Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-06
THE QUESTION NOF'INTEREST.
Can the Democrats Organize ths


THE QUESTION OF INTEREST.
Can the Democrats Organize the
l1Ousei
Inc absorbing question OF interest just now
IS: "Can the democrats organize the mex,
House?' In public they pooh-pooh any doub.
upon the matter, but privately many Of them
express fears that "All is not we'll" The green.
back 'animal" is the cat which now worries
and just how he will jump is the perplexing
question.
The next House of Representative will con.
tain 2el members. A full House is made up OF
293 members; but there will be four vacancies
Dy reason OF California's election not being held
until september next, and two vacancies caused
by the death OF RepreSentativtS-elect Schleiker
OF Texas and Smith, of New York.
CLAIMS ON EITHER sIDE.
Probably, Speaker Randall is the best demo-
cratic authority for the democratic member
ship Of the next House. He claims there will
be 14s democrats go with the democratic nomi-
nee. This will leave of republicans and green
hackers 139 members, which Is the element OF
opposition which confronts the democracy. The
republicans claim they will have 131 members,
who will be with them in caucus If, then the
democrats have las members and the repubn-
cans 131, as both claim, the greenback strength
will have dwindled down to eight votes. Both
sides evidently calculate under false impress
sion, for twelve EemberS elect have filed writ
ten pledges with the secretary of the Greenback
League that they will stand through thick and
CASUALTIES TO BE EsTIMA ATED
Speaker Randall. too, In his estimate of l4S
votes for the democracy, apparently has not
made the necessary allowance for casualties
There are four members Of the democratic party
who will hardly be at the Capitol on Monday
week because OF physical inability. These are
Acklen. of Louisiana, who is Frustrated On
SICK. perhaps dying bed, in this city; Bland OF
Missouri, is at home quite sick; Singleton, Of
Illinois who cannot possibly be in condition
ia np,n hos
democratic member elect quite ILL. II none OF
these members put In an appearance the demo-
cratic caucus will be reduced to IA members,
which would be just enough votes to elect a
speaker, with one to spare, If the democratic
strength is thus properly calculated. But on
It's face the estimate is faulty, because Hendrick
b. Wright Is counted upon to act with Che DEM
ocrats. whereas he Is claimed as positively
pledged to act with the greenbackerS and unite
with them. He participated In the proceedings
in the recent conference held In this city. Then.
too, there are three others who are included In
Mr.. Randalls calculations of the democratic
strength, who, the nationals claim, will act
with them, and not with the democrats.
SPEEDY ORGANIzATION NOT PROBABLE.
viewed dispassionately, it would seem to be
decidedly uphill work for the democrats to
organize the House by any caucus arrangement
unless they can bring out their full force in
clud1ng the sick and crippled. The chances are
That the organization will require some time for
accomplishment, and that it will not be settled
SCe
1ght for all, the democrats will present two
cand1dates for the Speakership Samuel J. Ran
can can ana Joseph s: Blackburn. The republicans
nationals Will present Rev. De La Matyr; and
SO long as the forces hang out 1t will simply be
impossible to have an election.
PREVIOUS CASE.
The rules of the House require that to secure
an election the candidate voted for as Speaker
shall have majority of all the votes. When
pavN1 N1,c frnAN NInnr r~~,~~
one hundred and fifty Unsuccessful ballots it
was agreed that the candidate who received a
plurality vote should be declared elected: and it
was by resort only to this understanding that
thaV memorable deadlock was broken.
THE CHANCES.
There is likelihood that neither Randall or
Blackburn can succeed There is hardly
chance for Gen. Garfield because his hard
money inarcial record is such that the national,
VIII not touch him. The dangerous dark horses
are nd Nm D; Kelly, Of Pennsylvania, and John
nently In favor OF the latter, because while
Kelly could get the full republican vote. there
are IN the national ranks old stagers OF Bourbon
procl1vit1es who would not touch him. Mac
Mahon's record in Congress and at hone on the
other hand, Is one to which the nationals can
not take exception. He comes from a state
which Is the parent OF 1.-THE idea," and Is known
as one OF It's champions. II MacMahon can poll
the fun democratic vote, and 1t Is believed he
can. and It be demonstrated that neither Ran
III.
enough greenback votes which would naturally
DRIFT TO him TO put him through.
TILDEN ASPECT.
CuriOusly enough In this contest Ti,den's
specter stalks In unbidden Already the cry is
raised that the canvass of Randall VS.. Black
burn means Tildenlsm or anti-Tildenism. It's
cla1med tDat RaDdallS success would be the
hrst score for Tlden in 1880, because It IS given
out that the ex-Speaker Is Tilden man. and
that his prominent rival is not. 1t reviVes too
placing their hands upon the throafs of the
suner1ng west" This is gotten up with the
view to combine the west and south against the
east; OF course to defeat Randall.
Within few days, the situation will begin tn
iake oelnlte shape, and perhaps will indicate
speedy organization, but just now in the IAN
goage go1 61 be aod 1t look as If there is
The greenbackers talk to-day of Representa-.
1--WE brlSht, OF Tenn., as an available candidate
AckLEN lAPRovING.-We are authorized by
MS physician tDr. Garnett to say that the
rumor about Representative Acklen's DIVING
condition Is erroneous. While he is not ont Of
danger he has been steadily fmproyinr for the
iast tnIee days. He has had severe attack of
p1eunOnia, complicated with some congestion
oa .ne stomach, which Is yielding satisfactorily
10 medical treatment.
SECRETARY EvARTs, Senators Teller saun-
derS. Logan. Allison and Kfrkwood and Ranra
Sentatives Kelly. O'Nein, Van Vorhees and
Iownshend, Of Illinois, were among the preSi. I
dents callers today. '''''
MRS. BELvA a. LOCKWOOD was to-day. On
motion OF Hon. Thomas j. Durant admitted tn
Uhe practlce before the U. s. Court of Claims
NEARLY all Senators holding over have al,
reaoy pre-empted the seats they desire to oc-
cupy. The new members will have to scramble
IOr tne remaining ones.
------>>o>-
The UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD-Atthea ANNA,
meeting OF the stockholders of the Union Pacific
railroad IN New York yesterday the election of
directors resulted in the choice of Sidney Dillon
New York; +. Gordon Dexter Boston: Elisha
Atkins, Boston; Russell Sage, New York: SOlOn
Humphreys, New York; Jay Gould, New york:
John Sharp, Salt Lake City; s. II. II. Clark
Omaha, Neb David Dows, New York: James RI
Keene, New York; w. L. Scott, Erie, Pa; e. II.
Baker, Boston; Frederick l.. Ames, Boston: Adj
dlson Cammack, New York; w. A. H. Lovel,
golden, Colorado. The largest Stockholder In
the company Is jay GOuld, who voted in his own
rlght upon 123, 700 shares and on 10000 shares
6y proxy. Sidney DillOh holds q, ZOO shares,
Russell Sage 2l $50, and Oliver AmeS 37,OOO
THR GRBRNBACK CLUE CONVENTION at Chicago
Yesterday elected II. f. HOyt, OF Michigan, pres
ldelC and adopted platform affirming the
git Ell back creed, and declaring that nOSfmas.