Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-07
ATKINS DEFEAT
Caused by CarlisIe's Election
An Inside Democratic
View.

10 Tue MtthNhAo AMeIlceuf
WASHINGTON, December 2-The nomi-
nations last night surprised many. The
defeat Of Atkins and the election Of
Clark has thrown damper over all that
class Of men here who watch theTrea.ury.
1t is true many Of this class Of men voted
against Atkins when stung by the defeat
Of Randall, who ought not TO have been
so influenced, and IL little time had been
given they would probably have recov-
cred and stood by the right. The defeat
Of Atkins will be a matter Of regret all
over the Union, because the office is one
in which more money can
be made use of than almost
any other in the government not d.
rectly, but indirectly, in making the gov
eminent foot jobbing bills. Atkins is
known 10 be upright, while Clarks vote
on the Star Route investigation, his fami>
ly fueds and his occasional sprees make
his election q source Of great anxiety.
Members did not seem 10 realize the mis-
take they were making until the nomina-
ton was made. / regret exceedingly 10
say that many of Mr.. Randall's friends,
particularly the Pennsylvania, Ohio and
New jersey members voted for Clark
under the sting Of defeat. Governor
Curtin, who was strong Atkins
man, but finally threw his vote
away on Martin, assured me that bis
delegation, including Mr. Randall, was
for Atkins; and Mr.. Randall said TO me
that no matter what came he was going
10 vote for Atkins, as he did; but Gov
ernor Curtin said the delegation could not
be held for Atkins when the Tennessee
delegation voted for Carlisle. Many Of
Randall's strong friends presented this
strong case. They said the first recogni-
ton the South had in putting her public
men along with the public men Of the
North was by Mr., Randall, who made no
distinction when Speaker, and especially
that Randall had favored Tennessee above
any other State, by giving Atkins the
most important position in the House,
Chairman Of the Committee on Appro-
priations, and at the same time putting
Mr.. Whitthorne at the head Of the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs and making Mr.,
Bright chairman Of the Committee on
Claims, besides putting other Tennessee
members in important places. They said |
with great feeling Now, il Tennessee
is going 10 turn against Randall and |
vote for Carlisle simply because Carlisle
is a Southern man, then the Randall |
men cannot be induced TO vote for At |
kins. While the Pennsylvania delega- |
ton, including Randall himself were |
outspoken for Atkins, the only strong |
men In Kentucky-Beck, 10 Blackburn
and Phil Thompson-w worked day and |
night for Clark, and while Atkins Ten
nessee friends all believed Carlisle would |
vote for Atkins, when the time came
after his own election, he cast his vote
for Clark. This makes the situation |
peculiarly embarrassing 10 the Tennessee |
delegation, at least all except Dibbrell |
and Caldwell, who voted for Randall. The |
cry was made that Southern man must |
stand by Southern man.
The Tennessee delegation do not agree |
with Mr., Carlisle that the party must at
once commence the tariff fight in the !
House, even though no bill can be passed. !
SO far as | have heard any expression
from them, and l have talked with most
Of them, they believe that neither courage
nor prudence requires that the tariff issue
should be raised, and, this being the posi-.
ton of Mr.. Randall, the vote for Mr.. Car
Isle is the more surprising. 1t is true that
Southern men have been so long ostra>
Nlheu thdb the telhpbhtiVh - great 70 sup
port one when he Is a candidate Ran
dali and Cox together only got twenty
two votes from the entire South. This
occasions much comment here, and the
Republicans have made it the beginning
corner Of fight against the solid South,
the three principal offices being given to
the South. There is general gloom among
Northern Democrats here. They are all
running over the vote, the striking feat
ure Of which is that in the doubtful
States of New York, New Jersey, Con-
necticutt, Pennsylvania and Ohio, Car
Isle got only two votes-only two votes
in the States where the battle is to be
fought. This is taken as most significant.
Our friends in all of these States claimed
that if Randall was nominated II meant
repose, and they could carry all of them.
but they now say that the election Of Car,
isle means that the Democratic party are
not for repose but forimmediate agitation,
and this will create such distrust in bust
ness circles that not Northern State can
be carried