Smyrna times., 1884-04-02
For the Smyrna Time
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. March %. 1Ss

Inc bOOmS are daily growing Ill
volume, and there is no better field for
studying the various growths than at
this national political centre. OF
course, no indications are as yet sulli-
ciently strong to indicate who will be
the coming nominees, but some signif-
cant straws are, however, bobbing and
waving to show from what quarter the
Republican breeze is strongest.
Strangely enough, these significant
straws favor more positively than ever,
within the last few days, the Plumed
Knight from Maine, who has an
nOunced that he is retired from the
uncertain way of politics, and whom
the people will have to call from his
quiet desk, where he is writing the
history he helped to make, if they
want him, even as Cincinnatus was
called from his farm to save Rome.
The most serious question which has
troubled the minds of the friends of
Mr.. Blaine has been whether he could
secure the support of Mr.. Conkling in
the event of his entering the presiden-
tial field. Mr.. Belford, more Familiarity
known as the Red Headed Ranger of
the Rockies, who is quoted as authori-
ty upon the political views of Roscoe
Conkling, has announced this week
that if Blaine is nominated Mr.. COnk.
ling will earnestly support him, though
of course the latter's preference i,
Grant. Thus it is that the Blaine
blaze is breaking out from most unex
pected quarters-a sort of spOntaneOu,
combustion affair-until many of thu
other aspirants begin to think tha
evidently the way to be a candidate i
not to be candidate.
This activity in the Blaine camp ha,
been balanced by the not little goin;
to and fro between Washington ant
Gramercy Park. Ex-Speaker Randall
is one of those who have visited an
conferred with Mr.. Tilden, summone
there, it is though, by the sage himsel
There is more surmise than knowledg
about the purport of these conference
r. but it is pretty well settled that Nj
y Tilden has consistently refused to d.
/ clare any preference among the Pres
1i dental aspirants in his party.
would seem from the talk at the Can
tOl and about town that the Ne
Workers. kind word for Randall in h
Is, list of "good candidates" has helpt
+, that leaders chances, and judgiI
le from the expressions of local sentimel
Randall is nearly as popular amor
, Pennsylvania Democrats as Blaine
among the Republicans of that Stat
- and he will most probably go befo
the convention as "favorite son."
The booms of the other candidat
lst here are being carefully nursed. Il
warrior statesman with the resona
voice of a fOg-whistle, who is at on
the pride and fear of his fellow Repu
licans in the United States Senate,
> still in the front ranks. His aspil
lie tions have had an alarming effect up
his mail, for he now gets from 100
300 letters every morning, and
answer of some sort must be made
~ every letter. This is a larger m
than is received at the White Hou
NJ or by any other public man in Wa
ington. Three clerks, and $5 day
the average for postage, are requii
,rk, for this correspondence. The peo
we ,e of the United States have eviden
got the idea that John Logan is u v,
IA. good natured man, and it must be
g mitted that he needs the Sc per di
private secretary which the Senate
Gently voted to each of its members
While speaking to an old habitus
'ed' the Capitol the other day, he inform
We nae that Senator Blaine has not ent
III ed the Senate Chamber since he cea
to be Senator, nor has Senator Co
ling been seen in the Senate end of
N Capitol since he voluntarily seve
his connection with that body.
Blaine frequently visits the Cong
sional Library to consult its volul
in connection with his history,
never looks into the legislative hal
the Senate and House. Mr.. Conk
has appeared several times as coui
in the United States Supreme Co
but has studiously avoided the Ser
and House of Representatives, altho
the COURTROOM is located on the n
\ 4 corridor of the Capitol, and within
hundred feet of the Senate. The
amples Of these men, who achieved
N tinction in Congress, he told me is
exceptional. 8
General Grant has been IN town
was rendered dinner by the Gle
III widower who dispenses the hosp
ties OF the White House in the ~
est manner, and who, in the matte
the fit Of trowSefs and set of coats
a judgment unsurpassed by any &c
grna. manly broker in New York. He