The herald., 1898-01-21
DoUBLY INTERESTING
By Reason Of Bearing on the Speak
ership of the House

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON Jan. 2O-The Demo-
cratic congressional committee tonight
elected as chairman Senator White of
California. The election of secretary,
which had been expected, was postponed
to await action by an organization COM
mittee of seven which will be appointed
by the new chairman.
The election has attracted a good deal
of attention in the house owing to its
bearing on the speakership contest. Sen
ator White was supported by the friends
of Representative Bailey, who are ia
vorable to that gentlemans candidacy
in case the next house is Democratic
Under these circumstances considerable
confidence was expressed in Mr.. Whites
election, although Messrs. McRae of
Arkansas, Richardson of Tennessee, Os-
borne Of Wyoming and Myers Of Indi-
ana had been prominent in the race. Ow-
ing to the speakership issue, however
the friends Of Mr.. Bailey felt that it was
desirable that senator should head the
committee so that the Craftsmanship and
the speakership should be entirely sep
arated
The meeting was quite fully attended,
thirty-three members being present
which, allowing for the several orphan"
states, made almost a full representa-
tion. An unexpected dark horse devel-
oped in Senator Cockerell of Missouri
who was defeated by Senator White by
the narrow margin of 18 to Is.
AS to the secretaryship, it is generally
conceded that Lawrence Gardner, in
cumbent, will retire. The most prom
tina candidate q hafnro ha .t1nt 49,,
committee Is James Kerr, former clerk
of the house.
The committee adopted a resolution
reaffirming it's adherence to the Chicago
platform. The election of Senator
White was regarded as a distinct tri-
umph for the silver men, who were anx-
tous to have a chairman whose record
on the subject Of 18 to was unquestion-
able.
how important was the selection Is evil
denced by the following letter received
last night from Henry E. Eland, the
Heraid's special correspondent in Wash
ington:
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Jan. 15.-fspecial
Correspondence TO The Herald.) The Dem
0crats In congress are having a lively time
over the selection Of a chairman for the
new congressional campaign committee.
During the last Campaign Senator Charles
J, Faulkner of West Virginia ably filled
this provision. For some time It has been
said In the inner circles that The vIews of
Senator Faulkner were not suff1cientIv
strong on the silver question to suit the
dominant faction of the party. II has
even been limited that his leaning toward
eold dampened his enthusiasm during the
iast campaign to the extent Of affecting ths
result. Some havo gone so far az ~ sa,,
that gold literature was sent nut fro,n
his committee. II this were true 4 wo,,lA
Aanally Involve Senator James K Jones ~
Arkansas. the chairman of the nation al
committee, And there Is a sentiment among
some extreme free silver people unfavora, :,
bic to Senator Jones on this account ,rhs,
say that while he is good enough s,iwa,r
man himself, he Is too friendly WIFI ~ =
gold people and too much inclined to nors
concessions to that element,
The charges against Senator Faulkner,s
loyalty are entirely undeseryed Thoss
who served with him on the Committee $50 .. :,
thar he did all that could be done FOR ~ =
success OF the cause. And moreover the
nght against him now is both grat,,;to,,s
+. and unnecessary, because he does not wis =
to again be chairman The legislature to
be next selected In West virglnia, will
slsct his successor. During the eampairn