Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-22


THIS HAS BEEN ARRIVED AT WITHOUT ANY
FORMAL CANVASS OR PLEDGES
Recent events have caused pretty free ex-
preston Of the views of members OF the
House on the subject of the speakership.
The talk of an extra session early in the
spring (Which has now almost completely
disappeared) started gossip on the speak
srship and the Reform Club incident
aroused a hvelier interest in the question.
There have been a number of quiet gatherings
in small groups Of members whose interests
and associations were to some extent allied, aud
the result Is that the friends Of the Speaker now
assert with confidence that he will sue
coed himself, and some Of them express the
belief that the sentiment. in his favor
will be found to be SO strong that Mr.. Crisp
VIII have no opposition. 1t can hardly be said
that there has been a canvass of the House, for
the matter seems to have been done in most
informal manner but the views of a large part
Of the members of the House have been ascer-
tained, mainly. the Speakers intimate friends
say, through voluntary expressions on the part
of the members.
A CLAIM OF ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY MEMBERS.
The result is a claim that l40 members have
signifed their intention to vote for Mr.. Crisp
for Speaker of the House in the Fifty-third
Congress. This list includes members-elect to
the next House who are not members of the
present House who have made known their
views, but it is said that it does not include a
number of members-elect whose views are I'M
known, ard some of whom it is thought are
sure to be favorable to Mr.. Crisp. 1t is said
by some members that there are not included
in the list Of 140 members any men Who while
In the present House, are not TO serve in the
Fifty-third Congress, but the informal manner
in which the intentions of the members have
been ascertained make il reasonably certain
that in at least limited number of cases by
mistake members have been included who
failed of or declined reelection.
The Speakers friends have been disinclined
to give publicity to the matter, because, as one
of his close friends said, it might look like
Boosting on their part. but the matter became
generally known when il assumed its present
size.
WHAT MR.. CULTIVATE sAys.
Mr.. Cultivate Of Ohio. who wRs one Of the
Speakers most active lieutenants in his fight
for the present speakership, consented to be
quoted. He said: "'The friends of the
Speaker have ascertained the views of
a large number of members of the House
and out of total membership of 2I7 dem
ocratic members in the next House, one hundred
and forty have signified that they will vote for
Mr.. Crisp. 1t win take only 1903 to give him
the caucus nomination Yes, the claim is that
no present members not members-elect to the
next House have been counted but | think
that Is probably mistake and that a
few of them have been included On the
other hand, there are many new members
who have not been counted at all. / believe
that Mr.. Crisp will have more than that num-
Der, and that he viii have no opposition when
the time comes. There has been talk of MIR.
wilson of West Virginia. Mr.. Breckenridge Of
Kentucky and Mr.. McMillin as opponents of
Mr.. Crisp for the speakership, But up to the
present time when We hunt for the opposition
1t does not materialize. There have been no
pledges made and no attempt at such thing
this is simply what members have said were
their intentions"
No CANVASS OR PLsDGEs.
Another member who is known as warm
friend of Mr.. Crisp, and did not wish to be
quoted, said: "There has been no canvass or
any pledges No one has sought to get them
nor has there, as | understand it. been
any persons who have set about the work
of getting up list of members. but a
great many members have said how they intended
to vote. Some have told the Speaker, and
Others have spoken to his friends. The num-
Der 140, you, name is correct. and l think be
will get more than that. 1t includes some new
members who have expressed themselves, but
i know az least fifteen new members who are
not included and personally am sure that some
of them are for Mr.. Crisp
Representative Breckenridge of Arkansas has
been looked upon likely to be one of the
leaders of any opposition movement. Mr..
Breckenridge when asked about the reported
canvass to day said: ~ can't tell
you anything about it, for really
do not know thing on the subject.
and was not aware Of the canvass. viii there
be an opposition to Mr.. Crisp or has the matter
vet taken shape? l could not at this time give
you any definite Information one way or the
other. think it is too early to speak about
the next speakership."