Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-11-12
Washington Letter
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

Washington Letter
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, d. c., Noy 9th, 1891.
The battle royal for the speakershlp
of the House of Representatives has be.
gun and will continue to rage with
windy violence until the caucus decree
has settled upon the victor. The gen
eral opinion here. averaging into COM
posite view the opinions of those inter-
ested and those dislnt crested, puts the
present situation about as follows /;
Mills IN the lead, with good prospects
of success, if his recent declaration on
the free coinage of silver. which has
unquestionably strengthened him in
the East, does not ALLEVIATE those mem.
bers from the west who have been dis
posed to vote for HIM; Crisp second,
with prospects very much mixed, his
greatest certain strength being in the
Soulful he can get the votes in the
East that his friends are claiming for
him he will be winner; McMillin
third, with excellent prospects Of event.
ually being first, should the contest be-
tween Mills and Crisp develop into the
dead lock which some shrewd observers
are predicting; Hatch, Bynum and
Springer may be punched as dark
horses, with only accidental chances to
win, and the action Of Mr.. Springer
friends in sending circular to all Of
the Representatives from other sections
than the south, saying In effect that
under no circumstances should South
ern man be elected Speaker, has about
destroyed even his accidental chance
to WIN, as already there is a quiet
movement going on to secure pledges
from all of the Southern Representa-
tives not to vote for him under any
circumstances. A republican who is a
close observer, sums up the situation
thusly; "There are at present two
wings OF the democratic party, one be.
lievlng in an aggressive attack upon
the tariff at the coming session Of Con-
gress and the other in letting things
drift until after the Presidential cleo
ton. If the first be the strongest in
the House, Mills will be speaker; if
the last, then Crisp or some Of the other
candidates will win"
The question of electing U. S. Sena.
tors by direct vote of the people is one
that has come to stay until it shall have
received the favorable action it deserves
from Congress and the people. Senator
Mitchell, who introduced in the last
Congress constitutional amendment
providing for the change, and who
made a speech thereon bristling with
arguments in favor of the change, which
have never been answered, is in Wash
ington, and be says on the first day of
the session, or as soon thereafter as pos.
eible, he will again introduce his amend,
mept and have it referred to the CON
mittee on privileges and elections. which
shall, if he has any influence, report it
back sometime during the session, in or
der that test vote may be taken upon
it. One thing alone should secure the
adoption Of such a constitutional
amendment-it would put an end to
the talk, which often causes honest men
to blush, about the open sale of seats in
the U. s. Senate under present. meth.
DDS.
The return of President Harrison 9
venerable father.in law. DR.. Scott, to
the White House from his visit to his
son, in the state of Washington gives
the lie to the gossip which was prev
alent at the time the old gentleman
left Washington, which was that be was
being sent away because of his worry
ing the heads Of departments by insist
ing upon having certain appointments
and promotions made. The old gentle
man will be 90 years old in January.