New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-24
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
A SENSATIONAL STORY That $4,000 RIFLES HAVE
BEEN SENT TO MAINR-REMIN sCENCEs By SEC
RETARY RAMSEY

A SENSATIONAL STORY That $4,000 RIFLES HAVE
nEEN SENT TO MAfNR-REMI NIsCENCRS By SEC
RETARY RAMSEY.
IIY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON Dec. 23.-Sensational stories
specting the critical condition of affairs in Maine
continue to spring up in Washington. There was a
rlmor afloat to-day that news had come to General
Sherman that II 900 rifles had been sent to Maine
for the purpose of armng political clubs General
Sherman had not returned from New-York, but
members of his staff said that no such news had
been received at his headquarters.
A TRIBUNE correspondent called upon Secretary
Ramsey to-day. The Secretary said he had heard
no news from Maine besides that contained in the
morning papers.
Secretary Ramsey happens to have been an eager
eyewitness of the "buckshot' y war in Pennsyl-
vania, although not participant in its exciting
events AS soon as the subject of the attempt to
steal the Maine Legislature and Governorship was
introduced to-day, the Secretary said: :" A very
close parallel might be drawn between this Maine
tronble and the difficulties connected with the
organization of the Pennsylvania Legislature in
December 1888. The Wing Governor and Admin
istration in Pennsylvania undertook to control the
organization of the Legislature, to which majority
of Democrats had been elected. Public sympathy
ran strongly in favor of the Democrats i'll that case
os II does with the Republicans in the Maine
case. Twas a young man OF twenty-three then.
nm ardent Wing and active in politics, so that
II took very deep interest in the struggle When
the House met both the Wings and the Democrats
elected speakers. At one end of the Speakers desk
saw the Wing Speaker administering the oath TO
Wbig menbers while at the other end the Demo-
cratic Speaker was administering the oath to Dem
ocratic members. The Wings then prccipitately adj
iourned the House, aud the Democrats proceeded
more deliberately TO complete their organization.
They seated the Philadelphia members whom the
Wbig administration had tried to count out.
1.-The next day the Wing Speaker and members
did not dare TO enter the House. such was the popu-
lar indignation against them. The late Ibaddeus
Stevens was the moving spirit of the Wing coun-
ellis. and he induced one of the Wing members, Mr..
Spackmau, of Philadelphia. who was personally
popular with all parties, to go into the House WIN
| the Democrats for the purpose OF declaring that
| body adjourned. Mr.. Spackman did as he was
| directed but 10 sooner had he declared the House
| adjourned than he was picked mp and passed over
| the heads of the crowd and out of the door, 49,
1.-THE Wing House then met in Wilson's Tavern,
| and held sessions there for few days, while the
| Democrats occupied the Representatives Hall. The
| Chamber which was occupied by the Democrats.
During most of the month this condition OF anairs
| cnnt,nued neither the Wing nor the Democratic
| Legislature being able TO secure legal quorum;
AT last some of the more conservative inembcrs Oh
] The former body went into the Democratic Legisia-
| fure and the difficulties we're thus settled. ,
| " AS remarked, was very ardent Wing ana
| felt when the Wings passed out OF power IN the
| state then that the country was lost; out IL mas
| turned out quite otherwise