The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-12-09

The contest for the SpeakerShip of
the House was an unusually active
one. There were at first more than
q dozen candidates in the field, but at
the time of holding the caucus the
number dwindled down to seven.
Gen. Keifer, of Ohio, was nominated
on the sixteenth ballot at the Repub-
liean caucus on Saturday. All the
Republican members from Wisconsin
were for Gen. Keifer from the start.
Nominations for all the offices Of the
House were made at the same time.
The selection of Gen. Keifer is re-
garded as triumph of the stalwarts.
Nearly half the clergymen Of the city
were candidates for Chaplain. When
the name of Rev. DR.. Power mot a
eandidate) was suggested, all the other
candidates were dropped, and he was
nominated by reclamation. DR..
Power is pastor Of the Christian
church, of which Gen. Garfield was q
member.
There was a prodigious amount of
handshaking between candidates,
and their looked-for friends, for days
prior to the nominating caucus. 1t is
said drinks were lavishly dispensed at
the Arlington and Ebitt. After the
settlement of the Speakership and
other officers on Saturday there was
less bland smiling and polite bowling.
1t is also presumed there was less free
liquor drank.
In connection with the Speakership,
it will not be out of place to mention
what is said here Of the possibilities
of c. G. Williams, of Wisconsin, had
he chosen to avail himself Of the adj
vice Of friends. Previous to the close
OF the last Congress several Of the
older members suggested to Mr.. Will
liams the propriety of authorizing his
name to be used as a candidate for
Speaker Of the next Congress. Mr..
Williams did not incline to be a cam
didate had he decided to enter the
list of aspirants, his chances would
have been quite equal, with a fair
prospect Of being the winner in the
contest. Such, at least. is the opinion
expressed by those whose judgment is
entitled to weight. He has had eight
years experience in Congress, and
ranks among the leading members.
He has also had four years experience
as President pro tenn Of the Wisconsin
Senate, which position he filed to
general acceptance.
The Democratic members also met
in caucus on Saturday and went
through the form of making nominal
tions of officers for the house. Ex-
Speaker Randall ana all the other
officers of the last session were re.
nominated. The Democrats have no
hope Of electing any Of their number.
After having had control Of the House
for six years, their power departs
with the incoming of the present
Congress.
The trial Of the assassin Guiteau
drags slowly along, but, judging
from the crowd daily seen in the court
room, theinterest is still unabated. 1t
is noticeable that the larger part
of the spectators who attend this ex-
traordinary trial are women--not of
the lower classes, as might be inferred,
but women whose elegance of dress de-
notes them as belonging to the fashion
able circles of society. These women
are no doubt prompted by curiosity,
such as would lead them to visit a mu-
scum, to see strange and worldwide
criminal. 1t 10 not strange that the
vanity of Guiteau should be inflated
when he fancies himself lionized by the
attendance of such brilliant gatherings
of spectators. His exhibition Of pre-
tended insanity on these occasions are
given with dramatic effect, and looked
upon with interest, If not enjoyable.
What the result of the trial will be is
more matter of doubt than weeks ago.
Itwould not be surprising if q feeling of
sympathy should be gotten up for this
most atrocious murderer:in the worlds
history, but it will not avail to save
his life. The plea Of insanity which
is commonly interposed in behalf of
great criminals is vigorously pressed
in the case Of Guiteau.
The national capital has been put in
readiness for the reception of Con-
gress. New carpets cover the floors,
and new furnishments have been sup
piled where repainting and vanishing
were insufficient. But in a brief
space Of time the white marble stair
ways and polished floors of the halls
will be despatched with the inevitable
approximations Of the tobacco consum-
ers. In spite of the labors of the
scrubbers and moppers. the unsightly
disfgurements will be reproduced
about as fast rs wiped away. It must
not be understood that these filthy pro-
fanations are all chargeable to men,
bers Of Congress. The class of peo-
pie who are chiefly responsible for
these indecencies are mere loafers,
who always lounge about the halls Of
Congress, and to these may be added
large sprinkling Of offlce-hunters from
all parts of the country, who, to soothe
their disappointments, use prodigious
quantities of old Virginia's staple pro-
duct. r.
BRISTOL ITEMS.
Alice Emma GillinCs of T.ihorigv;tla