The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-22
Gossip at
the Capital

Special Correspondence of The Tribune.
Washington, June q.
Whom will the Democrats of Pennsyl-
vania nominate for governor next year?
Is a question frequently asked. 1t Is not
easily answered. as very listle thought has
yet been given to the question. 1t matters
little whom they nominate, as there is no
likelihood of his election, although some
people here are of the opinion that the
Republicans will be so divided next year
as to make their gubernatorial nominees
election doubtful. Granting that there
will be division in the Republican party
in Pennsylvania next year, what shape
will the Democrats of that state find
themselves in when 1t comes to nominat-
ing and eecting a governor? The Pennsyl-
vania Democracy was never so hopeless
ly divided as 1t is today On the leading
question-silver-the Democrats are very
far apart-so, far, in fact, that there is no
hope of the breach being closed as long
as that is the issue. The followers of Mr..
Harrity are as sound on the money ques-
ton as are the Republicans, and they
Will never consent to take the free silver
medicine which the opposition will pre-
scribe at the next state convention. If
| the Democrats of { old Keystone state
are wise they will not insert a single
plank of the Chicago platform in their
next state platform. They will steer clear
| of that foolish declaration, and go to the
| people on state and local issues, just as
| their brethren in New York and other
states are doing.
But whom will the Democrats nominate
| for governor? That is the question.
| There will no doubt be many members of
| that party who will be willing to offer
| themselves to sacrifice, with the faint
| hope that the Republicans may get into
| a family row, which will result in the de-
Foot nf fhTfV4 dot Oh h fFFr
however, is almost beyond the range of
| probabilities. The names discussed among
| Democratic politicians here in connection
| with the gubernatoral nomination are
| ex-Congressman Joe Sibley, of Franklin;
James NJ. Guffey, the millionaire oil op-
| orator, of Pittsburg; eX-Congressman ST.
| mon p. WolVerton of Northumberland
| county; eX-Congressman James Kerr, Of
| Clearfeld; State Chairman Garman, of
| Luzerne county; Lawyer Dewitt, of Brad
| ford county; eX-State Senator Henry
| Cochran, of Williamsport; eX-Attorney
| General Hensel of Lancaster, and sew
eral other lesser lights. The first four
named are considered the strongest Dem
| ocrats in the state, any one of whom
| would come as near polling the full Dem
| ocratic vote as anybody who could be
named. Sib!ey and Guffey are both rich,
| and would be able to furnish the neces-
| sary "sinews of war" Mr.. Wolverton is
probably the ablest man in the list. AS a
| lawyer he has few equals and no SUI
| periors in the state. Mr.. Kerr is regard
ed as one of the shrewdest business men
as well as the cieverest politician in his
party. He would have the solid support
| of the Bryan Democrats in the state, as
well as a large personal following of bust
ness men, irrespective of political belief.
OF course he corld not expect the earnest
| support of the Harrity wing of the
party, as he has always led the opposition
| against the eX-national chairman. He
would. however, be able to poll as many
| votes as any Democrat.
Senator Teller, of Colorado, the man
| who led the boilers from the st. Louis
convention last year, and who went over
| body and breeches to the Democratic
| party, has returned to Washington after
an absence of several weeks He thinks
| Bryan is the legitimate and logical candi-
| date of the silver forces for president in
1900 He says that everywhere the young
| Nebraskan is great favorite, and were
the presidential election to come off this
fall Bryan would be elected by as large
a majority as was Mckinley last year.
| A prayer ought to be a solemn thing.
1t was anything but solemn in the SEN
ate a few days ago. Rev. Hugh Johnson,
of this city, was the acting chaplain. In
the course of his prayer he thanked God
LUZ llC SUI era VI prosperity WHICH
was sweeping over the country. Senator
Jones, of Arkansas whose head was rev.
erentiy bent. smiled as these words fell
upon his car. He could not help it. Sem
ator Vest almost laughed out loud. All
the Democrats were visibly amused, nor
was there sober face among the Repub-
licans. 1t was quite evident that the
senators regarded the clergyman's graft
tude as being a little premature.
There are some remarkable men in the
employ of Uncle Sam. For memories 1t IS
doubtful if their equals can be found any
where in the world. Mr.. Ainsworth II.
Spofford, the librarian of congress- is one
and another is Mr.. Amzi Smith, super
intendent of the senate document room.
Both have occupied their respective posi-
tions for many years, and they are won
ders in their line OF business. OF the
many thousands of volumes TO be found
in the congressional library there is not
a single one with which Mr.. Spofford is
not familiar. If you are in search of in
formation, and 90 not know exactly where
to find it, all you have to do is TO indi-
cate in the slightest manner what you
want and If IL is in the library Mr.. Spot
ford can furnish it. If 1t is a poem from
a noted or obscure author and you can
repeat a line or two of 1t Mr.. Spofford
: will promptly name the writer, repeat the
verses from first to last, then walk over
. 10 corner IN the vast library and pick
out the volume desired. At present the
congressional library is so ovecrowded
that many thousands OF volumes are piled
, up in every nook and corner in the H.
brary building. But Mr.. Sponord knows
2 where every book or pamphlet is and
can put his hand on it In the dark. Mr.
Spofford is now over 10 years of age, but
his memory is as clear and bright as II
was thirty years ago He is truly won
derful man, and his death would be an
irreparable loss to the government.
) Mr.. Amzi Smith is almost equally as
wonderful n man for memory as Mr.
Spofford. He knows everything that
comes under his department. II you
should walk into his "den" in the senate
wing OF the capitol some day and ask
him II a report was not once made on the
, commercial relations between the United
States end the British North American
colonies he will without moving out OF his
chair. tell you that It can be found In
; senate document No. l12 Of the first ses.
sion of the Thirty-second conress. The
other day senator entered the senate
document room.
How are you, Amzi?" he said as he