The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-11-17
THREE In THE RACE.
Carlisle, Cox and Randall LII tn
Race for Speaker
A "Reliabie Correspondent" Declares
the East Shall BE First---A
Randall View of the
Fight.

CINCINNATI, Nov. 1.-THE Enquirer's spe-
cial from Washington City, says: The speak
ership fight has as yet no greater proper
tons than mans hand. Tt will grow in
week op so to veritable storm-cloud. Thus
far all the noise which has been made about
the contes is attendant upon the arrival Of
MIR. Carlisle in Washington, backed
up by few noisy friends.
These imagine that wind and
swagger are necessary to make votes. So,
between drinks, loud talk and preposterous
claims, they think they have Mr.. Carlisle al
ready elected; whereas, in fact, they are hurt
ing their candidate by such tactics. Toundo
the damage already done by such ieutenants,
Carlisle has been compelled TO deny one or
two ridiculous interviews which his alleged
friends have palmed off on unsuspecting
newspaper men,
The caucus for the selection of officers for
the next house will be called on Saturday,
the first day Of December, and the caucus
nominees will be elected on the Monday fol-
lowing, when congress meets. For the speak
ership there is scarcely any danger that a
dark horse will be needed, but either Ran
dali, Cox and Carlisle will be chosen. Either
OF these men will make good speaker; but
as there are issues outside of the merits of the
men alone. the nominee viii doubtless be the
candidate who will command the confidence
of the business interests of states which are
needed nay, required-in the Democratic col
umn to elect a president.
I mr. Randall has twice been speaker. He
is a man Of force, nerve, convictions and
energy. In all matters of prominent legis-
lation he has taken a leading part, and
never lodged either a vote or an issue
for poliey's sake He does not be-
lieve that the Democratic party should
commit itself to the lunaey of free
trade-not because he lives in a state noto-
riously committed to protection, but because
he is of the conviction that the Democratic
party cannot elect president thus handi-
capped; nor does he believe in protection
further than it will guarantee to the Amerf-
can workman living wages. He plants him
self on the Ohio platform as TO the tariff.
If the tariff issue had not been forced into
the speakership contest by the friends of Mr.
Carlisle the chances of the latter's election
would have been excellent. The tariff, how
ever, was made an issue in the canvass.
Thus the merits of the men, and their avail
ability to decently and intelligently preside
over the house of representative, are lost
sight of and the canvass is one of free trade
versus sagacious protection OF American in
terests. Upon this line the speakership bat
tie will be fought. The result, in view of it
conduct, viii have more than local signifi
canoe, for it will commit the national De
mocracy to a policy as to the tariff in ad
vance of its assembling in national conven
| ton six months further along.
As to the strength Of candidates nothing
can now be said intelligently. Carlisle
friend, Phil Thompson, gave out a tabl'
claiming 1870 votes for Carlisle and so fol
Randall. This however, completely ignoret
Sunset Cox, who will have as many if mo-
more votes than Carlisle in the first ballot
The trouble with the canvass of Cox is that
while conducted by him with genuine earnest
ness, it is not regarded as serious.
Mr.. Carlisle's strength is fragmentary, AM
is diffrsed through different states, bein,
solid only in his own-which is questioned
There are lot of men in the Democrats
party who believe the National Democrat,
can only win with an out-and-out free trad
platform. These will support Carlisle o
this number there are probably thirty, scat
l
tered here and there in the south and west.
Mr.. Randall will be supported by some O
the wisest heads of the Democracy. He i
known, first, to be safe man, and pre-em
nently an honest one. He has been in tn
public service all his life, and is as poor as
church mouse to-day. Itwas Randall VIII
led the Democratic forces in the Forty -thirv
congress, and through filibustering tao
tics defeated the infamous Fore
bin. His southern friends hav
not forgotten this service AN
between forty-fve and fifty votes will b
given him from this quarter. Then, too, Ran
dali prominently has the confidence of til
business interests of the country, which vii
feel safe if he has the helm. His election
would be notice served to this class that thei
affairs should not suffer through the useles
agitation of questions which, in view of
Republican senate, could not be reformed, n
matter how grievous the demand might be-