Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-01-01

fhs uaneasses Of Both rzoussu Dsaids
on Their UmoeFu.
Special aieouesvondsucs OF the hcpub:ieaa.

fhs uaneasses Of Both Housss DsoIde
on Their OfnceFs.
Special ieeue.pondsucs OF the hepnbieaa.
DovEH, Del, Dec. Sl-The Republl-
cans OF the ouss and the Democrats OF
the Senate held their caucuses this even
ing. III bodies went into session
shortly after 8 o'elock The d mocrAts
we've the fret to come out Of the eaucns.
The officers announced IS nominated
wee B, l.. Lewis, speaker; AbrAm VAN
desrift, clerk; Robert B. Workman, SER
geant-at. grms; W. e Thomas, chaplain;
Walter Stewart, page. In ihe early part
OF the day II looked rs II Dormau and
smalley uld be the successful caEdi-
Gates for speaker and clerk. This slate
was broken In the evening after supper
by The New Castle and Kent politicians
test for ibtsker, the hndldates 81 i6e
frst ballot being Crossan, Dofmaii ana
Lewis. There were six candidates for
clerk and II took four ballots 10 deter
mine th contest.
The result was q clean scoop for the
Woleott faction. Abram VandegrIft the
successful candidate for clerk, is brother
OF l evils Cass Vanderbilt, and Is twenty
seFen ytars OF age. lie 10 native of bt
Georges hundred. Prsvious TO the caucus
be had no IDEA OF being successful and
was not even on The ground. Itis charged
by the friends Of some Of the candidates
that there was treachery In the election
OF speaker.
The contest for speaker OF the House
excited the moet interest. The Republi-
can members arrived on the ground on
the early morning trains, and almost I'M
mediately went INTO csucus'ug. In the
morning, Sussex held ctiicus and
decided to support Downham for speaker.
| The Kent members held caucus IN the
afternoon but accomplished nothing
The only thing that scented certain up 70
the time of the meeting Of the caucus
was The election OF Downham for speaker.
The members got together few minutes
aftce 8 o'clock. Dowpham was elected
on the eighth ballot, receiving eight
voiea. 1t was thcn decided 10 give the
cierfship to Kent county.
This proved source of trouble which
ended In tho ultimate success Of the
Massey program. The Kent Republicans
immediately got into q snarl over their
choice for clexk. Hclson at first was the
bone Of contention, and his candidacy
was Withdrawn 0 si1npllfy matters. Thii
left in the field Beniah Watson, Horace
Greeley Knowles and Caleb P. smithsrs.
Henry @. Conrad Of Wilmington also ap.
peared as candidate during the ballot
Ing. AT several times Conrpd And
Knowles received six v6tee. For over
three hours or mole was spent IN discuss.
ink the best meabs OF settling the matter
All manner OF comptoHtses were pio,
posed aud rejected. Fihslly McKendery
Downham Lost bis backbone and decllnfd d
the ncminatIon for speaker, which he had
received. The caucus at FIRST was thun.
derstruck at the turn affairs had taken.
William II. Davis OF Kent county wai
then elected speaker by the anti. Mastey
forces He persIstsntly declIned to ac.
cept. Some one made mot on 10 noni.
nate !. n, Hofftcker BY acclamatio and
the motion was carried.
The election for clerk was then gone
into, and William A. Gum, OF Gumsoro.
wac selected for clerk. The remainder ol
the organization was then completed by
the election of Robert B. simiir a.
sergeant-at.arms, Rev. J, T. ii,d.sy
chaplain and joseph Bonsall pas-. -
Aassey men feel highly elAted over the
result, and there is no doubt that he adds
prestige TO the fight. The HRgihs and
Treat men are not willing 10 admit tbis.
and point to the eleotion OF Downham
and DAVIS a. evidence OF their strength.
Az TO Gum, be is an exceedingly popular
fellow and II was rieiit go .r-ily under
stood that should Tic s,hAktrship 90 10
Kent he would be elie cd clerk.
The Democratic had little caucus Of
their own IN the evening TO decide who
should receive their complimentary vote.
Theodore y, Armstrong was selected a.
speaker, Z. 7. Cooper ss clerk and VIII
liam Morgan. OF Sussex County, serpeaut-
at-arms. he selection Of Mr.. Cooper Is
looked upon by the friends OF that gentle
man as the yindcation OF his course 10
the lat contest In Kent County. II 9
coiore iees highly elated over the result
ii.