The morning call., 1891-12-08
CRISP CHOSEN,
The Georgia Congressman Sc
lected for Speaker.
Springer Casts the Vote to Decide the
Contest.
The Result Reached on the Thirtietb Ballot.
Mills Much DiSheartened Crisp and
Springer Jubilant.


Imbued with the same confidence and per-
the contest.
The caucus met promptly at 10 o'clock
this morning. and without any preliminary
proceeding the Secretary began to call the
roll for the eighteenth ballot. the seven
teenth having been taken in Saturdays
caucus without any result
THE EXCITEMENT INTENSE.
The excitement was intense during the
call OF the roll. 1t was realized the hour
Tor solicitation had passed. and the first
ballot was devoid Of those argumentative
scenes which characterized the balloting
Saturday night Every member was left
Tree to exercise his preference without
persuasion, and as the roll-call proceeded
and no changes were noted il became ap-
parent the claims of the leading candidates
were extravagant and that there would be
no surprises, as the followers Of all the
candidates were firm.
NO CHANGE MADE.
The eighteenth ballot showed no change
from the seventeenth, taken last Saturday
night 1t is true Mills did not receive
ninety-one votes Saturday, but this is due
to the absence of Terry of Arkansas, who
subsequently entered the hall and voted for
the Texas candidate on the succeeding bal
lot, thus bringing his vote up to the Old
figure.
AN ADJOURNMENT TAKEN
The second ballot of the dav or the nine
teenth of the contest, was quite a perfume
tory one. 1t was evident no choice could
be made before u o'clock, but that the
Fifty second Congress must open with the
SpeakerShip question still unsoved, and
that the contest must be resumed after the
adjournment of the House In the afternoon.
The nineteenth ballot was finally an
nounced. 1t was exactly the same as the
last ballot Saturday night. But forty-fve
minutes now remained before the meeting
OF the House, and another ballot was i'm
possible. A hasty consultation was held
by the leading paftisans of the several can
didates, and all adjournment to o'clock in
the afternoon was agreed upon.
A BREAK IN sPRINGER's RANKS.
During two hours and a half intermission
before the reassembling of the caucus at
O'Clock this afterno Don, the supporters of the
various candidates displayed ceaseless ac-
tivity in their effort to win aceessions from
the followers OF each other. Just before
the reassembling Of the caucus, Cable Qll)
notified Springer that he had decided
to abandon him and vote for Mills. He told
Springer he thought his cause a hopeless
one, and that the interests of the Demo
cratic party demanded the election of Mills
AS soon as the news of Cables detection
spread it was seized upon a. an indication
of the dissolution of Springer's forces. The
announcement that New berry would follow
caused further excitement. There was q
hasty conference of Springers other fol-
lowers. but no line of action was decided
upon just then. Stewart Qll), ind:g-
nant at what he denounced as treachery Of
his colleagues in deserting Springer, an
nounced that he would not support Mills in
any case. This announcement was thun-
der-clap to the managers of Mills, as the
Texas candidate all along counted upon the
SOLID support OF Sprlnger's Illinois col
leagues " heneyer that gentleman was out
Of the race. just before the caucus met
Springer announced that he was still in the
race.
A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
The twenty-second ballot was destined to
mark the first significant change of the day
Cable of Illinois abandoned Springer and
voted for Mills. Newberry also deserted
Springer for the Texan. Tarsney left Hatch
and voted for Crisp. During the succeeding
ballot the excitement was intense Shively
few days ago served notice ON Cable and
Newberry that whenever they deserted
Springer for Mills he and his friends
would Offset this by voting for Crisp.
EFFECT OF sHIvELY's THREAT.
This threat was carried out by Shively
and Stout changing to Crisp. Cobb and
Dearman of Missouri then left Hatch and
10
widest excitement. Catch!ngs and others
of the Crisp forces rushed from the hall and
into the headquarters of Hatch. There was
brief conference, and Catchings reap
appeared, followed by Hatch. The cry
went up: Hatch is to withdraw; Hatch is
to 60 to Crisn." They were not mistaken,
for the entrance of Hatch into the caucus
could have but one meaning. Hatch voted
for Crisp and Byrnes and Wilson of his
State followed his lead. This gave Crisp a
| lead of five votes.
CRISP STEADILY GAINING.
On the twenty fourth ballot Springer lost
another vote and Crisp reaped the profit
McClelland Qnd) followed the example of
| Shveley and voted for Crisp. This was the
only change, but 1t gave Crisp lead of six
| over Mills. Then the assault upon Spring
er's forces ceased and terrific efforts were
| made TO break McMllin's ranks. Members
rus he'd hither and thither, but their efforts
we're in vain. The twenty-ffth. twenty
| sixth and tw9Rty-seventh ballots failed TO
| show any change.
| SPRINGER AND HIS FRIENDS.
Then a recess was taken until o'clock in
! the evening. The two hours interval was
industrlously utilized by the candidates and
Their managers. Springer and McMillin
held lengthy conference and subsequently
dlned together with the result that they de-
clded to act together in the termination of
the contest should it become inevitable that
| either Crisp or Mills must be elected.
| Springer and his supporters held secret
conference Mt which Springer thanked his
followers Tor their loyal support, and stated
his belief that either Crisp or Mills wouid be
elected: You, gentlemen, have been loyal
| to me-, said he, "and it is now my time 70
be loyal to you. | am prepared to throw
my Influence and votes for either candidate
YOU may desire to support as unit, with
the positive understanding with the man we
may eject that l want nothing, but my
friends must be well treated. Applause
leave you TO decide upon the candidate
yon desire to support as a second choice, and
my vote and influence is at your disposal"
lApplause.
ILLINOIS INDEPENDENT ACTION.
After Springer's withdrawal the delega-
tion discussed briefly the questions of pol
ley, and finally decided that they would not
avail themselves Of Springer's generosity,
but woulc leave him entirely free to vote as
he desired on the decisive candidate and
tbey would each do the same. From now
on springer was greatly in demand He
was ID Turns lmportuned by Crisp, by Con-
gresham johnson of the Mills following,
and by Colonel Jones, editor of the st.
Louis Republic, but the amount OF sOlace
ana encouragement he gave either or any
Oh them could not be learned.
THE KEY To THE SITUATION.
mat most OF McMillin's followers we're
decidedly pledged to second choice when
he should withdraw, and that Springer and
MS iuihcuiate IfiendS neld the Key To the
situation, was the general opinion, and the
hrst ballot OF the evening was awaited with
breathless interest. The first change came
when the name of Burrow. one OF Spring
ers Illinois supporters. was reached. That
gentleman voted for Crisp, and few min
utes later another OF Springer's Illinois
| friends voted for the Georgia candidate.
Babbtt and Miller of Wisconsin went to
the Mills forces. Crisp was now within
eleven votes Of tho nomination, but Nc
| Mullins nineteen men were still unmoved,
and no election was possible while they re-