Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-14
THE POLITICAL SEA.
Jim Blaine Making Soundings with
His PIummet and Line.

olhn btaine Making SOundiDgS with
His Plummet and Line.
NEW YORK. Nov. 13.-James G. Blaine
mas been here ten days, with plummet
and line, sounding the political depths.
Whitelaw Reid and Steve Elkins pulled
the boat with muffled oars and Blaine him.
self heaved the lead. The labor rock ls
SAID TO have been accurately located, and
several shoals and reefs have Deen
mapped. 1t is thought that a channel
deep enough to feat the Republican
frigate OF 1888 has been discovered, al
though nobody seems to know her exact
draught Of water. Blaine, however.
seems 10 have devised plan TO avoid
the labor rock. and even 10 make 1t useful
by crowding the Democratic craft upon
IL, wind and tide permitting. How this is
10 De done may be seen with 4 single eve
glSse. Blame has always been a skillul
compiler OF election returns, The wires
East and West have been kept cumming
since his stay in this city. Look at the re-
turns and you will find that the Republic
cans have majority of congressman
elect In the next House OF Representa-
tlves in bare majority of the States. To-
deed, the whole thing may hinge on the
new election for Representatives in Con-
gress in the Second district of Rhode
Island. The Democratic candidate at
the late election had a large plurality,
outunder the State law it requires a ma
lorlty to elect on the first trial. AS the
d gures now stand, without Rhode Island,
the vote by States in the Fiftieth Con-
gress will be tie. II the election is
thrown into the House the Republicans
will need the vote OF Roger Williams
State to carry their candidate into the
PRESIDENTIAL chair. In he present House
he vote by States stands: Democrats,
10; Republicans, 16; tied, 3. In the next
House. on the latest returns, it will be
Democrats, 1S; Republicans, Is; tied, L;
and Rhode island TO elect the man VINO
VIII virtually have the casting vote.
Whether Blaine has had any hand in
changing these figures or not, the result
may make him President If the election is
thrown into the House.
with a sure footing thus obtained In
the next House. Blaine can, in Wallstreet
parlance, go "long" or ''shOrt' on the
LABOR vote, and win either way. If
George or some other the0rist is a candi-
date, supported by the labor unions and
knights of Labor, 1t will certainly dam
aye the Democracy as much as the Re-
publIcans. With as shreWd man as
Blaine at the helm, all deals with the
George men falling, the choice could be
shifted to the House and the white plume
float triumphant.
The appointment OF Gideon J. Tucker
as a Railroad Examiner Indicates that
President Cleveland mas already taken
the alarm. Tucker is a labor agitator,
poor in pocket, but rich in intellect. He
evidently regarded he Presidents OfferIn
the light of dOg-button. Beng no mans
dog, he spurned it. The pauclty of the
sop has made the Labor men indignant,
and has undoubtedly strengthened their
lines. -,...-.
Another phase OF Blaine's visit is worth
noting. He had hardly alghted at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel and begun to plume
himself before the news was wired to
John Sherman. John stretched his neck
in great surprise and finally gathered up
his feet. spread his tail, mounted the sky
and waited himself 10 New York He
had hardly reached the parior OF the Finh
Avenue when Blaine ran TO cover in a
private house. About the same time
Edmunds winded him. The Vermont bird
drew a long brea b, scratched the bald spot
on mis- head, uniolded his venerable pin
ions and landed in the Bartholdi Hotel,
within gunshot of both the other birds,
1t looks as though all three were on still
hunt Tor meat. Blaine was on the trail of
the George men, Sherman was on the
track of Blaine. and the cunning old cock
partridge from the Green mountains was
stealing along in the wake OF both Blaine
and Sherman. When Blaine disappeared
the other birds shook their feathers and
silently sailed away. New England ponds
were covered with thin coating Office on
the morning after Edmunds' exit.
Whether either Edmunds OF Sherman
picked up any meat will be determined
at the next National Republican Con-