The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-03-22
Republican DISAPPOINTMENT.

From the expiration Of the 18th Con
grcss on the 4th Of March, to the meeting
aud organization Of the 10th Congress on
the 18th instant, the opposition press tcem
ed with predictions Of disaster to the
Democratic party. They would not be
able to organize the House, so small was
their majority, without the aid Of the
Grcenbackers. They would not be able
to harmonic on Speaker, and the Re
publicans would, by hook or by crook
carry off the prize of organization. Al
these direful predictions we're freely To-
dulged, in which some of our own weak
brethren Of the Democratic press lugu
briously joined. Happily, however they
were all false prophets, Congress met on
Tuesday last and organized, the House
elccting Mr.. Randall Speaker on the first
ballot, all these confident predictions OF
disaster coming Wrought, The Republi
cans did all they could to make their pre-.
dictions come true. The Washington cor.
respondent of the Ne,D YORK San says
''there is no doubt that the fraudulent ad.
ninistration by the advice of the Repub.
lican leaders called the extra session to
meet on the 18th in the hope and cxpec.
tation that the Democrats would ia the
short time intervening between the 4th Of
March aud the 18th, be unable 10 get all
their members elect present to participate
in the organization. Three of them were
known to be very sick,-two Of them at
the Arkansas Hot Springs aud one il
Washington, another was far away il
Oregon, and without these three Demo
Gratis the Republicans would accomplish
one of two things, either organize the
House themselves or compel the Democrat.
to make a coalition with the Greenbacker
who, it was well known, expected to dictate
terms to the Democracy" But, ''the best
laid schemes o mice and men gang aft
aglee." The Democrats mustered thoiI
force in good time and in such number.
as to disappOint all these expectations, and
organize without difficulty. How it was
done is well told, by the same correspon.
dent, in the subjoined extract:
How THE DEMOCRATS SECURED THE Housr
"A VERY Close SHAVE IyDEgp.-A special
despatch from Washington to the n. Y. SIN
says Thanks to the energy and capacity Of
the Hon. w. ii. Barnum, chairman of the
national committee, and his efficient assist,
ants, John c. Thompson and Duncan S. Wal.
ker, the House OF Representatives was to-day
organized by the Democrats There is no
doubt that the fraudulent administration, BY
the advice OF Republican leaders, called the
extra session of the Forty.sixth Congress to
meet day in the hope aud expectation that
the Democrats would in the short time inter.
vening between the 4th of March and this day
be unable to get all their members elect here
to participate in the organization.
Three OF them were known to be very sick
two of them at the Arkansas Hot Springs and
one in this city; another far away in Oregon,
and without these three Democrats the Re.
pnhiicans wouldaccomplsh one of two things,
either organize the House themselves or com.
pei the Democrats to make a coalition with
Greenbaekers, who, twas we'll known, expect.
ed to dictate terms to the Democracy The
Democratic leaders realized the critical situa.
ton their party was placed in by Their enemy 8
tactics, and on the morning Of the 9th Of March
there was a meeting of the joint executive
IN to- ~ tha Il ~
mittees, at which Mr.. Barnum presided
Speaker Randall and other conspicuous
Democratic leaders were there, and the result
was that Mr.. Barnum was given a carte
blanche to bring the sick and far distant
members here within the short time of thir.
teen days. He went at the work with his us
nal vigor, and every Democratic member was
immediately telegraphed, and messengers
were dispatched to the Arkansas Hot Springs
to bring Messrs. Lay and Singleton il il was
possible for them to travel.
There was just time for Mr.. Whiteaker OF
Oregon, to reach Washington il he made
every connection between his home and this
point. He answered promptly that he had
started by steamship from Portland But
six days ago Mr. Barnum was startled by a
telegram from Whitaker at San Francisco
saying that the vessel had been detained
twenty-iour hours, and il he waited for the
next regular train he could not arrive here
until the 10th of March, one day too late.
Instantly Barnum hurried to New York, and
made arrangements with the Central and
Union Pacific railroads to send Whitaker
through on a special train, to be run at ex.
traordinary speed.
Il was question Of four or five thousand
dollars, but tho absence of one Democrat
might peril the organization, and in emergen.
cies OF this kind Barnum never hestates.
The money was forthcoming. The special
train was made up upon telegraphic orders
from New York, and the track was cleared
for ii. Away it came across the Serras, al
an average speed of 4s miles an hour, but did
not overtake the regular train at Omaha.
This eontingencyhad been provided foralso
by the same thoughtful director, and another
extra train was waiting to carry the allimpor
tant member over the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy TO Chicago at the same rafting
speed. He reached Chicago just in time e
take the regular train by the Baltimore and
Ohio to Washington. Had not Whteaker
been here yesterday, and all tho Republicans
been present, the Democrats would not have
had q majority over all, and could not have
elected Speaker.