Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-10
The Contest for the speakcrshiP.

THE NATIONALS CLAIM FIFTEEN MEMBERS, AND
THAT THE DEMOCRATS MUST HAVE THEIR HE'LL
TO ELECT.
Outside of the total claims made by the ma
tiOnals, the speakership contest is still In
state of suspense Mr.. Blackburn has eStab-
lished headquarters In one OF the parlors at Will
lards hotel, and Speaker Randall is expected to
take parlor during the day. The greenback
men have their headquarters at the Metropoll-
tan hotel and are "grOomed' by Col. Lee Gram
dell of Pennsylvania. and "Plan" buchanan OF
Indiana. They still claim that they have fifteen
votes pledged. and that neither the democrats
nor republic an, ca fix up Slate for the House
organization under the dictum Of King Caucus,
for the reason that neither of them, without
fOragiDg in the camp OF the nationals. have the
sufficient Dumber Of votes TO make a quorum OF
the whole House. Yesterday
LETTER FROM REPRESENTATIVE Low,
Of Alabama, was received, who adheres to his
allegiance to the nationals, and says that he
will act with them, caucus with them and vote
with them every time. A telegram they say,
has also been received from Hendrick B. Wright,
OF pennsylvania, who likewise announces that
lie is national and will act with them. If the
greenDackerS' claim that they have fifteen
members is correct, 1t is as plain as the nose on
ones face that the SpeakerShip contest cannot
be settled in caucus The full membership of
the House, with all the cripples On hand. is 2S7
members. or these there IS scarcely any dis
pute that the republicans have 130. Deducting
these $50, and there remain OF democrats and
HdtloudiS lo1 uicIlUeTS. COnCeQe Cno Claim or
the nationals to Is votes, and there remain for
Tie democrats only 142 votes, which Is two less
than majority OF the House necessary to elect
Speaker
THE GREENBACkERS SAY
that II q democrat whose financial record Is not
Objectionable to them, is presented as a candi-
date for the Speakership and if he can get tue
lOii support OF his party, that they will turn in
ara heIP TO elect him. In connection with such
q hsSlOle coalition the name Of Congressman
Bright, or Tenn, is most favOrably mentioned
Such coalition, however. they demand shall
ne upon the basis that whoever may be agreed
must keep entirely alOof from the democratic
caucus and act with the nationals
MR.. BLACKBURN FEELS HOPEFUL,
nay confident that Speaker Randall cannot be
reelected. just how he arrives at the conclu-
sion, or indeed how Mr.. Randall figures out his
own strength, is not patent to the eye OF the
most GDseTVant. There are a great MANY
members away, the contest has not taken a
denDlte shape: and gossip, just now inspires
commence, which subsequent events may knock
1nto sm1thereenS. 1t Is plain that there Is a
strong Keeling OF opposition to Mr.. Randall, but
Wnether 1t can be held together and concen-
Ifate0 Is the problem which just now not only
peIplexes the ex.Speaker, but his enemies.
sui, SUI MI, MI: randall m Is keen political worker
ana While his friends may play the game of
Drag and buster, 1t must be conceded to the
man that whatever effective work he does. he
dOeS IN his own quiet way. He will not be
caught asleep. and II beaten it will be In a con-
test managed by his own cool head and master
hand. About Wednesday night the not will h,.
gin 10 boil In dead earnest.