The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-02
FISHER BEATEN.
Congressman Miller of Kansas
City, Kas., Did 1t.
Only Needed His Vote to Make
the Old Time Kansan
CHAPLAIN OF HOUSE.
Congressman Miller Tells the
Journal Correspondent
Why He Voted Against the Rev.
Mr.. Fisher.
sNOT THE RIGHT MAN. 50
SAYS the Fisher Combine was
Held Together
By Promises of Plunder, Other
Fellows for Principle.

From the State Journals Special Corresp pondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2-The slate as
agreed on by the Republican leaders of
the house went through Saturday even
ing's caucus with one exception, and that
was Rev. II. D. Fisher of Kansas. who
was defeated by the refusal of Congress
man o. L. Miller of Kansas City, Kan,
to vote for Fisher. The caucus ticket
stands:
For speaker-Thomas B. Reed of
Maine.
For clerk-Alexander Mcdowell of
Pennsylvania.
For sergeant at Acknowledgements F.
Russell of Missouri
For doorkeeper-W. ]. Glenn of New
York.
For postmaster-CaptainJ ]. c. M'Elroy
of Ohio.
For chaplain-Ths Rev. Mr.. Couden
of Michigan.
The Rev. Mr. Couden is blind, so that
both houses will now be prayed for by
blind chaDlains.
That Kansas lost the chaplainship is
due to but one man-Miller, of Kansas
City, Kas. On the second ballot a
single additional vote would have given
Mr. Fisher the prize. but Miller refused
to cast ii, and alone of all the Kansans
voted against the candidate from that
state.
Only single ballot was necessary to
settle all the other contests, but here
there was a formidable list of entries
embracing the Revs. Fisher. Couden,
Brown, Smith, Powers, Brooks. Cutnall
and Ransdell. On the first ballot the
Kansas chaplain came within four votes
of winning, Miller of Kansas being
among those who opposed him. On the
second ballot Fisher had 10S as against
1O9 for all others, Miller refusing te give
him the one vote which would have
given the house a Kansas chaplain.
Congressman Curtis personally went
to Miller and beseeched him to change
his vote to Fisher, but he held out.
On the third ballo: Mr.. Couden, the
blind chaplain of Port Huron, Mich,
had 104 votes as against SO for Fisher,
and then Broderick, who had nominated
the Kansan, moved, and Curtis seconded,
that the Michigan mans nomination be
made unanimous. The result was aided
by pathetic speech from General Hen
derson of Iowa. in which he ably de-
picted the claims of the poor old blind
soldier, but said nothing of his $72
monthly pension.
Kansas, therefore, lost the chaplaincy
through the voluntary action of one of
its own delegation. The other conse
quences of the split are even more cost
~. Seven good house places had been
promisedsto the Kansans by the mellow.
ell com mbination to united delegation
Now the chances are that not one of the
congressman will have at his disposal
single place worth coming from Kansas
to hold.
The STATE JOURNAL correspondent
asked Congressman Miller why he had
opposed Rev. II. d. Fisher for chaplain.
Mr. Miller said.
Il was opposed to the Mcdowell COM
bine from the start, because l did not
think it right. Second, was afraid
Fisher wasn't the right man, and
wouldn't reflect credit on the state
Third, had met Couden, and believed he
was all right. The Henderson men were
for principle, and the Mcdowell men
were held together by promises of plum
der I believed the west shonld get
something which was worth something"
Rev. Mr.. Fisher expects to leave for
the west in a day or TWO. While he
wanted but one vote to get the place of
chaplain and the vote of Representative
Miller defeated him, he says that he is
grateful to his friends for their support
and aid in the contest He realizes
that it is hard job to run
for an Office against a blind man,
even though the blind man is getting
$72 per month pension. All the mem
bers of the combine who remained with
Fisher point with comfort to the fact that
had Miller of the Kansas delegation voted
for Fisher on the second ballot he would
have been elected. They insist that this
leaves the responsibility for Fishers de-
feat with the Kansas delegation.
Members of the Kansas delegation are
greatly displeased with Miller for aban-
doning them.
Mr.. miller has bill for public build
ing at Kansas City, Kan. He says: "We
need a government building badly and 1
shall try my best to get it this season"
1t is believed that Mr.. Miller will now
have a hard time to get other Kansas
members to support his bill, since he
failed to come to their assistance on the
chaplaincy, particularly since his bill
calls for an appropriation of $2,00Q,00G.
OUR CONGRESSMEN IN THE BOXES.
All Present at ths Waller Benefit at
Washington Last Night.
WASHINGTON, Dec. "A benefit enter
tainment was given for the Waller fam