Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-14
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS
NOMINATE OFFICERS.

ten. AnsOn G. McCOOk for Secretary
CharIes johnson for Chief Clerk
James r. Young for Executive Clerk
w. p. Canaday for sergeant-at-
Arms.
w AsHINGTON, Dec. 13.-The Republi
can Senators were in caucus from 10 until
lZo'elock to-day, discussing the reorgani-
zatlon of the Senate. Senator Malone
was present. AT the beginning motion
was made and carried to proceed to the
nomination of the caucus candidate for
secretary of the Senate. Senator Jones.
OF Nevada, nominated Hon. George c.
Gorham, OF California; Senator
Miller, of New York, nominated
Gen. Anson G. McCook, of New
York, and Senator Harrison nominated
Maj. ID. L. Ramsdell, of Indiana. Eulo-
CYSTIC speeches were made in support of
each candidate and a running debate fol-
lowed, IN which the majority of Senators
present took part. Upon the informal
DalIOt the vote stood: McCOOk l6, ,iorham
10 and Ramsdell 3. The formal ballot
which followed Immediately resulted:
McCOOk ~, GOrham 13, Ramsdell 8. Gen.
McCook was tbereupon declared to be the
nominee OF the caucus. The caucus adj
Journed to reassemble after the adjourn
ment of the Senate TODAY.
Ueh' McCOok was not a candidate in
the accepted sense of the term for
any Office in the gift of the SEN
ate. some time ago Senator Miller.
OF New York, wrote Gen. McCOok. askin9
MN to enter the canvass for the Secre-
taryship and to come to Washington for.
that purpose. Mr.. McCOOk replied that
the O1hce was one of high honor. and that
he would accept the nomination if it was
conferred upon him. He declined. how
ever, 10 come to Washington or enter the
canvass personally. No one was au
thoriZed on his behalf to solicit the votes
OF the Senators. The opponents of Mr..
0orham took the ground that his attitude
as a journalist in respect to the Garfield
COnklIng differences and to the star route
trials had been such as to create bitter
enmlties towards himself and that his
nomination for the Secretarvship would
have tendency to revive the party
. differences which were in process
OF healing. The debate was
courteous in tone and devoid of offensive
personalities.
Mr.. Malone made a speech in defense
OF Mr. Gorham, stating that while he was
not present to influence the result bv his
vote, he had duty toward his constitu-
ents to perform. The defeat of Mr. Cor
man would be mlsinterpreted throughout
the South as, in some sense, a disappro-
val of the liberal movement. He Ma
hone) knew that such an Interpretation
OF the action of the caucus would be er-
roneous. He eulogized Mr.. GOrham's
work i'll connection with the liberal move
ment and stated that he should support
the nominees of the caucus, whoever they
might be. Mr.. Malone did not vote ipOn
the nomination. Mr.. ReddIeberger was not
present.
At the afternoon session Charles John
son, or Minnesota, was nominated to be
Chief Clerk, and James X. Young. of
pennsylvania, to be Executive Clerk of
the Senate. Rev. Z. E. Huntley, pastor
of the Metropolitan NJ. K. Church at
Washington, formerly of Wisconsin, was
nominated to be Chaplain, and w. p.
Canaday, Of North Carolina, for Sergeant
alarms. A resolution was offered and
unanimously adopted to retain the
wounded soldiers now on the rolls of the
Senate in their positions. There were
only six votes against the nomination of
Mr.. Canaday for Sergeant-at-Arms.
The question of the Presidency of the
Senate was informally discussed, but no
action was taken, the matter being left as
at the end of the last caucus. that when
the time for action comes Senator An
thony shall receive the nomination.