Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-07
WASHINGTON NEWS.
TaE sPBAKYRSHIP fight GROWING VERY
INTERESTING.
The North and South and West are in Il
Sprirgsr's Funny Handling Of the Sectional
0uss6on-Soms Of Bis Eals Jokes.
Other Candidates.
sueeiaL corr,ponaene. 80 Rsqss.er.


Speakership fight has been in progress
after fashion ever since Congress ad-
journed, in fact, ever since the election
OF a Democratic House, but there has
not yet been a formal opening of the
campaign. 1t is not usual to open can
didates' headquarters until withina few
weeks of the meeting Of Congress, but
the indications are now that this will be
done much earlier than usual. Mills,
Hatch and Bynum are here, and Nc
MILAN left but two days ago for Sara
toga, and friends of Springer and Of
Crisp have been here for several days
looking over the ground. OF course
none OF them are in Washington for
good now, and none contemplate open
ing headquarters this early, but this is
a good point from which to feel the
pulse, and from this time on they Will
be on hand every now and then, making
this the base Of supplies. The situation
of the various candidates as TO the West
Is already pretty we'll understood,
though Crisp and Springer are still de-
voting considerable attention to that
section, and every candidate Is trying
10 Law wires into New York, PennSYlva-
MIA and New England, and Washington
is a good place TO operate from. 1t is
astonishing how many Of these candi
dates have a majority Of the New York
delegation pledged" At least three OF
them claim that they are all right in
that State, and all Of the rest profess to
consider it fighting ground, all Of which
speaks we'll for the versatility OF the
New York statesmen, who find means
of making all feel comfortable for at
least little while.
Every one OF the candidates is ready
TO cOncede that all the rest are men or
ability and deserve well Of their party,
aud thus far there has been no evidence
of the growth OF bad feeling. The sit
uation is dangerous 70 many friendships,
however, for the reason that the ques-
ton Of individual temperament is one
which will cut an important figure in
the fight. This brings personalities into
IL. and il in the end some bitter enmi-
ties are not provoked every candidate
will have proven his fOrbearadce and
self-cOntrOl. Just at this time all are
trying to be as magnaRimous and as
kindly OF disposition as possible, and 1t
is amusing TO note the care with which
each tries TO advance his own superior
qualifications and to detract from his
opponents without giving cause for Of
Tense, and how each is striving not to
show that he is ready to take otfense at
anything his rivals may do.
A particularly funny thing is the
manner in which Springer is handling
the sectional question. He is the one
man who has more than any other to
gain by cultivsting the impression that
It Is time for the Speakership to so to
the North. The sectional question was
raised early in the contest, but has not |
been heard much of lately, for the rea-
son that the most available candidates
are from the south and there is really
more for the North and East in having
control Of important committees than |
there would be in having speaker
and leaving the committees as
they were organized under
Speaker Carlisle. Moreover it
has been generally agreed among
Democrats that it would be very bad
thing, after complaining Of the manner
In which che Republicans make use Of
the bloody shirt, to slip on the garments
themselves. Mr.. Springer appreciates
this, but the temptation Is very great,
so he very solemnly, in manner which
assumes that he has turned his back on
says that he hopes the sec
tional issue will not be raised and that
the only way to avoid il is to elect him,
a northern man. This is quite charac
terlstic OF Springer. He Is entirely sat
isfed that he is exempt from the sus-
piciOn Of raising the sectional issue.
Springer is one Of the most interest
ing studies in the house. He Is perhaps
the best informed man on parliamentary
law, and can raise more points OF order
10 the half hour than any other ten men,
sustaining each with all sorts Of author
ity, and yet he will attract as little at
tentiOn and produce as few results by
an his work as If he had said nothing.
And his information is not confined to
parliamentary law, but extends to all
public questions. Having been reader
all his life, with faculty OF remembering
what he has read, and having had aloug
and varied experience In congress, he is
stOrehOuSe OF knowledge on all politi-
cal affairs. As prOmpter he is invalu-
able. Nor is he man of mean abilities.
He usually gets on the right side Of
question and is well armed In defense of
his position, but he socks to
lack entirely the ability to
impress others with what is
clear TO him. or even hold their atten-
tion while he Is saying something really
good. He is always at dead level, and
when he Is seen 10 be very earnest
about something In the house it is i'm
possible TO judge from his manner
whether IL is a matter Of Importance or
merely some trivial controversy. Mem
bers do not know whether they will be
rewarded or disappointed by giving
him their attention, therefore they get
in the habit of not attaching much i'm
portance to his activity, and ii is often
entirely wasted.
He IS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF amiability,
and his wit and wisdom, folly and Sc
robustness, his angry protests and his
good humored pleaSantries are all jun
bled together. This popularity has
kept him from taking the position in
the house which he really deserves from
his other qualities. He has, however,
occupied the chair great deal in the
absence OF the speaker, and has made a
very good presiding officer, though he
does love to talk and to get of his little
Jokes. II he should be chosen Speaker
il would probably be impossible for Mr..
Reed 10 make him show anger. On the
the contrary, Mr.. Reed himself would
probably be in a state Of nervous irrita-
ton all the while, as he is when Spring
~. a. an 4hn floor hut tia chanras ore