Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-09
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE pIsPArcH.,

ESPECIAL TELkGhAA 1O TIE DlSPATCH.l
WASHINGTON, August S.-A good deal
of canvassing mas been done for the Speak
ership recently, in quiet way. 1t being
the general impression that an extra session
of Congress will be called to meet about the
middle of October, the advent of August
left but little more than two months for
the setting up Of the pins for the chief of
fee of the House of Representatives, which
is said to be only second to the Office of
President in its opportunities for the exer-
else of power.
When Major Mckinley was here recently
he answered members of the press with
pleasantries regarding the Speakership, but
TO intimate friends he confessed that in his
mountain retreat he had carried on bust
ness-like correspondence, extending well
over the country, and that the information
so gained was decidedly favorable to his
nomination by the caucus of Republican
Representatives.
THE MAJORS CALCULATIONS.
In making up his figures the Major
claimed about one-half of the Pennsylvania
delegation, and of course the solid Repub-
lican vote of the Ohio delegation. The lat
ter everybody comedies to him, but it is
pretty certain that he counted without his
host in Pennsylvania. While there has
been no public expression of sentiment by
the Republican Representatives of Pennsyl-
vania, some very important straws have
been tossed to the wind recently, and show
its direction beyond doubt
No one disputes that the dominant power
in Pennsylvania politics will control the
vote Of the delegation, and that it will vote
as unit. Those who reflect the will of the
dominant power have been known fire.
quently within few DAYS to say cautiously
to their friends that Tom Reed will be the
next Speaker. They didn't say "We are 60
ing to vote for him." or that "The Penn
sylvania Republicans will vote for him."
but simply that Reed will be the man"
and this is accepted that the fat which has
gene forth to Pennsylvania is that Reed
must be the man."
WHERE REED is STRONG.
1t is believed that Reed will get all of the
Republican votes from the New England
and Middle States with numerous votes
from the South and West, enough to nomi- |
nate him on the first ballot, or to influence |
his nomination on the second ballot
The demand from the West for a Speaker |
who will emDody the moderate protection |
sentiment OF that section doesn't seem to |
count for much now, and it is beginning to
be felt that the candidacy of Cannon in Illi-
nois, Burrows in Michigan, Henderson in
Iowa and Mckinley in Ohio will divide up
the vote so that no one will make a mater |
tally stronger showing than another. Be |
side, 1t Is an open secret that any one of |
these able gentlemen would prefer to see |
Reed in the chair before any other of them. |
The South will have 16 or II votes, and |
these will probably be held in hand by the |
= - Il
brilliant, but erratic Tennesseean, for the |
purpose of
MAKING A DICKER
at the last moment with him who is appar-
emily the strongest candidate, that the 16 or |
IL may get the promise of all the best chair
manships of committees and all the best |
offices within the gift Of the House for their |
very hungry and very thirsty constituents. /
Another strong factor cited in Reeds fa- |
vor IS his GOODNESS in hours of confusion, his |
thoroughness in knowledge of the rules his |
readiness of decision, and his adroitness in |
turning his rulings to party account. The |
prospect of a close party vote and a hot
party struggle leads those who are not the
personal champions of any candidate, and
who have no special fish to fry of their own
to be exceedingly solicitous for a Speaker
who will be equal to the most critical and
exciting situation, and who can neither be
MUDDLED NOR FRIGHTENED.
1t is universally admitted that in these
qualities no candidate sizes up so nearly to
the requisite as Mr. Reed
As the time shortens and the election
draws near, this phase of the feeling engen-
dered by the contest becomes more and more
conspicuous, and takes on a new impetus.
For these reasons il is generally admitted
that the recent trend of affairs is all in the
direction OF Reed, and possibly it is partly
for this reason that Pennsylvania appears to
be solidifying in his support, as several
Keystone statesmen want conspicuous recog-
milton on committees.