Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-08-29

WAsnINGroN, AUGUST 27. 1889.

WAsuINGToN, August 27, 1889.
The Speakership contest is beginning
to make itself heard in the lobbies Of the
Capitol and about the hotels, and the
Mckinley statisticians are beginning to
haul out few figures themselves. The
expectation that Pennsylvania would be
almost solid to a man has been blighted
by the discovery that the prevailing
political influence in the State is for
Reed. 1t is nevertheless assumed that
three Pennsylvania Republicans will
vote for the Stark County Napoleon.
The trio embraces Judge Kelley, John
Dalzell, and the cold Iron Grey of
Somerset" Edward Scull. Kelley is
presumed to believe that his only chance
of securing the chairmanship of the
Ways and Means Committee is by the
election of Mckinley. He can hardly
hope for this Craftsmanship if Western
candidate is the Speaker. If Reed is
made Speaker, Mckinley is almost
certain to get the coveted chairmanship.
whereas if Mckinley is chosen Reed will
be restored TO his old place as chairman
of the Judiciary Committee, leaving the
way open for Kelley's appointment as a
successor to Roger Q. Mills, as tariff
manager.
Now for the figures. Ohio is put down
as solid with sixteen votes. Ten out of
the ninteen Southern Republicans added,
which, with three from Minnesota, three
from Pennsylvania, three from New
York, two from Nebraska, one from New
Jersey, and one from Indiana (T. NJ.
Browne), makes total of thirty-ninc
This total is not appalling in its magni-
tude, but is said to represent the sure
support, with enough reasonable certain
ties, to give Mckinley half hundred on
the first ballot. This is not bad show
ing if half dozen candidates are pre-
sented to the caucus, for at the outside it
will require only eighty-ive to nominate
and possibly less,
CONTESTED SEATS.
Another of the contested election cases
is grinding away at the Capitol. 1t is
the Fourth West Virginia. The certif-
cate is held by Hon. j. NJ. jackson, and
his opponent is Hon. Charles b. Smith,
of Parkersburg. But three votes stand
between Mr., Jackson's victory and Mr..
Smiths defeat-the same number which
separates the Republicans from the
Democrats in the coming Congress.
"About the contest for my seat?" said
Judge Jackson in the lobby of the
National last evening, "Mr. Smith and
have got in all our testimony, and | feel
entirely confident of the safety of my
seat, but | want it to be decided fairly
and squarely before Congress. 1t is a
little too early to say much about the
House. Undoubtedly the Republicans
will try to change the rules and seat all
their contestants early in the session.
To do this it will be necessary to have
an audaciour man in the chair. Neither
Cannon nor Mckinley can be relied upon
to do the unconstitutional acts, therefore
| believe that Reed will be made
Speaker. He is bold enough to declare
quorum, as did Keifer, by saying that
he sees one present, whether a quorum
votes or not. The Democrats should act
entirely on the defensive and insist that
matters shall take their accustomed
course and that the old rules shall
govern. But then the new States are
yet to be heard from. Several Republi-
can members are already ho1s du comJat.
We had better wait"
TO BUILD UP THE NAVY.
The Secretary of the Navy has appoint
ed a board who shall formulate and
report to him general plan for building
up the Navy. The Secretary of War has
also shown an interest in the subject of
national defense and ordered that the
vast useless possessions of the War De-
partment be disposed of and turned into
something available for modern fighting
purposes. All this is encouraging and
there appears to be aroused a degree of
interest in the subject of national de-
fense. 1t is a good proposition to sell
all our useless stuff. Let us see what
American ingenuity has done. The
problem of coast defenses is especially
an important one, and it Should be
attended to at once. The emergency
does not exist to-day, but it MAY exist
tomorrow, r.