The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-02
Mills, Crisp and McMillin Equally Con-
fident the Plum Will Fall Their Way.
Ex-Speaker Reed Likely Have Fun with the
Successful acknowledgements Anxious
TO Dress Down" the Quorum Maker.


He Would Like to Be Compromise Candi-
date for the speakership-L Leaders Claims.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Dec I-"Old Holman is
scheming some dirty business, and don't
cratic member of Congress to-day. This
remark was brought out by the fact that
Judge Holman had not only not reported
here up to date by letter or otherwise but
had kept his colleagues in ignorance of his
postoffice address. 1t is believed that the
old gentleman has gotten 1t into his head
that he may yet be selected as compro-
mise candidate for the speakerstip of the
House. Such thing is not at all probable;
indeed it is almost impossible, for he has
so weak q voice that he can scarcely be
heard in a room at distance half that
across the great hall of the House of Rep
resentatives. He is playing 'possum and
believes that by staying away he may be
chosen as compromise. Judge Holman Is
the most unpopular Democrat in the House
and the least fitted for Speaker.
"You might as well withdraw from the
race. Springer. for you are hoodOoed." de-
clared Representative Owen. Of Ohio, as he
glanced around the Illinois headquarters
to-day.
Mr.. Springer did not understand how he
was hooded. so Mr.. Owen went on and ex-
planned. This room is the very one
in which John G. Calhoun died. He wrote
his famous nullifcatlon message here. and
lived here up to the time of h,s death.
Then, IN that room, continued Mr. Owen,
pointing to the ante-room IN which Spring
er holds his private consultations, Henry
Clay died, so you have two ghosts keeping
you company. and that Is enough to hoo
doc any candidate"
What Mr. owen said was historically
true, for it is we'll known that the Springer
Headquarters are made up of the rooms in
which Calhoun and Clay died. But the
Illinois man was not to te disconnected by
Mr.. Owens funeral humor
That's just what we want" replied Mr..
Springer. I'VE want TO get used to corpses.
80 as to know how to handle Crisp and
Mills after their funeral ceremonies have
been. held at the caucus on next Satur-
day.
The Crisp crowd appear to be confident
yet, though they refuse to deny that their
candidate is from local nece 5sity q pro-
tectionist and the Democratic party 10 O
free-trade party. How Crisp can win un-
der the circumstances every other candi-
date declares he oannos see. The fight ap-
pears to yet be between Mills and Springer,
with Crisp ahead of tho latter as first
choice. At Millss headquarters to-day any
the Texan against the field. and no takers.
That tells the story. go far as pubic opin-
Ion goes. There considerable figuring,
however. being done by outsiders The
greatest number of these estimates appear
to place Mr.. Crisp in the lead though none,
probably, give him what his friends claim
for him as sure, and they vary considerbly.
New York estimates put Mr. Mills and Mr..
Springer close together, some giving
Springer the lead, but more giving Mr..
Mills a slight advantage. The claims of
Mr.. Mills's friends, however. put Mr.. Mills
and Mr.. Crisp closer together. with Mills
In the lead, while the claims of the friends
of Mr.. Crisp put the Georgian far in ad-
vance of any one.
One of Mr.. Springer's workers said to-
day: I'VE are not at tiis time making any
claims except the vote from Illinois, but
we know wherein lies cor feeling of con-
tidence. You may figure out Mr..
claim to any thing. though we have right
to. Mr.. Springer Is growing candidate.
He does not expect the nomination on the
first or on the second ballot. We are max
ing no professions of great strength on the
will be difference or butta few votes be-
tween MIR. Springer and Mr.. Mills, and
will not predict which will be in tho lead.
Mr.. Springer knows his own strength. and
Whatever weakness Dnere may De, he Is not
kept elated with good news and deceived
as TO the bad Mr.. Springer's headQuar-
ters were crowded all day.
There was "a growing activity about Mr..
McMillin's headquarters. though the report
is persistently circulated that he is losing
some of his strength to Mr.. Mills. One Of
the gentlemen at his headquarters told
your correspondent to-day that there was
nothing in the situation to discourage Mr..
McMillin, but that the canvass was work
ing ont about as he had calculated. What
he was calculating on was to make merely
q respectable showing at first, knowing
that he had among the supporters of all
the other candidates many friends who
wanted to vote for him, but who, for ono
reason OF another. felt obliged to cast their
votes for some one of the other candidates
first When the balloting had gone on for
awhile. Mr.. McMillins Lieutenant said. their
votes would all come over to Mr.. McMillin.
The Crisp folks say that they feel absO-
lutely sure of Crisps election, and that
what they are fighting for is nomination on
the first ballot. Estimates giving the
names place his vote at over one hundred on
the first ballot. 1t is understood from New
England sources that MIR. Mills will have
six of the New England votes and that the
rest will be divided between Crisp and
Springer.
The Indiana delegation called meeting
this afternoon to consider Mr.. DaltOn's
canvass for the clerkshp. Out of eight
mem bers in the city. however only five at
tended the meeting, which thereupon ad-
journed.