The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-07
Each Aspirant Is Confident of
Ultimate Victory.
THE MINOR CANDIDATES FIRM.
ALI Attempts Toward Effecting Com
promises Have Met With Failure.
Mills and Crisp Refuse to Talk-Dead-
lock VIII Delay Presidents Message
No Free Silver Coinage Bill Will
Pass Congress.

WASHINGTON CRY, Dec 6.-The speaker
ship contest has lost none OF Its interest
within the last twenty-four hours. Since
the adjournment of the caucus last night
more than one member has gotten neither
sleep nor rest IN the struggle 70 promote
the success of his favorite candidate. To-
night finds little change in the relative
strength of the various candidates. A
dozen combinations have been attempted,
but they have generally fallen to the
ground because of the general conviction
of the minor candidates that they hold
the balance of power and all trades and
compromises should be rejected. Enor-
nous pressure all day has been brought
to bear upon the followers of Springer,
McMillin and Hatch by the two leading
candidates in the effort to win accessions
from their ranks, but they have signally
failed if the statements OF the minor
candidates are to be relied upon.
Il have seventeen followers who will
stick resoutely to me to the end" said
Mr. Springer tonight, 'and have conf
dent expectation of materially increasing
this following early in the ballotng to-
morrow. All talk about combinations or
Withdrawals is ridiculous. AS far as l am
COIitSTHeu every iulHOI Sdhuiddtc hdS
more in the situation to give him hope to-
night than he had hours ago. Night be-
fore last our friends, Mills and Crisp, were
each assuring the public how mathe-
matically certain he was to be elected on the
second ballot. Well, they have had exactly
ten hours balloting, and both have not
only failed of election, but our forces have
gravitated to them so little they are each
about twenty-five votes short OF an cleo
tion.'
Said Mr.. McMillin, cheerily: 81 am In
fight until the speaker is elected. l have
today received not only renewed assur-
ances of the support of those who stood
by me through yesterdays caucus, but
also promises of support from dozens of
other gentlemen who are to come to me as
their second choice when convinced of the
inability of their favorite candidate to
win'
mo candidate can make a combination
with me-" said Mr.. Hatch. 81 am in this
fight to win, not TO trade. expect to in
crease my vote on first and all succeeding
ballots tomorrow"
Both Mills and Crisp expressed them
selves as confident of ultimate success,
and would say nothing further.
Unless there is a radical change in the
speakership situation tonight or early to-
morrow morning the House for the first
time since the Thirty-six congress, when
the last deadlock over the speakership oc-
Cured, will meet without previous selec-
ton by the dominant party of the presid-
ing officer of the popular branch of the
legislative department. Though this con-
dition of things has not existed in recent
years, it was not so rare in
the stormy years between the
Mexican and civil wars, when the conflict
over the slavery question drew the lines
without and within the parties. Thus in
the Twenty-sixth congress the speaker
was not elected for eleven days, chair
man meantime being appointed to admin
lister the rules OF the House. In the
Thirty-iirst congress nearly month
elapsed before speaker was selected, and
this period of practical interregnum was
prolonged to two months in the Thirty
fourth and Thirty-sixth congresses In
the two last-named cases the clerk
OF the House presided. Should
there be a failure to decide upon the
speaker at the caucus tomorrow forenoon
it Will be necessary for the House to
auOpt one OF the olIleT Oi TWO metnOQS
established by precedent for such events,
namely, 10 elect temporary chairman or
temporary speaker or else commit the
duty of presiding to the clerk. In the
absence of an agreement for the perfec-
tion of the organization of the House the
course OF proceedings during the coming
week Is q matter Of pure speculation In
any event, very little business will be
transacted in the House during the week
The presidents message will be received
and read, according to custom. on Tuesday
if the House completes its organization
tomorrow, and for the rest of the week
brief sessions and adjournments over for
day or two at a time, are probable.
Committees are not expected to be ap-
pointed before the Christmas HOLIDAYS.
with the exception OF the committees on
rules. enrolled bills and mileage, which
are usually made within few days after
the speaker is inducted into office