Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-07
IN ANNUAL SESSION
The Fifty-SeeOnd Congress
 Begins Its Labors.
sPEAKERsH1P FIGHT STILL ON.
It is Thought That Nomination Will
 Be Made To-Day.

Each of the Candidates Confident, How
 ever, and Showing ne Sign of Yielding
 -Hatch'S Ouintstte Sticking By Him
 Nominations By the Rspublicans-Ths
 Presidents Message Will Not Be Sen t
 to Congress Before TO-Morr0w.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-The 52d Con gress was formally opened a little be- fore noon to-day. The House of Repre- sentatives was called to order by the roll clerk, MT. McPnerson, and an ad : journment followed to allow the Demo- cratic caucus to renew its efforts to nominate the party candidate for Speaker.
 The fight for the Speakership is the most remarkable contest known for tn @ past thirty years.
 Crisp leads by three votes, . small margin, it is true, but enough to solidfy his forces as we'll as those of his most dangerous opponent, Mills. Small as aye their devoted friends in number, McMillin and Springer believes that Crisp and Mills will go down in a death strug- gle clasped in each others arms, while to one of them will come the hard fouR honor with all it's power.
 Seventeen ballots were taken before midnight Saturday, and the result was mo choice" Out of IA necessary to win, Crisp had 94 votes, Mills 91, Springer 17, McMillin 19 and Hatch 8. As this had been practically the result of several ballots, there was a strong disposition to sound g truce for the night and begin the battle to- day after Congress had met and adjourned. This was done, all the candidates being anx- ious to withdraw for rest and re pairs.
 The McMillin men were jubilant over the adjournment and claimed that their candidate was sure of election. The Springer and Hatch continRents were also joyful, while the Mills and Crisp factions were correspondinRly depressed
 The fights of recent years have been tame and commonplace compared to this one. Ordinarily the most spirited Speakership fights have been settled on third ballot, or at least the fourth. Tom" Reed, for example, beat McKin- ley and his other adverSaries two years ago, when the Republicans org ganized the House, on the second ballot Car lisle beat Sam" Randall in the Forty eighth Congress with almost equal case, aud in the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Con Gresses he was unanimously nomi- mated.
 All day yesterday and this morning PAO'OAJ CAAS AoS O0oA SOln& Ou, put 50 far as can be 8 scertained, without material result. The supporters of Mr. Mills and MT. Crisp stand firm against the attacks of the other candidate Assaults on these ranks have baen m ad @ repeatedly, but without perceptible result.
 The McMillin, Springer and Hat ch men pour into the ears of Mills and Crisp men who will listen to it, the ar QumAnt that nathan Mile nov Nr;.- oo - increase their present strength in any circumstances, and that either McMillan, Springer or Hatch, according to the sen tlments of the men advancing the arRu- ment, was sure to win.
 Heavy as has been the assau It's brought to bear on Hatch's little arm v of five, the quintette refuse to go over to any other candidate. A rumor that the Hatch men had agreed to go over to Mills on the first ballot to-day was knocked in the head by Messrs Tarsney and De Armond of Missouri, who sta te emphatically that they will not vote for Mills under any circumstances, but will vote for Hatch until it is obvious tha t he cannot be elected. They prefer Crisp to Mills, they say. Rumor has it that Stahlnecker of Now York will lead a Mills defection and go over to so me other candidate, but MT. StahInecker positively denies this.
 The House will in all probability transact little or no business during the week, outside the organization. It is even possible that a speaker may not be elected for several days, though many people who are watching tho situation appear to think that a break may be made to day, and a nomination reached.
 Whether the drawing for seats will occur when the Speakership question is settled has not been determined, but the chances are that everything will be held up until the organization is perfected. Should the caucus settle the question, the organization will be romptly of fected, and then the first thing to be done will be the drawing for seats. It is always an interesting proceeding and watched with keen interest by the spec tators in the galleries.
 The Presidents message will not be read in the House until tomorrow, pro- vided, of course, that the orRaniz ation is perfected, and an adjournment will follow until Thursday. Not much in the way of business can be done until after the committees are appointed.