The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-25
SCRAMBLE SOON TO BEGIN
Candidates Already on the Ground
for Offices at Washington.
PRESSING CLAIMS OF THE WEST
The Canvass for Principal Positions In
= House Of Rcprcscntativcs-Cnndi
dates for the Clerkship-Mr.
Reed viii Be Speaker.

Washington, Nov. 24.-The canvass
for the principal offices at the disposal
Of the house Of representatives Is De-
coming more animated as the time ap-
proaches for the Republican caucus
which is announced for Saturday OF
next week. The elective offices OF the
house are the clerkship, with a salary
Of 5 5000; sergeant-at-arms; $4,000; door,
keepers, SO, 500; postmaster, $500; and
chaplain, 5000. There are from two to
seven candidates for each Of these
places, the highest number being for
chaplain. A majority of the candidates
for the principal places have opened
headquarters in the Sbbitt Hous or
Wizards Hotel, and their respective
rooms are constantly thronged, al
though comparatively few of the mem
bers Of the house have arrived, the
visitors being composed largely OF those
who hope to secure positions under the
elective officers.
There are but two candidates for the
house clerkship. They are ex-Repre-
sentative Thomas ]. Henderson, of H.
linois, and ex-Representative Alexand-
er Mcdowell, of Pennsylvania. Both
failed of denomination last year. Mr..
Mcdowell began his v a year
ago, as SOC as 1t became apparent
that the Republicans would have the
house. 1t Is claimed that he has the
solid support of the New York and
Pennsylvania delegations. This claim
Is made the basis of opposition on the
part of Mr.. Henderson's adherents, as
Is also the fact that the speakershiD Is
conceded to MI. Reed, who also comes
from an Eastern state.
I'VE are not putting u claims on
sectional grounds" said Representa-
tive Cannon, who Is a supporter of
General Henderson. but we cannot
overlook the fact that there + 145 Re-
publican members west of the Ohio
line to ninety east Of it. The speaker
ship. which all concede to Mr.. Reed
of Maine, carries with 1t nine-tenths
of the official honors of the house. 1t
would seem that the West with such
a large majority of the Republican
membership should be conceded the
clerkship," Mr.. McDowell's friends
claim, however. that he will secure a
large vote both in the West and the
South.
Indiana's Candidate.
Captain Il. II. Mckee, of Indiana, sec
rotary Of the Republican congressional
campaign committee. and B. Russell, of
Missouri, are so far the only announced
candidates for the Office of s~ergeant-at-
arms. Each has his state delegation
behind him. and Mr.. Russell is UNDER
stood to be working in conjunction with
the Mcdowell clerkship forces. Mr..
Mckee has, however, the advantage of
a more extended political acquaintance.
There has been some talk among the
members of the Minnesota delegation of
again bringing out Mr.. Reed, of that
state, who was a defeated candidate for
this Office in the Fifty-tirst congress. A
Mr.. Hartshorn, of Iowa, has also been
mentioned in this connection.
The principal candidates for door
keeper are Mr.. Glenn. of New York,
and w. L. Upton, of Tennessee. Glenn
has been identified with New York state
politics for some years, and Upton Is
editor of a newspaper at Cleveland,
Tenn.
Henry Sherwood, SO far. is the only
pronounced candidate for the house
postmastership. He halls from Michi-
gan, and was house postmaster during
the Forty-third and Forty, fourth con-
crosses, and also postmaster in the city
of Washington for four years under
President Harrison's appointment. 1t
II considered probable that Ohio may
bring out a candidate for either this Of
fee or that of doorkeeper. OF the seven
candidates for chaplain, six are WASH
ington preachers. They are Messrs.
Ramsdell and Eaton, Presbyterians;
Parsons and Gottwald, Lutherans;
Brown, Methodist, and Smith, Baptist.
The one outsider in the list is the Rev.
Mr.. Fisher, Of Kansas.
The patronage Of the house consists.
outside Of clerks to committees and
CLERKS of members, Of 1876 places. the w
G: rage. of the salaries paid being s 1 ,125.
All the places except those named are
filled by appointment.