Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-12-21

ent. Randall. Springer and Carlisle
Seem to Have First Claim on 1t
Though Frank Burd, Sam Cox OF
kenna May Yet Prove Title to 1T
Other Political Matters of Interest
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. "a democratic
member of the house when asked for
an expression Of opinion upon the or
ganlzatlon of the next house, held up
both hands and protestingly asked IL
he must be worried for year in ad-
vance about the election of speaker. II
indications go for anything, it is ap-
parent that he must be so worried.
The prospective democratic majority
with It's opportunity for great chances
IN and about the house, Is the subject
of much thought among the demo
Gratis, and the friends of the several
prominent gentlemen have not delay
ed the preliminary work of bringing
out candidates-in fact the discussion
has alredy gone so far that, partly by
adrlot effort, and partly By common
consent, the party has brought itself to
regard the choice as between ex-
Speaker Samuel J. Randall, of Penn
sylvania, Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, and
j. J. Carlisle, of Kentucky. Two bets
were made last night-one of box
of champagne that
THE NEXT SPEAKER
would be either Randall, Springer or
Carlisle, and the other bet of box of
cigars that it would be Randall. The
bets were between a member of Con-
gress and a Western politician, and
grew out of bantering arguement in
which the POLITICAL said Randalps
nomination and election would be so
easily secured that it would seem like
his taking the chair and calling the
House together without any previous
formality. The member of Congress
said he would be content if he was as
sure of heaven as Springer Of being
Speaker.
In these men the Democratic party
has the best presentation of the ques-
ton tt proposes to make foremost from
the very moment of taking possession
Of the House. The general impression
IS that If the party can be persuaded to
subordinate this question, Randall will
certainly be made Speaker. He is the
only man in his party not q Revenue
Reformer who even presumes to stand
for his honor. In many ways heis the
strong man of his party, and he knows
it.
The friends Of Mr.. Carlisle, 80 far as
they have expressed themselves are
all equally confident with those of Mr.,
Randall. And it is proper to mention
here that, while in each case they talk
ed freely enough they in every instance
emphasized their requests not to be
mentioned as haveing.been interviewed.
These requests must of course be re-
garded. 1t would be awkward for
some of them to hastily appear in
print, in view of their own possible can
didacy. They all agree that
CARLISLE Is A NATIONAL NAN
perhaps more so than Randall or
Sringer without national weakness on
the paramount question of the tariff
Two-thirds of all the gentlemen ques-
toned were unreservedIy in
favor OF Carlisle, but there
is weak place in his PC
sition before the party. He was, unfortu-
nately for him, made member of
the commission to examine the report
upon the condition of the Mississippi
River, with a view to determining as to
the best plan for ent-in
short, as TO whether or not it will be
practical to spend millions of dollars
for levees. He has expressed himself
in the past as against such expenditure,
and now he finds that there are between
sixty and seventy democratic votes in
and around the Mississippi Valley wait
ing to see whether he will sign the pros
pective majority report against the
levee plan or the minority report in it's
favor. Should he adhere to his old
views and go with the majority these
sixty-odd votes would go away from
him, and, should he change his views
he would lose in other quarters. He ia
thus seen to be strong man, with d
vexatious dilemma before him. These
Mississippi Valley members would
quickly turn TO Mr.. Springer in case
the tariff is made the great question
and in the event of irreconcilable dis
pleasure at Carlisle's attitude toward
the great rivers interests. Kenna of
West Virginia could easily swallow
some of his tariff scruples in the inter-
ests Of party solidity, and is contin-
gent possibility. If the northern free
traders could have the deciding Of it,
Frank Hurd, though he has not the
benefit of a winters campaign to work
the matter up, would be the man.
Tucker, who is doctrinaire free-trader,
is thought to have a small chance
somewhere between Carlisle and
SAM COX, OF NEW YORK.
Touching the question of the speak
ership, Mr.. Cox laughed at the idea of
the six votes in Kentucky for Carlisle
and the twelve in Pennsylvania for
Randall controlling the balance of
power in the democratic party. Said
he: '1t would be a good plan for these
gentlem en- to wait awhile before they
commence to distribute the offices in
advance of securing the speakership.
New York will have twenty-four votes,
and think that that state will name
the speaker of the next house. We
will have several candidates of our
own, and it may not be necessary to
go out of the state. Mr.. Hewitt, Mr..
Dorsheimer, and General Slocum, our
congre..man-stlsrge, have been prom
inently mentioned. A number have
urged me to become q candidate, but
I have not decided on that point as
yet. don't care for the .peakership
particularly, but if my friends insist on
my becoming a candidate ] may con-
sent"
Mr.. Cox furthermore declared that
the democratic delegation from Michi-
Gan uss rladAed To sl1nnnrt the Nou