The herald., 1896-04-27
GOSSIP FROM WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON. April 17.-There is
pretty quarrel on between Speaker
Reed and the bold Mr.. Boutelle of Maine.
An outbreak of hostilities is expected at
any time. Some weeks ago Mr.. Manley
ana the speaker arranged a slate for
the delegates-at-large from the state
of Maine. They never anticipated the
slightest trouble in putting their slate
through at yesterdays convention. But
one of Mr.. Boutelle's constituents, a
strong man in Maine politics, concluded
ne would like to 60 to st. Louis as a del
egate and announced his candidacy. The
only way in which he could be defeated
was through Boutelle. because one dele
gate was conceded to Mr.. Boutelle's dis
trict. But Boutelle declined to inter-
fere. Yesterday morning the speaker
sent for the member and Boutelle called
at Reeds room in the Shoreham hotel
The presidential candidate from Maine
at once demanded that Mr. Boutelle
pull off the cOnstit6ant who was threat
ening to break the slate, and Mr.. Bou-
telle. who has mind of his own, persis-
ted in his refusal. Then Reed lost his
temper and there was a scene. He
cursed Boutelle. and that gentleman,
not to be outdone in the change Of opin-
ions, damned the great speaker and pos
sible presidential candidate to his face.
Later in the day the speaker was endea-
vcring to restore order on the floor of
the house. Though Boutelle was not at
that moment making any great amount
of noise, he chose to think a remark
made by the speaker was aimed at him,
and bristled up and showed fight at once
The truth was the speaker had another
member in mind, but Boutelle was
angry all the way through and was look
ing for row. 1t is said that if the
speaker had not Smoothed the matter
over there would have been the liveli-
est sort of scene right out before the
public. Pity these great men of Maine
cannot live together in peace and her
mony, but they never did. even in the
days of Blaine, and the harmony which
reigns in that delegation today is of the
stripe which now and then has to be
bound over to keep the peace.
There will be a lively contest in the
house over the admission of New Mex
leo and Arizona. The committee has the
right to consideration and this fact will
relieve the speaker of responsibility.
Many of the more conservative members
of the house, Republicans and anti-Mc
Kinleyites at that, say they are not will
ing to have the future of the Republican
party turned over to the silver faction
in order to play into the hands of Quay,
Platt & Company. 1.-THE greatest danger
that confronts the Republican party to-
day." said an Iowa member who is de-
voted to the cause of Senator Allison,
lis that after we come into power next
year we shall not be able to accomplish
anything for the relief of the people.
Already our malls are loaded down with
inquiries as to why we have done moth
ing for the benefit of the languishins
country. 1t will take us year to eX-
plain our inactivity during the present
session. If, when we come into possess
sion of all branches of the government.
as we are sure to do, and are then ur-
able to legislate because six silver SEN
ators from the far west block the road
like highwaymen commanding us to de-
liver before we can proceed, some one
will have to answer for it. When this
proposition to admit four more silver
senators from the far west and from ter
ritories which neither in population nor
wealth nor in prospects or past or any
thing whatever are entitled to state
hood. comes before us. and the only valid
is that az a few van votes SS so%la may IT BE sscufed
against Mckinley at the st. Louis con-
vention, believe a great majority of
the Republicans of this house will revolt
from that sort of leadership and pro-
tect the party against an increase of the
highwayman gang with which we are
already sure to have a vast amount of
trouble"
The delegates elected from Maine to
the st. Louis convention are more noted
for the fact that they were never before
heard of outside the boundaries of their
own state than for anything else. This
peculiar selection was deliberate and
not accidental. Mr.. Reed has all along
had a horror of being considered simply
the candidate of the state of Maine. He
wants to be known as the New England
candidate. For this reason he thought
- l. xx-,e 70 oh W
men from his own state and send from
Massachusetts and other parts of New
England the men Of national reputation
who are to do his fighting in the conven-
tion. Many observers think his policy
has been carried to rather ridiculous
extreme, and one member of the house
said today: why, Reed will have to
send a man along with his delegates to
save them from being buncoed. At the
very least. every one of them will have
to carry a letter of introduction"
Is Senator Quay willing to fall outside
the breastworks in the presidential con-
test? There are people who think he is,
and the reason which they give for their
belief Is at least interesting. During
his campaign last year. when Mr.. Quay
was very hard pressed by the combine
which had been formed to destroy him,
he sent out about 100000 letters to Re
publicans in the state Of Pennsylvania.
These letters were addressed TO party
workers of all grades, business men,
prosperous farmers and foremen in
shops and factories. In them Senator
Quay asked for help, and pledged HIM
self In return. in case the opportunity
should ever offer. to do anything in his
power for his correspondents. I am told
on good authority that Senator Quay's
postage bill in that campaign was $1,000.
That these letters were a large factor
in his success anyone can believe who
SO many obligations out which Mr.. Quay
will be called upon to redeem in case his
president-making plans go we'll. If Sem
ator Quay should be in close sympathy
with the administration, perhaps 10000
OF these letters would come back to him.
Not one in 100 of the recipients of those
missives could he do anything for, and
the pressure would be so great that the
senator would find it necessary to take
refuge in flight. On the other hand, if
the president be none of his making he
will be able to say to all of his creditors:
"Shake not your letters at me. This is
not my administration" AS matters are
now going. Mr.. Quay is in fair way to
have first-class excuse with which to
meet the demands of the people who
hold his political paper.-Walter Well
man in Chicago Times-Herald.
Republican Defeats in Ohio
More Democratic mayors were chosen
in the Ohio local elections last week
than at any time since the tidal wave