Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1889-12-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.



Washington, d. c., Dec. 2, 1899.
Saturday was the liveliest day that
the Capitol has witnessed for a long
time. So late as 10 o'clock in the
morning the friends of Mckinley, Can
non and Henderson were all confident
ly predicting the election of their par
ticular man. 1t seemed as though
each party had the positive assurances
of enough members to make election
sure. The sectional cry of the West
seemed likely to kill Mr.. Reeds
chances, but the trouble was that this
same West was without organization
being divided between several candi-
dates. The East was organized and
the claims of Major Mckinley and his
followers to a part Of the Eastern
members proved to be the lightest bau-
bic that ever hoated skyward. In fact
Messrs Mckinley and Cannon have nc
cause to be proud Of the result.
The din that ensued after the nom
nation Of Mr.. Reed was phenomenal
even considering the occasion. The
rush Of newspaper men to reach tele-
graph wire must have ruined a good
thousand corns and bunions, and the
youthful pages Of the House reveled in
the luxury Of good lungs well used for
full ten minutes.
There was great satisfaction on the
massive fat face of Mr. Reed when he
stepped forward to accept the nominal
ton, made unanimous by the motion
Of his dear enemy, Major Mckinley,
who may be sure that he will not be
forgiven by the new Speaker for the
warfare made upon his record in Con
gress during this fight. Mr.. Reeds
speech did not exceed over fifty words
in length, being merely the expression
Of good will and gratitude.
The selection Of Edward Mcpherson
as clerk was Il foregone conclusion after
the caucus Of Pennsylvania members
ON Friday night The result was due
to Senator Quay's interference; as
Major Carson had secured no small
number Of the Pennsylvania Represen-
tatives who would have stood by him
had it not been for Senator Quay.
Major Carson was urged to withhold
his name and allow Mr.. McPherson's
nomination to be made unanimous.
Certain contemptuous illusions TO his
candidacy having been merely the
work Of few irresponsible newspaper
correspondents" made it necessary for
him to show his strength, and despite
the,fght made against him by the mo-
guls of the party he showed a strength
Of fifty votes, very respectable num-
Der.
Major Carson is shining example
of what the curse of modesty can do
for man. He is the trusted CORES
pendent Of the Philadelphia Ledger
and is one Of the most experienced
men in the business. His ability is
unquestioned. His recent candidacy
was unlike the candidacy of certain
other newspaper correspondents, mere
bar-room drivel and foam. He was
really the choice Of seven-tenths of the
members Of Congress, and if John M.
Carson had been ponderous dignifed,
dull sort of man he would have Sc
cured the place. But breezy, hearty
fellow, as ready to do a favor for a
stranger as if the operation was a posi-
tive delight, can never hope for high
political preferment in Washington.
To be genuine is a disadvantage.
To speak Of Gen. George A. Sheri-
dams little boom for a clerk of the
House in any terms but those of SYM
pathy would be cruel. After all that
had been written during the last two
weeks about the poet-orator's brilliant
prospects as the dark horse in the con-
test, he showed at the display of hands
not single trump. 1t was the most
dismal collapse of the day.
Ex-Congressman A. H. Holmes, of
Iowa, owes his selection for Sergeant
alarms entirely to the speech of Col.
Henderson. AS defeated candidate
for Speaker and a candidate whose
strength has gone over to the winning
candidate, he had good grounds to
claim hearing and he received it.
You can put Col Henderson down for
a very important embarrassing.
The only hard fight of the day was
over the nomination of a Doorkeeper.
To the surprise of Mr.. Reeds followers
they found themselves unable to de-
liver to Captain Wheat, of Wisconsin,
the goods they had promised as a re-
ward for his work with the Wisconsin
delegation. Mr. Adams, of Maryland,
developed unexpected strength, and the
Reed managers, taken by surprise,
were routed, and Capt. Wheat was glad
to accept the inferior position of post
master of the House
Reverend Charles B. Ramsdell, of
the North Presbyterian Church of
Washington, was nominated by a small
majority for Chaplain of the House.