Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-11-16
THE CONGRESSIONAL MUss.

Both sides Claiming the House-HKc-
Phersen Soundiy scored-Quay Com.
fdent.
Washington special, 14th: The con-
test which it was supposed was ended on
the Gin of November, when the ballot
boxes we're closed, continues. The dif-
ference is that the subject OF the electoral
votes is happily eliminated from the
controversy, and that the place of obser-
Vutioa has changed from New York city
to Washington. But 1t is still the battle
of the giants of the two national com
mittees. The subject of contention
IL the control OF the national house OF
representatives IN the fifty. first congress
The democratic committee has given
even less attention to the congressional
districts than the republican oopgree-
sIonsl committeee. The democratic
CANVASS seems to have been 10 seek to
carry the msi DIRTY of the lower house by
the impetus of the electoral vote if they
should be suoce ssful in the election.
Consequently very little attention was
paid by the democratic national com init.
tee or by the democratic congressional
committee to the details in the congress
sional districts. The republican national
committee, however, using the cougres-
slonal COMMITTEES as an aid, paid the
closest attention to all supposed doubt
ful congressional districts, and made q
canvass by which they hoped to secure
majority OF the house of representatives
even II they should lose the presidency.
Edward Mcpherson, the secretary of the
republican congressional committee, of
necessity was acquainted with
the plans of the national rspub-
lican committee, and knew what
the expectations of tnat com.
mittee were as to the close and doubtful
districts. He was apparently very much
elated at the results OF the election as
they appeared to him on the night of the
election, and he took the public into his
confidence, very much more than the
managers of the republican national
committee approved. And now that it
seems possible that the certificates
which will be sent 10 the clerk of the
house will show mere majority for the
democrats there is disposition on the
part OF some to make @ soapegoat of
Mol cPherson, and to hold him responsible
for the failure of tho republicans TO se.
cure the house. The opinions Of these
gentlemen, who fear that they are to be
disappointed, can best be expressed In
the rather emphatic statement made by
one OF them. He seid:
"There can be no doubt that We elect
| ed msjority of the house OF repre- :
sentatives, and That the votes which
gave us coed majority in the house
were in the ballot boxes when the polls
closed on the night of election. Mr.
McE'herson, on the night Of the election
before the results could be known, and
before the votee had been counted any.
where, made hsete to communicate to
democratic and to republican papers
alike, the claim that the repubiicans
he'd secured the house by good work.
ing majority. He gave figures and dis.
trictB which showed majority OF twenty
and more. The claims that he made
were based upon the information of the
republican national committee. They
showed where that com mittee had beer
dong Its work. They indicated what til.
secrets OF the campaign, planned and ex
ecuted by the republican national com
mittee had been. In giving thes,
figures to the publio, In shors
he disclosed the hand of til,
national republican committee to th,
democrats, and made it possible TO
them to stack the cards against us. II i
to be noticed that the returns hzd beef
: held back in the very districts in whicl
Mr. Mcpherson at that time elaine,
that the republicans had made thei
gains. The next day end the day fol
lowing the democrats discovered the
3 they had lost their presidential candi
> date. They :hen proceeded to endeavo
! TO save Whist they could of the wrec
D and to retain possession OF the house !