young southern competitor seemed TO be
neck and neck race Such are the illusions
lof political canvasscs. As soon as the mem
bcrs met in political caucus, and voting com
mcnced, it was seen that the Pennsylvania
was lar ancud on inc Kcuuckiau. During tn,
last week the general interest IN the contc,
has kept Washington in Il state OF excitement
and early last evening the south wing OF the
Capitol was crowded with a dense throng
composed largely of those who had come from
adistancc and Of the class well known in Wash
ington as office seekers. The disappointment
and chagrn of 30 per cent Of this class this
morning is uncXprcs.cd except in bad Ian
guagc. Anticipating u charge from outsiders,
| Mr. Clymcr, chairman Of the caucus, gave iii
rcctions to the large corps Of doorkecpcrS to
barricadc the corridors and guard the star.
ways leading to the house Visitors were per.
mittcd to enter the lower floor as they pleased,
but their progress up stairs was stopped at
every turn by guards, who said they had or
dcrs to pass no one except members.
The lower corridors were jammed, and many
schemes were resCrtcd to in order to reach the
floor ABOVE. New members as general thing,
were unknown to the guards, and, in some in
stances, they were not allowed TO pass until
identified. On the other hand men frequently
got to the corridors above by passing them.
selves off rs members. Tins ruse was played
for some time and after about hundred out
sidcrs had succeeded in getting through, The
guards smellcd = mouse and stopped it. Mr.
Blackburn : headquarters were established in
the Ways and Means committee room, while
Mr.. Randall held forth in the room OF the com
mittcc on appropriations. Each of the Candi-
dates was surrounded by number of personal
friends and of course AL news from in
side the house was eagerly sougltaftcr When
ever Il member ycntured outside he. was be
siegcd on every hand, not only by reporters
but by scores Of men who felt deep personal
interest i'm the result. The outsiders managed
to keep advised Of each step of the caucus, and
when 1t was announced that ballotting had
commenced, the crowd pressed little nearer
to the doors of the lobby, eager TO hear the first
statement of the count. Finally II shout was
heard IN the hall, and that was the signal forI
a general rush, \ member emerged from the
house, and fifty voices inquired, What is it?"I
"Scvcnty-tivc votes for Randall was the IN.
swer, and the exclted member pressed on.
Voice after voice repeated the vote, and III ten
who was standing near the door of his head
quarters, Let me pass" he said, as he rapid
ly forced his way to the han Of the house,
reaching there almost before the cheering OF
the Randall men had ceased He was imme-
diatcy recognized by the chalr, and in a mo-
ment everything bccamequet In calm and
firm voice he moved to make the nomination
of Mr. Randall unanimous, and this was doneI
amid loud cheers. Mr. Blackburn was at onceI
called on for speech by every member pres
ent, and he took the speakers stand amid con-
tinued cheering. He thanked his friends for
their support. While he had hoped it mi ght
have been the pleasure of the house to confer
the office upon one from the section with
which he was identified, he hau only TO say
that the Cdict of the caucus was to him final
and conclusive and that If there was oneI
among the 81 gentlemen whose partial friend
ship had given him their votes that hesitates
or doubts, to him he appealed to make the YER
dict of this caucus effective when to-morrow'sI
vote is called. He then moved to make the
nomination of Mr. Randall unanimous. After
this motion had been carried Messrs. Ewing,
Hooker add Wood were appointed to wait up
on Mr.. Randall and inform him of his nom
nation. The third time elected speaker came
in, arm in arm with Mr. Ewing, and after he
had thanked the caucus for the honor again
conferred upon him, and promised impartial
ty in the administration Of the office the caucus
proceeded TO elect the officers of the house.
Mr. Adams, the clerk of the preceding con.
gress, was elected by majority of eleven votes,
his competitor being Mr. Caldwell of Alabama
Messrs. Field and Thompson were elected re-
spectively for doorkeepcr and scargcntat-arms
by accamation.
In the republican caucus, which met at the
house yesterday at III. NJ. Nr. Garfield was
elected as candidate for speaker, Mr. Raney
(coloredD for clerk, EX,Represcntativc Rush, OF
Wisconsin, seargentatarms, and Henry VI
Sherwood for postmaster. These nominations
were all unanimous and by acclamation. The
rrcpubackerS did NOT cntpr either the ranuhIi
can or democratic caucus. &. \. :.
The Mysteries of u Lump of coal.