The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-12-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON ID. c. Dec. a, 1Sc


The next Speaker of the House will
be Mr.. Mills Crisp McMillin -
Springer Hatch, jus: as certain as
the caucus meets next Saturday. AS
prophet with a reputation to main
tain, there are no signs visible that
would justify your correspondent in
dropping any portion of this composite
name. In plain everyday talk, these
five gentlemen and their friends are
engaged in conducting one of the
livlest and the most uncertain cam
paigns for the Speakership ever known.
Each of them is apparently confident
Of winning. 1t is conceded by the
other candidates that Mills and Crisp
are we'll in the lead, but they contend
that neither of them can get votes
enough to get nominated and that
after two or three ballots are taken
without result, there will be a STAN
pede to other candidates. Mr.. Crisp's
friends boldly claim his nomination
without fail on the first ballot, while
the advocates of Mr.. Mills say that he
will be nominated on the second or at
he outside the third ballot.
1t is believed that more than one
hundred unpledged members have ar
fived within the last forty-eight hours,
and that half as many more will be
here within the next two days. Many
of these men are entirely new in
National politics, and goodly per-
centage of them are personally unac-
quainted with single one of the can.
didates. 1t is the votes of these men
which will settle the Speakership, and
at this writing no man can say with
any truthfulness how they will vote ;
much will depend upon the impression
made upon them by the candidates
and their friends, and there is little
doubt that some of the candidates are
being injured by fool-friends. The
caucus, which will probably be held
next Saturday, will include all Of the
Farmers Alliance men from the South
and perhaps some of those from the
West, although Jerry Simpson says
none of the Alliance men will 60 into
the democratic caucus. 23s would
be about the number if there was a
full attendance, but it is safe to de-
duct FIVE or six on account of absence,
because of sickness or other reasons,
so that it may be set down as a reas-
enable certainty that the man who can
get us votes will be nominated.
The canvass for the minor offices OF
the House is quite as spirited as that
for the Speakership, and the number
of candidates is much greater, and not
few of them are ex Members of the
House. Turner, the ''iceman is max
ing typical Tammany struggle for
the Doorkeepership; Pennsylvania has
two candidates for Clerk, and Virginia
two for Postmaster. But these posi-
tions are usually settled in the last
hours of the campaign by means OF
combinations with the winning Speak
esship candidate.
While Mr.. Harrison was cogitating
on the tree trade treaty which has
been negotiated with Hawaii and won
dering what the people would think
of his signing such treaty after re,
fuslng to even receive the Commis
sioners sent by Canada to negotiate
for an enlargement of our trade rela.
tons, Mr.. Blaine slipped over to
Philadelphia to see Claus Spreckels,
who is the virtual owner of Hawaii,
and find out what he thought about
this high protection administration en-,
donlng treaty Of absolute free trade.
Meanwhile Mr.. Harrison will hold the
treaty until he can sound public opin,
ion; if favorable, he will sign it and
send it to the Senate for ratification, il
unfavorable, he will "pigeon-hole' it.
That's craftsmanship of the Harrison
brand.
1t is said that Senator Sherman has
complained to Mr.. Harrison of Mr..
Blslnes meddling with his Senator
ship campaign in Ohio, and requested
his aid in having it stopped.