The morning call., 1891-08-28
MR.. BLAINE'S HEALTH.
The Secretary of State Is Now
Active and Robust.

Henry ii. Smith, who has been Journal
Clerk of the House OF Representatives for
the past twenty years, is at the Occidental.
MIR. Smith is also compiler of the Con-
stitutional Manual and Digest, with the
rules and practice of the House, which he
has been publishing annually for the past
five years. He has In press two-yolume
work. the Parliamentary History of the
Congress of the United States from the COM
mencement of the First Congress, March
4, 1889, to date.
Mr.. Smith Is shrewd political observer,
and has been familiar with every step in
the career of all tine public men in the coun-
try. he has been travelling in q leisurely
manner during the past few weeks, and
leayes tomorrow for the Y Yellowstone Park.
/ believe that the race for the Speaker
ship Of the House." he said, lies between
Mills of Texas, Crisp of Georgia and Springer
of Illinois, whose relative prospects are
apparently in the order named. The chances
OF Mr.. Mills are particularly strong from
the fact that he is really the exponent of
the principles OF the low tariff Democracy,
and think his selection is pretty certain.
PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITIES.
"In travelling through the Southern and
Western States / have been struck with the
fact that President HarriSon's strength is
undoubtedly greater,as the result of his trip
last winter IN every State, except California.
do not think, though, that he is as strong
in the country now as he was prior to the
last Presidential contest. While Mr. Har-
risOn is undoubtedly a candidate for re-elec-
ton, think Mr.. Blaine will be the Repub-
lican nominee. should his health continue to
be as good as at present. l have letter
here written last week by a friend in Bar
Harbor, who says that he sees Mr.. Blaine
daily, that the Secretary of State is active
and apparently robust, and that he is look
ing better than for many months. The
stories of his serious illness were without
foundation, and were undoubtedly circula-
ted for purpose He left Washington
needing the rest which he has obtained and
which has restored him to health and
strength.
When Mr.. Blaine returns to Washing
ton in the early fall his physical condition
then Will, | think. influence his future ac-
tions, but IL he is as well as he is now, his
friends believe he will resign his present
portfolio as matter of delicacy. This
would mean practical announcement Of his
candidacy.
THE SECOND PLACE.
"Should this occur the Republican ma
tonai ticket next year will be Blaine and
some western man, probably Mckinley or
Alger. Would these gentlemen decline sec
ond place? They could hardly decline If the
convention demanded their acceptance. Nc
Kinley's election as Governor of Ohio is
foregone conclusion, but should his majority
be 35, 600 or 10000, he would be particularly
strong man before the convention in the
event of Mr.. Biaine's health falling. II
President Harrison is renOminated Mr..
Morton would undoubtedly run again for
Vice President.
The situation is pregnant with political
possibilities. The Farmers Alliance is hand
and glove with the Democracy in the South
ern States and would not weaken that party
there. In the other States they will draw
support chiefly from the Republicans The
only States the Alliance could possibly carry
with an Independent ticket are Kansas and
Nebraska, and should they accomplish this
the Presidential election would be thrown