Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-01


aside. 1t saved the Republicans of the House
from giving this insignia of leadership
at time when they could not vet
know who was the worthiest of trust,
ana IL gave no member the prescriptive right
to denomination to the Speakership in the
Forty ninth Congress, where all Republicans
hoped that nomination would be equivalent
to an election. II the Republicans however
stlll insisted upon making the same nominal
tlons, Roblns0n's name had been suggested as
one commanding many obvious advantages
As Governor of Massachusetts he would not
ne IN w aShlngtOn to claim the leadership in
the party on the strength Of this Endorsement
although, could he remain, it is doubtful. as
congresses r1n, If any new member could be
found who would develop more qualifications
Tor the post than, in his opinion, MIR. Robinson
had shown himself to possess. Mr.. Phelps
said that he had heard several members eX-
press their desire to vote for Judge Kelley, the
father OF the House. If a caucus of the Re-
publican members was called he (Phelps) ex-
pected to attend it and to propose that it
should adjourn without making any nominal
tOns. The cOrrespOndence between Mr.
Phelps and Mr.. kelfer is given to the public
to-day. \ full and correct summary of Mr..
Phelps first letter has already been tele-
graphed. Mr. Keifer's reply is very long and
Of OF vigorous language. He does not accept Mr..
Phelps proposition.
The following are extracts from Mr. Kei-
fer's letter to Mr.. Phelps:
SPRINGFIELD, o., November 10. 1888.
MY DEAR SIR-1Our favor of the 18th inst.
Is Just at hand. | note the very kindly spirit
in which you write, and | assure YOU / ap-
preclate your frankness in writing, and if it
turns out that cannt 40 what YOU so kindly
ask me to do it will not be because would not
like to accept and act on your Judgment with
out hrst seeing personal friends and members
OF the House, who may feel that 1t would be
as much refectiOn on them as on myself for
me to decline to accept if offered a compli-
mentarY vote for Speaker at the organization
OF the Forty eighth Congress. ] cannot de-
eide the matter. There is no sacrifice | would
good a N
party. but the question remains would a
sacrihce on my part do the party any
good! Would II not only give vicious persons
who nave so falsely and malicously assailed
me chance to assume that | confess that
did wrong and that the Republicans in the
last Congress did wrong and failed in point of
duty, ETC.? My withdrawal might be inter
preted as an open confession of all this, and
more. The last Congress accomplished more
than any other that ever met in the way of
legislation touching the moral and material
enumerates the principal measures passed
by the last Congress, asserts that
1t was a working Congress, and
that he was absent from the chair only two
working days through its two sessions. He
claims cOmmendation for not recognizing the
factions in the party in the formation OF the
committees, and proceeds as follows: 'One of
the Things thal secured my election as Speaker
was that was not half breed or a stalwart
Republican,, as the divisions were made in
New York. but a Republican who
point in the party. 1 was supported
by the devoted and warmest friends
of the late President Garfield. and by others
generally from the West and South, and by
sun others from the East, who would not
recognize party divisions. | claim credit for
preventing and avoiding party divisions in
the last House. You speak of the wide disa
greements of the last two or three years in
the party | deny that any such disagree
ments existed in the last House. or that | am
IN any degree responsible for divisions any
where. You sneak of those who
have attracted personal hostility
to themselves. There may be
some of the old members who did not en-
thuse over my course, or who did not like me
personally. But do not now recall any one
who showed hostility to me either by word or
act. save, possibly, Mr.. Orth. If there were
such they did not make it known. / now re-
call no special hostilities to myself from
those, not members, who first tried
to use me in their own interests, or
for corrupt purposes l could give you
marked instances with proofs tosustain them.
My silence may have led you and many other
honest, true men to believe many of the false
charges published of and about me. They say
l bargalned chalrmanships of committees for
support for Speaker. This is absolutely
false. No member of the last Con-
gress can or will say that l promised
him anything for his support, that worthy
and qualified friends of mine were recog-
niZed by me voluntarily in constituting COM
mittees is true. That any intentional Injus-
tice was done to any one who opposed me for
Speaker is false. In the discharge of my
duty as Speaker may have, in few in
stances, been too harsh or arbitrary for my
own popularity, and possibly IN rare IN
stances, in the hurry of matters, may have
been unjust. am proud to say that no Speak
er ever had as steady and harmonious
support from his party friends on
the floor as had. They recognized the fact
that took the responsibilities fearlessy aud
successfully, and that never asked another
or others bear my burdens, and was always
willing to help bear those of others. / wish |
knew you personally and intimately. | have
faith that you would be one Of my warmest
friends, though you might see in me faults to
condOne from time to time. If l were
made aware that any considerable
minority of the members of the next House
who are acquainted with me and my course as
Speaker desired me to stand aside | would
cheerfully do so. Your letter is the only one
that hints at such a dhsire. | have not initia-
ted correspondence or opened converse
ton with any member or person on the sub
ject. number of both the new and old men,
bers, inspired by some recent attacks in the
various forms of words not to de-
cline "empty hOnOrsN They say that
it would not only be reaction on me but on
the party. A letter which came in the same
mail with yours from prominent member in
the East, who never wrote me before or spoke
to me on the subject, and who did not support
me for Speaker two years ago. contains THIS
language: Il will now say that no work
should be left undOne to secure your nomina-
ton of the Republican members for Speaker.
In your case 1T Will be a just vindication
against the foolish and false things printed" '"
| have answered but one letter before re-
ceving yours from any member on the sub
ject. | have taken no interest in it thus far.
and think | shall not in the future. have
not yet learned that any member was op-
posed TO me fer compliment, though there
ma7 be many. Have you any data as to the
feelings of members whichyOu could give me?
l am bound to presume that you have been in
luenced by the vile stun poured out by
portion of the press in New York city.
Some of that press have honOred me by its as
ssaults ana depased ltselI by It's open false
hoods. have been charged with completely
with men who never supported me for any-
thing and with whom never had any rela-
tiOns. Failing to control me in personal and
sometimes corrupt matters, vindictive lies
have been invented and published.
have the merit lin my own judg-
ment of being able to say "nO" when
/ am asked TO do what believe to be wrong
love on the other hand to go to any extent
to do any honest thing to please or accOmmO-
date a friend. Allow me to say that do not
expect any personal sacrifices that can be
made by any individuals will help the Repub-
lican party to success next year, even though
they are made to please dictatorial, vim
dictiye and demoralizing, not to say corrupt
press, unless the press is taught that only by
fair and honest treatment of men it can COM
mand the confidence of the public. The
posing in the role Of refOrmers by some of the
wOuld-he Republican editors has bred disgust
country"
Mr.. Phelps, in acknowledging the recent
of the above letter. says that he would like to
publish it. except that he thinks the illusions
to the press unfortunate and unnecessary,
and he invites Mr.. Keifer to visit him at his
hone. In reply to Mr.. Phelps re-
mark about all illusions to the
press, Mr.. Keifer says: SIN nv
references to the press l should have given
the names of editors who swollen with self
Importance, envy, and vanity, give character
to it. They are, however, individuals. and
the public should understand that what tbev
say in their debased sheets is at least only the
printed emanation of a man." He regrets that
he can not accept Phelps invitation to visit
him.
EX-Speaker Refer will undoubtedly re-
ceive the complimentary vote of the Republi-
cans for Speaker. Judge Kelley has no idea of
cOntesting for the empty honor. Keifer is of
the opinion that COX's support Will go to Car
Isle after the first ballot.
The Senate Committee on Rules was in ses-
sion several hours to-day, and practically fin
ished the revision of the Senate rules new
rule was adopted providing for the election of
officers of the Senate, thing which has hith-
ert0 been done without any formal rule on the
subject. The new rule does not change the
practice from that of the past. The proposed
new code OF joint rules was also discussed and
approved by the committee. They codify the
existing practices in respect to matters of
business between the two houses, and, in ad-
ditiOn to this. they contain provision prohib-
iting general legislation upon general appro-
priation bills.
Blair's Labor COMMITTEES.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30.-The Labor In
vestigatiUn Committee, of which Senator
Blair is Chairman. Will resume the hear
ing of witnesses in Washington next
week. Senator Blair said, in reply to an
Nv hot Ill