New-York tribune., 1879-03-11
THE POLI1ICAL PEDLST8LANS.


1t is to be regretted on several accounts
that the time is so limited III which the po-
hhcal pedestrians must make their race for
the Speakership of the next Congress. The
ubhc have become very much interested In
pedestrianism of late and running Tor Office
is so much more exciting than running tor the
Ashley belt and gate-mOney, and the inter-
est in it is so much more universal, that
to cut down the time of the contest to
n fortnight. seems really All unnecessary
crttailment of such rare sport. AT the
present moment two things divide public
attention pretty nearly TO the exclusion OF
everything else They are Pedestrianlsm and
PnalOrc. 1t is very certain that, as things
now are, OF neither of these can the public
cyer-or hardly ever-hear enough. There Is
probably not town in the country, large
enough to have public hall, that Is
not enjoying PinafOre two or three
NIGHTS in the week; and the town is
small ana poor and unenterpnsing indeed,
that is not ut this moment in the enjoyment
of two or three male and female pcdes-
TRANS engaged in dong u great many frac-
tons of miles III a great many fractions
Of hours. This taste for innocent diversions
great suddenncss, and whoever can contribute
to its qualification, either 10y organizing Pima
fore companies or engaging III any KIND Ot
ncdcstfIan contest, should not tall to do
In such a contest as the one for the Speaker
ship oi Congress, in which the whole people
are Interested there should be no lack Oi
entries. and the time allowed should be sui
fcient not only to test the speed and endu-
rance OF the competitors, but to prolOng as
much as possible the enjoyment of the spec
tators.
For reasons well known, however, the time
for this contest has been limited TO "A fort
night, and the great competitors must within
that space show all their PAGES and conclude
the show Messrs Randall and Blackburn
have SO far seemed to be the leading con-
testants, and the general impression now is
that one or other OF them will WIN the gavel.
Mr. Randalfs freshness aud fine condition are
shown by the fact that, just for a little rest
"and recreation" he skipped from Washington
to New-York and back last week. 1t is de-
MED that he came on any political errand,
and We presume, therefore, that his object
was merely to limber up his legs little.
There is "A gentleman in the nelghbOrhOOd of
Gramercy Park VINO tried walking with a pc
dometer last Summer. aud 1t is not un-
likely that Mr.. Randall may have come on
10 consult with him a. to the details Of train
ing, and possibly to borrow his pedOmeter.
This gentleman once took part III tOurna-
mcnt and lost the race, as he Insists, be-
cause ne was defrauded by the markers.
Ever since that time he has used the prdOm-
eter-and refused to cOndOne. Mr.. Black burn
has not yet exhibited his PAGES to any great
extent. but 1t Is understood that he scOrns the
pedometcr and is aS confident as was Mr..
O'Leary's late competitor, " the Leppcr." In
the last tournament III which Mr. Randall
won the gayel he had TIVE or three
competitors who went on the track
at the start with good deal of
bluste-, but after few ." laps
were oyertaken with cOrns, cmlblains and
buui0ns, and shortly compromised with Ran
dali, as has been done in other cases. by
limping painfully round the track TO keep up
the interest in The show and get share in
the gate-mOney. When the division was
made, they took theirs i'll committee chair
manships. In the present contest the gate
money candidates have not yet come out very
strong. 1t is not too late, however, for Mr.
Fernando Wood and Mr.. Samuel Cox to come
i'll yet and earn their committees.
And, speaking Of Mr.. Cox, We are reminded