The Portland daily press., 1891-12-01
LOOKING AFTER the FENCES.
Speakership Candidates on the
Ground Hard at Work.

WASHING TON, November 30.-With the
beginning Of the last week before the meet
ing Of Congress. representatives are flock
log to Washington in increasing numbers
and their presence is giving renewed in
terest to the speakership contest. The
situation Is now beginning to assume
clearer outlines and interesting develop
ments may result any day between this
and Saturday from the consultations tax
ing place. The expressed views and de-
sires of the candidates show plainly that
no candidate at present has a sufficient
number of absolutely pledged votes to
make his election certain. Messrs. Crisp
and Mills are each very sanguine of win
ming and each expresses the belief that
the contest will be short, sharp and deei-
sive. Their aim Is to bring about the
for the speakership and with the votes to
be thereby gained, each hopes to win on
the second, II not on the first ballot.
Messrs. Springer, Mcmillan and Hatch
express themselves of the opinion that
the fight In the caucus will be Of consider
able duration. Each of these gentlemen
says ne is In the fight to the end and each
sees In prolonged fight fair chance of
ultimate victory. The friends of Judge
Crisp said today that after eliminating
all uncertain votes they figured 90 votes
for him, This list. they said.
In case any of the other candidates with
as unknown" They said Judge Crisp is
the second choice of more Congressman
than any other candidate. They expect
at least 100 votes on the first ballot and
prophecy Mr.. Crisp's election by or before
the second ballot.
Mr.. Mills said that everything was pro-
crossing satisfactorily and things were
unmistakably shaping themselves 10 his
favor. He had quite long consultation
with Sherman H0ar Of Massachusetts to-
day: The New England delegation are
confidently looked to to swell the Mills
vote. Mr.. Mills himself would not say
anything about his strength in figures.
Mr.. Davis, a worker for Mr.. Springer,
said that Mr.. Springer's friends expect all
the vote OF Illinois and nearly all of Michi-
gan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, be-
sides Others from Indiana and elsewhere.
Mr.. Mcmillan said that besides Tennes-
sees solid vote, he expected to get good
port of the votes of Kentucky, Louisiana,
Mississippi and West Virginia, with votes
from Virginia and scattering votes from
other states.
Representative Hatch ana his party did
not arrive until late this afternoon. Mr..
Hatch stated this evening that he was in
the race for the speakership in good faith
not for personal ambition but as the re-
preventative of his state with the solid
Endorsement of the Democratic party there.
He declared he would not enter into any
combinations affecting any other Office Of
the House. He did not expect to win at
the start but the finish.
The headquarters of the various candi-
dates were crowded with friends until late
In the evening. No new development have
arisen so far as known and the battle Is
still between the five avowed candidates
1t Is expected that about 230 Democrats
will go into the caucus Saturday. The eau
didates themselves are expected to vote
which will reduce the number actually
participating in the ballots to 225. One
hundred and thirteen votes will be neees-
sary to secure the nomination.