Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-05-18
The Speakership.

WAsHIaGToN, d. c., May 15.-The
activity of prominent politicians here
in behalf of candidates for the speak
ership and other offices of the next
house is significant of an unusually
exciting contest in December when
the forty-eight congress meets in regu-
lar session. One can hear all manner
OF reports as to combinations among
candidates for the different offices
which will be filled by the selection of
democrats. OF course the speakership
is the most important Office, but this
fact does not in the least diminish the
interest attached to the filling of the
ministerial offices of the house, as the
latter have patronage in many ways
and at good salaries. The offices
which have such patronage are these
of clerk, doorkeeper and sergeant-at-
arms.
JUDGE HoLMAN's POSITION.
A we'll known democratic member of
congress was interviewed to-day on the
outlook of the organic alton of the next
house and the political status now and
hereafter as expected by the ruling
spirits of his party. He was asked
what Judge Holman, of Indiana, meant
by the recent declaration that he pre-
ferred Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania, to
Mr.. Carlisle, of Kentucky, for Speaker.
This congressm an. who is taking an ac-
~ IN, hn eyo ovohin
said:
"He means what he says, but am
sure he does not mean to say that Mr..
Randall is his first choice. The old
man is not free from that policy which
every man in public life exercises with
more or less success. Were Mr.. Hol-
man certain his support would elect
MIR. Randall speaker, ,lhe Hoosier states
man would not support him. Were
Mr.. Holman convinced that he him.
self could not be elected speaker he
would not express q preference for Mr..
Randall. While
CARLISLE AND RANDALL
have chance for defeating each other,
Mr.. Holman reasonably entertains a
hope of being brought forward as
dark horse. A short while before con-
gress adjourned Mr. Springer told me
ne was candidate, and that he pei
sonally knew that Mr.. Morrison would
not be candidate. Springer was as
sanguine of election then as Cox is
now. The latter does not have the
united support of the New York dele
gatisn, and consequently he will have
to make an unusually brilliant fight to
stand any chance of wiHning. The
selection of a speaker will have m1st
important bearing on the next presi-
| Dental nomination by the democratic
convention. 1t is for this reason that
northern democrats, who refer Mr..
Carlisle as a man on whose judgment
| and political integrity they can de-
| pend, want q norther man for
speaker. 1t is for this reason that
Mr.. TILDEN
is little interested in the election OF
Mr.. Randall. There are other candi.
dates, Judge Geddes, Mr.. Converse and
Frank Hurd, of OHIO, for instance.
Like Morrison, Hurd is too much of a
free trader, as Randall is too extreme
tariff advocate, to command the choice
| of his party. From present indications
think Mr.. Carlisle Is in the lead. l am
assured that he has at least 120 votes
! pledged on the third ballot. Amy can
didate receiving ninety-seven votes In
the democratic caucus will be speaker
of the next house. Blackburn will &c
out of the way st the proper time.
Should he remain IN the race, however,
he viii not be likely to come back to
congress by democratic votes. Mr..
Hewitt of New York told me that
under no circumstances would he be q
candidate. ] am authorized by Gen.
| Atkins to state that he has made nc
| combinations In his candidacy for the
clerkship with any one for Speaker and
does net intend to enter any pool In
this contest. The fact that he and Nj
Carlisle are southern democrats will moi
diminish the latter's strength. The sup
position that Atkins was Randall m Al
came near defeating MIN for reelection
70 the 47sh congress.
So far as sergeant-at-arms Is concern.
ed, this gentleman thought John G
Thompson would probably win the po
sition, although he did not believe ther,
were any combinations made with ref
erence to the place.