The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-04
Former 20 Be Pushed to the Front, vith Cleye-
lands Aid, if Mills Is Elected and the
Latter IL Crisp Gets the Prize.
Supportersof the Georgian Say ItIsN0w
the Field Against Their Man.
Effort of the Iowa Delegation TO Desert Springs
er for the Texan Cheekmsted by HOOsiers
-Caucus to Meet Saturday, at 2P.u.
THE sPEAKERsHrP FIGHT.


Issues Represented by Mills and Crisp-spring-
er's Ranks Unbroken, Thanks TO Hoosiers-
Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Dee. 3-Therc has been lit.
tie change in the speakership fight since
last night. The five candidates-MiIls.
Crisp. McMillin. Springer and Hatch-all
remain in the field yet The last three hold
the balance of power. but there is no like
lihood that either can unde- any condition
of circumstances hold his followers together
for many ballots. Some of the Springer
and Hatch men are ready TO disintegrate az
any time they can help their second choice
Mills or Crisp. 1t is believed that Mills
will have three-ffths of the support OF
Hatch and Springer and fully half of those
of McMillin, 1t looks as though there
would not be much difference between tho
strength of Mills and Crisp on the first ball
lot, if present conditions remain unchanged.
but every step taken to break the following
OF Hatch and Springer by the free-traders
from the West will inure to the benefit
of Mills. Editor Jones, of ST. Louis,
is here and has sown seed for the dissolu-
tion of the Hatch vote. It is to go largely
to Mills for whom Jones Is working. Hatch
and Jones had breezy interview this
morning. in which the former had words"
to say to the editor for interference with
his State delegation. Jones thinks Hatch
is frittering away the influence of the State
delega tion, in which thought he is prob-
ably right. The contest Is quite spirited,
and considerable feeling is being engens
dered
The headquarters of the various candi-
dates were open nearly all night. There
of money on Mills against the field. show-
ing the trend of public opinion as 10 who
will win. The contest is largely one be-
tween Mills and Cleveland on one side for
free trade. and Crisp and Hill on the other
for free coinage. If Mills Is elected there
will be tariff bill framed and q tariff issue
formulated for the Democrats next year. lt
Crisp Is chosen, free coinage is TO be pushed
TO the 'front.'
THE FIELD AGAINST CRISP.
Late tonight the friends of the Georgian
became more confident, and claimed that
the contest has now resolved into the field
against Crisp. Whether the field can CEN
ter upon any one man now in the race or %
new man is the question asked upon all
sides. His supporters say Crisp has a COM
manding lead. but is some distance from
the goal, while the other candidates are q
considerable distance in the rear. Wilson,
of West Virginia. is mentioned as the man
most likely TO be taken mp if McMillin,
Springer and Hatch are dropped by their
supporters. No break in their lines was
effected to-day, though several efforts IN
that direction were made. especially among
the Springer forces. The attempt was
made to draw from Springer his Wisconsin
contingent, and ex-secretary Villas was
credited with engineering the movement.
His friends, however, deny that he Is inter-
fering in the speakership fight. He was at
Sprlngers headquarters several hours to
night
Judge Holman, of Indiana, the caucus
chairman. arrived tonight. but did not
visit any of the headquarters. He refused
20 express hle preference. stating that the
Indiana delegation would meet Tomorrow
TO discuss the situation. At tho request or
all the candidates, he issued the following
official call tonight for tho meeting of the
caucus:
There VIII be meeting of the Democrats
members of the House Of Representatives. an
the hall of the House Saturday. Dec 5. 1891.
at a. NJ, for tho purpose OF nominating candi-
dates for the offices Of the House OF Representa-
tiyes for the Fifty-second Congress.
WM. >. HOLMAN, Chairman.
An Associated press dispatch says: IL
there is a detection serious enough TO give
hope TO either Mr.. Mills or Mr.. Crisp in the
ranks of Messrs. Springer. McMIllfn or
Hatch IL was not this evening apparent
Each OF the three minor candidates 10 quite
| as steadfast as ever in his determination to-
stay to the finish. and among the followers
even an apparent feeling of cheerfulness
| and encouragement over the outlook. Az
| one time to-day there every indi-
cation of gradual disintegration OF
| tho forces of Mr.. Springer The Iowa
| delegation, apprehenslve OF the election OF
Mr.. Crisp on the first ballot. held a meet
ing, and shortly afterwards Dir. Hayes an
nounced that he and his colleagues had de-
cided To drop Mr.. Springer even upon the
first ballot, and support Mr.. Mills. in case
the election of Dir. Crisp seemed imminent.
eff you are not to go 10 Mr.. Mills until you
are convinced that otherwise Mr.. Crisp's
election Will result upon the first ballot. L
am quite content" said Mr.. Springer. be
cause neither Mr.. Crisp nor any other man
will be elected upon the first ballot" thus
the matter rested, with Mr.. Springer acQui-
escent and the Iowa Congressman hesitat-
ing.
CHEcKMATED BY HoosIERs.
For time il seemed as If the Iowa dele
CATION held the key to the situation. There
seemed no Likelihood of detection in the
ranks of Messrs McMilln OF Hatch. and
the break from the Springer camp. if made
at all, was TO be initiated by the Hawkeye
men. Just here the unexpected occurred.
The threatened move of the Iowa Congress-
men was checkmated-not by the Illinois
delegation and not by Mr.. Springer. but by
the little northern Indiana delegation of
Spring ger men. led by Mr.. Shiveley. These
conclusion Mr.. Shiveley announced 10 the
Iowa delegation that their desertion or
Mr.. Springer would be the signal
for his Indiana followers 10 cast
their vote solidly for Mr.. Crisp.
who was their second choice, should Mr.
Springer's chances be rendered hopeless.
This announcement was q thunder-clap TO
the Iowa delegation. 1t meant that the
action which they proposed 20 Jake as a
means of defeating MIR. Crisp woti1d be the
signal for connter movement which
would give Mr.. Crisp four more votes-a
! significant accession 10 man whose
strength is already conceded 10y his oD-
ponents 10 be above the danger line.
/ During the afternoon Nh. Hayes
held extended conference with
! Mr.. Mills. hut at its conclusion he had for
| the first time during the contest subsidized
! into the non -committal a am pre-
! pared" be said. to take the responsibility
| OF being the first man TO desert Mr.. Spring
! er. Our present intentions are To remain
| true 10 him until the end. unless the break
| is first led by some of his other friends.n
| This interpreted to mean that Messrs-
| Fitbian. Forman. Newberry and Nike
must first desert 10 the candidate from
| Texas.
Considerable difficulty has been expert
eneed IN ascertaining the complexion of
| the Wisconsin delegation. and n good deal
of missionary work Is directed toward that
quarter The Alabama delegation vlll