Morning journal and courier., 1883-10-20
Affairs in Washtngton.

The Speakership-Some InteFestlng Estf-
 mates of the VOte-COx's Chances.
 WASHINGTON, Oct. IT.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 The absorbing topic of conversation among the Democratic politicians in Washington is, not the Ohio State elections but the ques- next House. ''The election of the Speaker is the most important event which the Dem ocrats will have to face for years to come" :" said veteran politician last night. ''dow do you make that out ?" said his oowpanion. "Well, in the frs. place the Speaker of the House of Representatives holds the most in- fuential place in the party, or in politics for that matter. The House~of Representatives makes the laws and holds the purse. The Speaker makes the combinations, through committees or otherwise which control the making of laws, the expenditure of money and all the political combinations which are formed. The Democratic party very readily recognize that everything depends up on the selection of a Speaker who can run the party machinery to per- lection. Hence they are most anxious about that one office" A prominent southern member of Congress, who is 3 strong advo- cate of the election of Carlisle, said to a cor respondent last night that he was confident of the election of the Kentucky man. Car lisle will be nominated on the first ballot, ' he said, 'tsee if he is not " 1T you'd be glad to have the figures" said the writer. 1T can not give them by delegations, but can show how it will result. Taking list of the next House of Representatives he count cd of the votes conceded by the Carlisle men 50 Randall, which shows, leav- ing out New York, which gives it's vote to Cox, the following For Randall, Alabama 3, Arkansas l, Connecticut 3, Delaware 1, Florida 1, Georgia 1, Indiana 1. Louisiana 3, Maryl land f, Massachusetts l, Mississippi l, Missouri l, Nevada l, Nsw Jersey 2, New York 1, North Csroliua 1, Ohio ?, Pennsyl- vania 12, South Carolina 1, Tennessee 1. Texas 7, Virginia ?, West Virginia and Wis cousin lin all 50 votes. Now" he said, Randall gets these fifty votes and no more, leaving for Carlisle over one hundred votes on the first ballot It takes but ninety-six votes to nominate"
 Another view of the Speakership question by an editor makes the following estimate: Carlisle 34, Cox 13, Randall II, Springer ?, non-oommittal 65. ''Non-com initial seems to be the bsst candidate according to this story" said a friend. 'tDo you know how that hap pens" said another who had joined the group that were talking together. T will elucidate: You won't know anything about how this nomination for Speaksrship is go- ing until every southern member is here. Depend upon that. For several reasons, defeat has taught the southerners to be very cautious about making pledges, for one thing. Then they do not propose to lose the advantage which their numbers and their harmony of sentiment give them. The southern members are practically united. They will come here, get together and talk it ali over and agree upon some one man. They will elect him, too, for they hold the balance of power. That's who 'non-committal is and your estimate is a correct one, he continued turning to the first speaker. s.For my part, I think Coe is the coming man." said another of the party. all of whom, by the way, are men of more or less experience and prom insnce in political life. ''You may laugh" he continued, for 8 smile went around, 'sbut Cox will come in with the New York delegation solid. New York holds the money bags in this country, and the southern men, who need money more than they do politics, have 8 mighty wholesome respect for New York men. Then there are other good reasons. The question of the tariff overshadows every other one, and 1t comes an issue right here on the Speakership question, as between Carlisle and Randall Randall goes with his State, of course strong ly protection. Carlisle goes with his section free trade every time It thus becomes bs- tween these two men not 8 question of the Speakership, but matter of party policy on astute politicians that this question will divide the party, and hence 1t must be avoid ed as an issue. By fixing on Cox as Speaker the Democrats will take the strongest polit ical position possible. The only thing against Cox is that he is such 6 joker that the party is afraid of being laughed at over his shoul- der" F.