Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-12-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent

4
nected with the opening day of the
Congressional session, anG absolu.
tely nothing to indicate what the
nature of the session is to be.
There we're the usual crowds in
galleries, corridors and even on
the floor of the House and Senate
ALL the Ex's and others who
have the privilege OF the floors
seemed to make 1t point to show
themselves there on the first day
of the session. There was also
the usual floral display upon the
desks of those who have expec-
tans or greatful constituents or a
pull upon the government con-
servatorles; and the tenderfoot, or
green members made themselves
conspicuous because Of their anx'
iety to appear at ease, The
Presidents Message will not go
In until Tuesday, as the time OF
the House today was taken up In
electing officers and by the oil d
grab bag game of drawing for
seats. Other officers elected by
the House were: Alexander NJ
Dowell, of Penn, Clerk: B. Russell
of Mo-, S4rgeant.at arms; ". j..
Glenn, of n. Y, Door keeper; j. O.
McElroy, of o., Postmaster, and
Rev. II. n. Couden, of Mich,
Chaplain. The last named is a
blind man.
The Stnate only renamed in
session long enough to swear IN
the thirty new senators, fourteen
of them reflections, and then ad-
iOurned to allow the republican
senators to hold a caucus to con.
slider the question of reorganlza'
ton. What probably struck old.
timers most about the short sess'
ion of the Senate was the absence
of the venerable figure and silver
beard of Capt. Isaac Bassett from
its accustomed place in the big
arm chair to the left of the Vice
President. Capt. Bassptt, who
has been an empIoye of the Senate
for moro than fifty Gears, is very
ill. This is the first opening ses'
sion of the Senate that be has ever
missed since he entered its service.
He is the only living man who
knows which of the desks In the
Senate Chamber was use d by
Daniel Webster.
The talked of fight against the
nomination OF Ex'Speaker Crisp
for Speaker of the House by the
democrats did not materlallze
owing, it is said, to the discovery
by the administration democrats
that a ma jority of the democratic
members of the House agree with
Mr.. Crisp on silver. According
to those who claim to know, it
was lack OF votes and not OF will
that prevented the fight being
made.
Shrewd observers express the
opinion that GJY. McKinley's
chances for becoming the Presiden'
tial candidate of his party have
been materially lessened OF late.
First by the bitter feelings aroused
over the publication of Senator
Shermau's book, which made un'
necessary enemies for Mckinley,
and lastly by the action of the
Ohio Congressional delegation in
gobbling up the POstMaste rship
of the House which was specially
wanted by TIE South.
None of the new Senators sworn
in today attracted more attention
than did Marion Butler, the pop
ulist leader of North Carolina. lie
IS the youngest man in the Senate
and one of the handsomest, and
those who are familiar With his
home career are predicting that
be will make his mark in the
Senate. lie is man or fOrceful
opinions and he expresses them in
a way to convince his hearers of
bis earnestness.
Senator TIlIman, of s. Car, also
attracted much attention. He
would not be a handsome man if
he had both of his eyes, but lie had
the misfortune to lose one Of them
some years ago. Bnt 1t is easy to
see that he doesn't care anything
for looks, and some of the ultra
conservative Senators are afraid
he will care less for Senatorial
dignity. He Is representative
of the element which was known
in tbs South in alte.war times as
"poor white trash" and which in
his own state has more lately been
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