The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-05-18


HIan Chosen.
so,eial Dipa,ch to he 1sszioaep.
wAsulxGTox, D. G., May 1.-THE
boom q Mr.. William L. Wilson as the
compromise candidate for Speaker Of
the Fifty-second Congress par excellence
is growing in the land. Most Of the
eastern mugwump papers and some of
those papers whose position in politics
is unique, such as the Post of this city,
have taken him up in more or less de-
cided earnest. It has always been held
in these dispatches that Mr.. Wilson's
forte in the direction Of the Speakership
was as the general utility man, and this
view is now being very generally en-,
dorscd. Mr.. Wilson long ago began to
Law his plans with this end in view. He
has trimmed and retrimmed his sails,
carefully observing the direction Of each
little gust Of wind as it arose, until to-
day lie poses as the one man on the
Democratic side of the House, Of any
consequence, who has in reality no SER
ious nntagonisms to face. This he has
not accomplished without the loss of
some OF his previous reputation for
ability.
A DISCREET SILENCE.
1t will be remembered that during
the last session Mr.. Wilson had abso-
lutcly nothing to say on the subject Of
tariff though as member of the Ways
and Means Committee which framed
the notorious Mills bill, much was ex-
peclci OF him. He said nothing, be-
cause as q matter Of political necessity
he favored free wool and lumber, but
protected coal He knew that it was
extremely probable that he would be
asked some awkward questions upon,
this point, and lie doubted his ability
10 answer them satisfactorily. It will
also be remembered that when Mr.. Will
son was called on to help Judge Jackson
in his contest for the seat from the
Fourth district, and the Judge asked
him to make the concluding speech,
llr. Wilson failed to refer to the case
under discussion at all, but confined
himself exclusively to good.natured
discussion OF the speakers position
which put everybody in good humor.
These Qre only given rs illustrations OF
the method by means of which Mr.. Viii
son has obtained his present position in
the Spcakership race. He starts out
without the handicap which is worry
ing each and every one of the other
candidates. What OF his staying powersP
With no great State delegation at his
back in the beginning, what are his
chances OF carrying off the prize in case
of u deadlock between the leading cam
didates, Mills and Crisp2
THE FIELD AGAINST CRISP.
AS the race goes to-day it is the field
against Crisp. For the present every
one is down on Crisp, for he undoubt-
cdly ahead Of any other one. The rea-
F. son for this is that he represents the
entire conservative, cool-headed ele-
mcnt among the Democracy OF the next
House, no matter from what section OF
the country. The men who have atten-
lively studied the composition OF the
next House, and who fear n condition
ofnnarchy or worse, favor Crisp; for he
iSwithout exception the only member
oi the majority with sufficient iutellt-
gcnce, and at the same time enough OF
sell control and nerve, to govern the
prospective bear garden.
isa great pity that the late p. 4.
Barnum had not lived long enough TO
see the House OF Representatives Of the
litty-second Congress. He would not
then have battered himself that he pos
scsscd the greatest show on earth. That
viii be an honor exclusively due to that
noase There are more different kinds
Of cranks and theorists, humbugs and
ire-eating patriots enrolled in the ma
Iortty membership of that House than
are known to the census statistics. 1t
may well be asked what place has man
Of intelligence and self.control with
such an assemblage? win not the last
state OF that man be worse than the
inst? But what on earth will such an
assemblage do without man OF intetli-
Eencc and sclf-control to at least par
italy direct it2 The oracle OF Delphi
could not have answered this question.
Tins is the argument made by Crisp's
iEends, and it is q strong ono.
NR. WILSON'S OPPORTUNITY.
Everybody knows what manner OF
man Mills is. He is as likely as not to
throw the gavel at the first man who
disputes his decisions, and Bynum is lit
ilg, ii any, better. Thelat gained the
chef portion Of his notoriety from the
is& that he was publicly censlred at the
har OF tho House for blackguardism.
'lr springer poses as the direct perso-
~! representative, though repudlated,
Of Mr.. Cleveland; and Hatch, OF Ntissou-
=, as the Farmers Alliance candidate.
AcAlillan, OF Tennessee, was principally
noted in the last Congress for his mac
eusacics OF statement relative to the
iafil, in which he suffered ut the hands
Of The Republican leaders. Now sup
pose i deadlock between Mills and
Crisp results, rs now seem proba-
.Ie Tor the general opposition TO the
latter will in part centre upon
A.lIls, and tho question ia simply who
viii be most acceptable to all parties as
compromise. There comes Mr.. VIII
sons opportunity, and one which he
iis long lQreseeD, Tho South feels that
y has mortgage on the Speakership at
i,is time, not because 1t outnumbers
Ihe other sections OF the country in
(lemOcntic votes, but because II Is