The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-11-29
Tho Next speaker.


dates are fairly at work. We note dispo-
sition ON nil hands to conduct the canvass
pood-naturedly. The most cordial rcla-
tions appear to subsist among the rival as
pjrants. and thus far no external interest
represented by n lobby and having ulterior
objects in view has made its appearance.
There was at one time n rumor to the effect
that the Northern Pacific interest which
desires to be ''let alone" was quietly back
ing Dunnell, but the friends of that gen.
tlemen explain that Dunnell's connection
with the n p. ceased with the accession of
Mr.. Willard to its control, and that the
Willard party is rather hostile to Dunnell
than otherwise.
The attempt to post Kasson as free
trader fell through so carly and ignomin-
iously that It hardly forms part of the
history of the canvass.
In fact. no criticism offered or suggested
as TO the record or status of any candidate
seems to have had the slightest weight, ex-
cent. perhaps. the "reminiscences of Greeley
and 1872. which have been recalled to mind
by certain home antagonists of Mr.. His.
cock.
This gratifying state of things makes the
canvass at once amicable and uncertain. In
politics nothing is SO definite in shape or so
simple M character as fight. If any two
of the half dozen recognized candidates
wore tn como to the front fora pitched
battle. such as the Democrats used to wage
the situation would Mt once simplify and
the probabilities become apparent At
this writing. however. there is no prospect
of fight. Each candidate is conducting
his own canvass in his own way, and ap-
parently without reference to the canvass
of any otber candidate
Mr. Hiscock observes his customary
Ie;surc and annears to dopcnd upon what
be did Inst winter and the letters he wrote
last summer rather than unon present ac-
tivitv His "cloims Of strength are
lorcclv ;nferential and his actual vote will
nrobablv surprise him when the count il
declared
Mr.. Keifer seems TO be making the most
de6nite and business.like canvass of all.
He believes in what is called the "ground
1ooru plan. and depends for success rather
on the number of desirable chdirmanships
Mt the Sneakers disposal than on his own
essential qualifications or logical claims. A
candidate making snch n canvass can al.
wavs keen closer and more accurate account
of nropress than one who proceeds by less
business.like methods. For example, sup
posinp that there are forty chairmanships
Keifer NAV. with reason. count on forty
votes on the first ballot.
We do NOT know that there Is anythin,
renrehensible about this sort of thing. Par
ties being without principles in these time
Conpressmen represent nothing but dis
tricts. and. therefore there is no legitimat
object of aspiration except chairmanshiJ
That is to saw, representation being simpl
a matter of geography, it is doubtless pro
per TO choose n Sneaker according to tn
rules of arithmetic.
Mr.. Dunnell is simply waiting in til
shade. His chances depend entirely upo
the shane things NAV take at any time afte
next Saturday noon.
Mr.. Burrows and Mr.. Reed do not appea
to hold serious candidatures but are pu
forward partlv TO cover the incertitude G
their respectiye friends and partly to cnabl
them ot the proner time to drive n har
bargain for themselves.
Mr.. Kasson,s canvass Is what might |
exnected from the character of the ma
straightforward, selfpoised and polite
frank enough TO win the confidence of a
who come in contact with him, and Y,
sufficiently reserved to avoid cmbarras
ments. Mr.. Kasson seems to attach primar
Importance to the general and undispute
public verdict of his superior personal an
political fitness for the place. But it mu
not be inferred from that fact that he
ignoring or neelecting all the more dire
and positive modes of operation. No ma
understands more clearly than Kasson tl
fact that in contests of this kind tv
general classes of considerations DONNA
the minds of men. One class is the sen
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