Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-17
Control Of the House.
Democrats Not Inclined to Con-
test the Matter.
REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE SOUTH.

What Southerners Say About It-Some
More Returns from the Uncertain Dis
tricts-Perry Belmont to Go to Spain
Miss Sweet Suggested for Pension Com
missioner - Two Western Men for
Speaker of the House-Reception at In
dianapolis-Politicd Notes.
WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. 1.-THE Star
says: "a number of the wiser heads in the
Democratic party are counselliug against any
effort to hold a small majority in the house.
1t is understood that Senators Beck and Cor
man think the party would be better off in
the minority, and that with the entire re-
sponsibility upon the Republicans during the
next congress the Democrats will have a
much better chance in the congressional
campaign two years from now. The idea Of
organizing against the admission OF new
states into the Union they are said to regard
as unpopular and likely to be hurtfuL 1t
would be better for the Democrats them
selves to undertake the admission of some of
the territories this winter. 1t is said that
the president has expresse6pn opinion that
it would bs unfortunate for the Democrats
to hold the house,
Gen. John B. Clark, Jr, clerk of the house
of representatives, believes that 100 Demo-
cratic representatives have been elected and
that six districts are in Doubt This specula-
ton is based upon the assumption that VIII
son. Dem, is elected in Virginia. The
doubtful districts in GIN. Clark's estimate
are the First California, Tenth Kentucky,
Second North Carolina, and the First,
Third, and Fourth West Virginia. Relative
to the functions of the clerk in the organiza-
ton of the new house and the power he is
| suppose to exercise in seating or unseating
members Gen. Clark says his duties are fixed
| by statute and are purely ministerial II a
| member. elect presents a proper certificate
| of election his name will be placed on the
roll and not otherwise. Up to the present
time but one certificate has been presented
to him-namely, that of Representative Her
man, OF Oregon. The certificates are usu
ally long time conn g in, as they are no
| issued until some time after the official re
| turns are made public.
The southern people are betraying good
deal of anxiety to know what Gen Harrison
is likely to do with the Republican
party in the south. They say that in Vir
| ginia and West Virginia there are enough
respectable white Republicans t. fill tn,
offices and exercise influence over the party
in the state; that the same is true, but in les
degree, in North Carolina; that in the Other
southern states there are not enough intelli
| gent and responsible white Republicans Il
fill the federal offices; and that negroes, ig
norant and without property or politica
habits, form the entire Republican party il
|
litical activity they constitute menac,
against property and social order.
1t is believed in some quarters that tn
next president will try not TO revive the oil
colored Republican party in the southern
states, but by playing on the timber AM
mineral resources OF the south try to bull
up high tariff Republican party out of til
native white element.