The herald., 1898-01-21

he wishes to be IN West virginia and not
IN washington 1t Ia barely possible that
owing to the undeserved fight that Is made
against him his friends may push his name
pefore the Democratic caucus and force
his reelection. In this case, 1t Is believed
that he will give thanks for the compli-
ment and decline the honor. b"
For some days Senator Money of Miss!s-
sippi has been spoken of as the new chair
man. But It happens that this year the
Democratic steering COMMITTEES" OF the
senate took In hand the election OF the
senatorial members of the committee, and
Senator Money was not put on the com
mittee.. There Is a lot of talk to the ef-
feet that the influence Of such men as
William C. whitney, Richard Croker and
Calvin s. Brice of New York is being ex-
erted In an effort to hold the party man
agement on conservative lines.
OF course any effort of this sort Is
strongly resented by the extreme free sill
yer people. BesidesA the house. side of the
capitol contends ti.A its members are
freshest from the people and best &C.
quainted with their Views, and from their
number, and not from the senators, the
new chairman Of the congressional cam
patgn committee shall be selected. This
view is almost unanimous In the house.
And as they have q large majority of the
committee, unless they get In a tremendous
squabble through rival factions, this view
will prevail. Until few days ago Repre-
sentative William H. Hinrickssn Of Illinois
was slated for the place. His friends con-
fidently stated that he would be the new
chairman. But nice little surprise was In
store for him. When the Illinois delega-
tion went to select the member who was
to represent that state on the committee
Mr.. Hinricksen was no; the man. This was
because. of local fight in Illinois, which
Involves too much history for the present
discussion. '-.f
Now Representative Thomas c. McRae
OF Arkansas is being urged by his many
friends for the honor. Mr.. McRae feels
as did King Henry v. on the eve Of a
famous battle, when he said:
I'VE would not seek battle as we are,
and as we are we would not shun it,
He has had very long and successful
political experience and he has been in
congress for fourteen years. He would
make very capable chairman. But 1t is
pointed out that Senator Jones Of Arkan-
sas Is the national chairman, and to make
Representative McRae congressional
chairman would be an invidious distinction
In favor Of Arkansas. Again, Mr.. McRae
was opposed to the leadership of Repre-
sentative Joe Bailey, and the recollection
of that memorable fight Is treasured up
against him by some Of Mr.. Baileys
friends, and perhaps by Mr.. Bailey him
self
A Bailey representative. who spoke as
by the card, said to me; "All we want Is
to get at the head of the committee
straight, clean, square Democrat, who
will stand unfiinchingly by the party plat
form and policy. We do not want COM
promiser. We do not want trimmer"
And then he told me in semi-confidential
fashion that the man would come from the
west.
Later a Democrat high in authority, who
did not represent any faction, told me to
bet big odds that Representative John Il.
Osborne of Rawlins, Wyo., would be the
new chairman.
Representative Osborne is native New
Yorker. Hetwas elected governor of Wy
oming in 1892, declined second renomina-
tion by his party, was a member of the
bimetallic Democratic national commit
tee in 1895, was chairman Of the Wyoming
delegation to the national convention at
Chicago In 1896. and was for Bryan. first,
last and all the time. He is the only Demo-
crat who has ever, represented Wyoming
in the governors chair or in congress. Next
time it will probably be Mr.. Chairman Os-
borne.