Evening star., 1897-03-13
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
Lining Up for the Minority Nomination for
Speaker.
Bailey Of Texas Appears to BE the
Leading Candidatc-McMflltn and
Richardson i'm the Race.

today with members belonging to the
minority, and the one topic of conversation
that occupied groups of the politicians
formed in the cloak rooms and in all parts
of the House was the democratic caucus
nomination for the speakership.
Three candidates. Bailey of Texas, Me-
Millin of Tennessee and Richardson Of
Tennessee, were the favorites, with Bland
of Missouri following with a support that
is particularly small because no organized
effort has been made for his election. Mr.
Bland has not yet arrived in the city. and
it is not known among his friends whether
he would consent to have his name used
before the caucus. Many democratic mem
bers feel they should support him because
of his long record for silver and the sup
port they gave him al the Chicago con-
vention.
They feel that it would be an unwarrant-
ed slight OF him as an old wa. horse in
the cause of silver to leave him out of
the race altogether. This sentimental sup
pert, however, is not strong enough to
give Mr. Bland any important following,
and 1t Is probable he will receive only the
votes Of the Missouri delegation and a few
others scattered throughout the southern
states on the first ballot and that he will
be left out Of the list OF contestants on
the second ballot.
Bailey in the Lend
OF the three reading candidates, Bailey
appears to be in the lead, and his friends
declare he has enough pledged votes to
give him the caucus nomination
McMillin has also a well-organized move
ment at his back, but, unlike Mr. Bailey
his state is divided, most of the members
OF that delegation being for Richardson
who apparently is doing nothing to secure
the nomination. looking upon it as a very
doubtful advantage for man who hopes
Tor substantial preferment in his party
There are many who believe that if Mr.
Rlchardso were to go into the fight for the
caucus nomination as energeticaly as are
the two other leading candidates he would
probably win with a good majority Mr.
Rlchardson is regarded as the best presid-
ing officer among the democrats in the
House of Representatives, and his friends
recall the occasions when he presided over
great national conventions with success
mat showed his familiarity with parlia-
mentary rules and his ability to face a
great body of men, calling for recognition
and constantly making points of order to
be ruled upon, without being in the leas;
disconcerted.
Carefully Conducted Campaign.
While Baileys friends claim that he mas
a majority on the first ballot of the ca,,cus
it Is quite generally conceded that on the
second ballot he will be the choice of the
III democl ats in the House His camuaisn
for the caucus nomination has been carried
on vigorously and systematically from the
ftrst Those who are familiar with tn.
method his friends have used assert that
they have had delegation at the depots
OF the city whenever new members were
expected to reach Washington and that
these delesauons have taken the new ar
rivals IN hand and endeavored to win them
over TO his standard before any one else
mas mad a chance to influence tnem
MI MeMillln s friends also have pushed a
vigorous campaign and have not permitted
their Indifference to defeat their fayorite
But from the first the fact that Mr. Rich
ardson, while expressing Indifference re-
garding the result, has not withdraw wn from
the nsht has operated to ALLEVIATE much
strength that might have gone to Mr.. Nc
Millin.
BENEFIT of the Result.
There is good deal of doubt regarding
the substantial benefit to be derived
through minority caucus nomination. The
nominee of the caucus is, of course looked
upon as the leader of his party on the floor
OF the House of Representatives, and In
that capacity is held responsible for mis-
takes rather more readily than he is cred
lted with success. In the case of a minor
lty becoming majority party precedent
does not show that preferment for the
speakership will be continued
Especially In the case of unfortunate ey-
periences on the part of the minority,
whether they were the result of misman-
asement on the part of the leader or no.
the leader is blamed, and such a party
gaining control of the House has always
been ready to look about for new leader
ship. Mr.. Bailey's friends however ex-
rress confidence in him as a leader AID
mink II he Is placed in charge of the IN
terests or the democrats on the floor Of the
mo
make him winner should the political
llde turn and place them in control of :har
branch of Congress.
All Are Silver Men.
one important part of the contest fo- the
democratic caucus nomination has been
that no man not outspoken for free eoiuaee
OF silver has even been mentioned as
candidate for that honor. and Mr.. Bailey's
supporters assert that he will be an nm
compromising advocate of the free coinage
OF silver on the lines laid down by Mr.
Bryan.