The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-12-11
THE spEAKERsHIp CONTEST,
Has Nothing to do with the Presi-
Dental Nomination.
Blaine Keeps Smiling, but Says
Nothing.

Special Correspondence Columbia Herald.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The very
! spirited contest for the Speakershlp OF
the House of Representative Will close
with the selection of one OF the candl-
dates by the democratic caucus which
will be held tomorrow, but 1t Will be
years before it is forgotten. There have
bsen many things to cause 1t to be re-
membered, not the least OF Whlch Is tne
large number of candidates thaC VIII
remain in the field up to the last-thls
is of itself highly creditable to the
democratic party as an organization, as
it shows that it is party that does not
tolerate bossism, but gives every man
in its ranks an equal right 20 aspire 10
any honor within its gift. Another
thing about it that will not soon be Tor
gotten is the action of the republicans
in trying by misrepresentlng innocent
remarks made by democrats, ana IN
many instances by the outright manu-
facture of statements to create feel
ing of antagonism between the friends
of the several candidates-they sue
ceed but too well, in some instances.
Whoever is selected for speaker, the
attempt will be made in certain quar-
ters to make it appear that the selection
makes certain the nomination for Presl-
dent next year of some one OF the gentle
men who have been prominently
republican scheme. There is not the
slightest thing to base such conclusion
upon, no matter which of the candI-
dates for Speaker may win. There are,
to your correspondents certain knowl-
edge, men in the ranks of the support
er of each OF thetcandldates VINO favor
Mr.. Cleveland, Governor Gray, Senator
German and Governor Boies, so you
see what nonsense it is to say that the
success of any one of the candidates for
Speaker will have any direct effect up
on the nomination for President next
year. just as members of Congress
have differed in their opinions of the
beSt,man for Speaker, so Will they diff
fer when it comes to selecting candi-
date for President. The National
Democratic Convention, and not the
House of Representatives, Will name
the Presidential nominee of the party,
Notwithstanding.
Representative Cooper, of Indiana,
who Originated the Raum investigation
in the last Congress, says that If Mr..
Harrison persists in keeping Raum at
the head of the Pension office he Will
move for another investigation. Mr..
Cooper has secured large addition to
the stock of ammunition which the
packed committee of the last Congress
refused to allow him to use, and if Raum
does not vacate the Pension Office he
will see to it that the next investigation
does not end with coat of Whltew ash.
1t is stated here, but denied, that
Secretary Fosters health is in pre-
carious condition. While denying that
he is seriously sick, his friends admit
that he is going South for several
weeks rest before he again takes up his
work as Secretary of the Treasury.
Mr.. Harrison's friends in the republi-
can party have been anxiously expect
ing this week that often announced
statement from Mr.. Blaine that he
would not be the candidate of his party,
it having been stated here the other day
by ex-senator Saunders, of Nebraska,
whose daughter is Russell Harrison's
wife, that Mr.. Blaine would shortly
take the public into his confidence; but
alas, for the II arrison crowd, it seems
to be only another false alarm, as Mr..
Blaine says not word, but continues
to smile when visiting republicans tell
him that they propose nominating him
next wear,