Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-10-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent

WAsHINGToN, Oct. 16, 1891.
The president entertained Chairman J. s.
Clarkson at dinner one day this week, and
straightway the identical newspaper smart
Alecks who were SO certain that Mr.. Clark
son was made chairman OF the executive
committee OF the Republican national CON-
mittee for the sole purpose of using that
committee against Mr. Harrison began to
send out stories about how Mr.. Harrison
proposed through Mr.. Clarkson to turn
the national committee into a Harrison
machine. One story was no whit more ri
diculous than the other, and they were
both too silly for serious consideration.
Mr.. Harrison and Mr.. Clarkson have been
warm personal friends for a long time. and
those who know what they are talking
about say that Mr.. Clarkson would have
been member of the cabinet at the begin
ming of the administration had not the
only portfolio for which he cared been dis
posed OF before his wishes were made known
to the president, and it is probable that
Mr.. Clarkson could become a member OF
the cabinet now il it were not for his desire
to take a more active part i'm the presiden-
tial campaign than such a position would
allow him. Republicans who know J. s.
Clarkson, and there are few OF prominence
who do not, know that there is no danger
| OF the national committee being used to
further the particular interests OF any one
| man while he is at the head OF it, and Mr..
Harrison is the last man in the world to
suspect OF wishing to take advantage of
any machine made sentiment. He would
| be more than human il he did not wish a
nomination, but there is one wish that he
pute ahead of all others, and that is that
the Republican party shall elect the next
president, and that the convention shall
select the most available man. whether it
be himself or another.
Acting Chairman Clarkson has issued a
call for a meeting OF the Republican ma
| tional committee in Washington November
20. This meeting will elect a chairman of
the committee to succeed Senator Quay,
who resigned some time ago. and will de-
eide upon the time and place for holding
the national convention next year. There
is no doubt about the election of Mr.. Clark
| son as chairman, and it is believed to be
certain that the national convention will
be held at an earlier date than usual. pos
sibly early May, but it is still uncer-
tain what city will obtain the honor OF
| entertaining it, although since Chicago got
the Worlds Fair there is a popular i'm
preston that she can gobble up anything
she really wants, and there is no doubt
that she wants the convention; but she
will have to work for it, as the other cities
that want it are already doing some lively
hustling.
New Workers who come to Washington
all talk one way. and the following remarks
made by Hon. J. r. DosPassos show which
way: "There isn't any more doubt that j.
Sloat Fassett will be the next governor OF
New York than the tides will continue to
flow and ebb. The fight is one of the whole
people against Tammany Hall, and hun
dreds of Democrats will vote against
Flower, not because they dislike him per-
sonally, but because they are tired OF Tam
many's odious bossism. That is the mean
ing OF Herman Oelrich's retirement from
the Democratic national committee. They
are going to rid the party of this machine
domination, though to do SO will bring
about the defeat OF the Democratic ticket.
| should not be surprised if Fassett's ma.
jority reached &c, 600"
The Democrats are not doing much talk.
ing about the speakership just now. They
are waiting for the Ohio election to give
them a pointer. III Mckinley is elected
and there is no reason for thinking other
wise, it will kill off Mills as a candidate fol
speaker, as it will be recognized as yer
dict by the people against free trade, which
is the corner stone of Mills political creed
and some man will be selected for speake
who is more moderate in his tariff views
The speaker, it must be remembered, ha
it in his power to absolutely control tn
legislation of the house by making up tn
! important committees in accordance will
r his own ideas. Should Mckinley be defeat
ed, Mills, free trade. free coinage and FIRE
whiskey will be in supreme control OF tn
Democratic party councils, both in cor
gress and in the presidential campaign.