Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-12-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHINaToN. NOV. 30. 1SS5.


Congress will convene next Mon.
day at precisely twelve O'Clock.
The contest for the election of u
President pro TEN of the Senate has
fallen to the Republicans. Natural.
~ there has been much discussion
as to who it should be. Thus the
deata Of the Vice President of the
United States has awakened an in
terest in Republican circles where
Indifference prevailed a few weeks
ago.
Senators Logan, Edmunds, and
Sherman are the most prominent
candidates for the place. OF course
none of these gentlemen is making
a canvass, o has any of them ex.
pressed any inclination for the po-
sition, but the friends of each are
working for them. A sharp fight
for the nomination is expected IN
the caucus Of Republican Senators
to be held this week.
1t would indeed be superhuman
generosity for the Republican Sen.
ators to make up to their political
opponents the loss they sustained in
the event which occurred at Indian.
apolis last week. But such magma.
nimity will not occur, for the aso
that it should not. Sentimental
gush will have nothing to do with
the choice of q President of the Sen
ate. Those who will make that
choice understand that it is as much
their duty to vote for a Republican
it would be if they we're making
the original selection.
The fashionable world OF Washing
ton has been greatly interested to
know to what extent the death of the
Vice President will affect social fes-
tivities here. OF course the Admin.
istrati0n is in mourning. The White
House will remain quiet, and there
will be no entertaining done in the
Cabinet for a period Of thirty days.
Then the black draperies which now
cover the columns Of the White
House, and are conspicuous of the
Cabinet homes, the Capitol, and all
buildings, will be re-
moved. The flags, all oyer the city
now floating at half mast, will be
hoisted, the old order oil things re.
sumed, and New Years day will, as
usual, inaugurate the social season
Arthur's first public re-
at the White House was
held on the New Years day sue.
ceeding the death of President Gar.
field. 1t was on that day that n
of the foreign Ministers dropped
dead at the White House, and the
was brought to a close in
The death Of Mr.. Hendricks also
changes the social situation here.
His wife would have been next to
Miss Cleveland as leading lady, and
she had made extensive preparations
for social activity during the season.
Mrs. Hendricks is "A very ambitious
woman, fond of society and political
power. She is understood to be as
much of a politician as her husband,
and far more energetic. Her re-
tlrement gives her place to the wife
Of the Republican Senator who viii
be elected when the Senate meets.
The President did not make known
his determination not TO attend the
funeral of the dead Vice President
until Sunday afternoon. In his pub
lie statement for declining to 60, be
said that in the first moment Of the
shock of Mr.. Hendricks death he
yielded to his inclination aud de-
his intention to be present at
the burial. Afterwards be was sat
isfied that he was at fault in that be
did not take as comprehensive a
view Of the duty be owed to the pub.
lie as he should. He was convinced
that bis strong personal desire to be
present had clouded his Judgment.
He claimed to have looked a. the
matter in all its phases, aud to have
debated with bis Cabinet, bis an
xious callers, and his own mind t5e
question to go, or not to go. Mes
sages from Indiana had much weight
in persuading him to stay at bone
Secretaries Lamar, Whitney, Bay
ard, and Postmaster General was;
with the committees Of Senators ID
Representatives went on a sreclai
train.