New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-29
GENERAL POLITICAL NEWS.
A BITTER REPUBLICAN FIGHT.
THE CONTEST BETWEEN CONGRESSMAN HOUK AND
EDITOR RULE FOR SEAT IN CONGRESS.
fBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.I

THE CONTEST BETWEEN CONGRESSMAN HoUK AND
EDITOR RULE FOR SEAT IN CONGRESS-
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNg.I
WASHINGTON, Aug 2s.-Probaby in no one of
the districts of the South where there is plainly q
Republican majority is there worse tangle than In
the I'D District of Tennessee, represented by
l.. c. Houk Mr.. IIouk arrived in tins city yester-
day, coming Immediately after his denomination,
but with Il vexatious complication to clear away in
the nomination by convention OF Mr.. Rule, pub
Usher of The Knorrile Chronicle and exPostmaster,
who turned out at the instance of Houk after
the death of President Garfield, by whom he was
renominatcd. The convention split in nearly equal
parts and both Houk and Rule claim to be the reg
ular Republican nominee.
1t is supposed that Houk IS here to settle the
question as to which shall be recognized and as
sisted by the Congressional Committee. There Is
little doubt that HOuk Will secure recognition
for himself since he is member of the committee,
aud also of the Executive Committee of the
National Committee. The district Is Republican
two 10 one, and the Democrats, even with two Re-
pubcanS running, know very well that they have
no chance to succeed. The Rule men count upon
this fact even in case ouk should secure assistance
IN the way of money, and will probably make such
an arrangement with the Democrats as will keep
them from making any nomination. and so
secure their assistance VI course tue Denlo-
Gratis will he all the ready to work
with the Rule men. who claim that they
have at the start fully half of the Republican vote.
On account Of this Administration help for Houk
the war is bitter one, and 1t is surmised that a
part fHouks erand here is to that Tennesseeans
in the Department places here, who have been active
in opposing him. are put IN the way yether to change
their course suffer the consequences.
The differences between the two Republican can
didates in this Tennessee district began back at the
time that Rue was turned out of the Post Once by
Houk and il represents III a general way the differ
ence between the extreme stalwart and lndepen-
dent Republicans, although Rule Is Stalwart
enough IN most party matters. lie was
nominated in the Convention OF his f0l-
lowers by the Rev. j. A. Ruble, presiding elder
OF the Methodist Church, who publishes IN ne
Chronicle of a recent date a statement tnat tOuk
had said TO him that Garcld's death was one OF tne
besl things that could have happened to the Repub-
lican party. This Is being thrust INTO the canvass
at every turn. In campaign speech hOnk was
charged with having been locked up mere IN WASH
ingtOn during all the session of Congress, ana ne
Chronicle i'm commenting upon his speech In the
Opera House at Knoxville on August "a, makes
this quotation from 1t as his excuse:
1t il possibly true, fellOwctzens, that was in the
caaboOse, put tell you before God nave no rec9ec % @
know anything under the sun, and II may De that some
o the rascals who poisoned me put me I'D the caaDooe
while was uncOn .ciOus wOuld have made this pol
sOuing business pub c long since, but had detecVea
ater the mnrdcrOus villains who attempted to take my
life and feared If made 10 public the assassins would
escape They slipped into my r0om ana put poison Id
my w8tergiass, and upon taking II l became uhcon-
scous aud In that condition was put III the caaDoose
put there at all
This is the beginning Of Il very unfortunate po-
itica fight. 1t may be said Tor HOuk that he
seems not at all concerned Oh account OF anything
that has happened, aud mat he VIII DOUBTLESS nghG
it through as the regular nominee. The result can
NOT he iOIetOld