Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-25

have marked effect upon the contest for the
possession of some of the minor elective
offices. 1t brings to the front as formal
candidate for Clerk ex-House Postmaster
Lycurgus Dalton, of Indiana, one of the
shrewdest and most popular Democrats who
ever held an office in Washington.
Kerr's Prospects Not So Bright.
His candidacy does not brighten the pros
poets for ex-Representative Kerr, Of Penn.
svlvania, Chairman of the Democratic Com.
mittee of his State, who is the leading clerk.
ship candidate He would have been Just
as well pleased, probably, to have had Dal-
ton remain out Of the fight. Mr.. Kerr un-
doubtedly has more votes pledged to him
than any of his competitors. He is a good
politician, and is personally popular with
the men whose colleague he was in the
Fiftieth Congress His State is giving him
solid backing, and ex-Representative
Maish who apparently would like to be a
candidate, has, therefore, very little chance
of realizing his ambition.
If the Speakership goes South-as it GER
tainly william Eastern or Western man
would naturally be taken for clerk, and in
that case the contest would be between
Messrs Kerr and Dalton. Nathaniel
Crutehfield, of Kentucky, will get some
Southern support, but will have difficult
task to compete with such men as Kerr and
Dalton, especially the former. 'Tceman'
Turner is apparently having things his own
way in the race for the Doorkeepership, but
a dozen more candidates may vet come as
prominently to the front as he is now.
The Office of Sergeant at Arms has been
all along generally conceded to ex-Repre-
sentative Yeoder, of Ohio, who appeared to
be the only candidate. To-day, however,
eX-Representative "Jerry" Murphy, of
the Davenport, Ia, district, has thrown
down his gantlet, in the following brief, but
pointed announcement sent to all Demo-
cratic members:
desire to announce my candidacy for the
position of Sergeant at Arms of the Fifty
second Congress. 1t would be great graft.
fication to me to have your support. l will
be in Washington next week and will see
you personally.
Mr.. Murphy as Good rs His Word.
The above announcement was dated at
Davenport November q, and Mr.. Murphy
arrived in the city yesterday to open his
canvass. 1t is another demand of the great
Northwest lying west of the Mississippi for
recognition in the organization of the House.
The claim of Mr.. Murphy's friends is that
the Democracy of that section of the coun-
try, having had no official representation in
either House of any importance since Henry
Clay Dean was Chaplain of the Senate 40
years ago, are entitled to the honor in ques-
tion, and that in these doubtful political
times it would be good policy to give them q
boost. The candidacy of Mr.. Murphy, of
course adds new feature of interest to the
existing situation. "Jerry" now an inter
esting character and a popular and able
member of the Forty-eighth and Forty
ninth Congresses, where he made ma
tional reputation as the untiring and finally
successful champion of the Hennepin
Canal scheme to the extent at least of get
ting a Government survey ordered.
For the other House officers, from the
down to clerkships, door swing
ers and bathroom attendants, there are the
usual doubtless thousands of applicants.
They must all wait, however, until the eau
Gus on the night of December 5 decides
" no the lucky big men will be. Then the
grand struggle for the loaves and fishes will
begin in dead earnest and with untiring
zeal