Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-23
oHIoAN NOT INTERESTED IN SPEAK
ERSHIP FIGHT.
HOPKINS is NOT VERY ACTIVE
BUT SHERMAN AND HENDERSON ARE
FIGHTING HARD.
Rumored That They Have Agreed to
Make n Friendly Test of Strength
on the First Ballot-The
Weaker Man Will Then
Retire.

WASHINGTON, May 22.-Congressman
Hopkins, of Illinois. is here and VIII mel
dentally study the speakershp situation
during his stay. His chief purpose Is to
transact some business with several de-
partments, and he will be here only few
DAYS Mr. Hopkins is not disposed TO make
any boastful claims, and he modestly con-
fines himself to the statement that the out
look for his candidacy for speaker Is SO
encouraging that he is sanSuine Of success.
While New England may line up for
complimentary vote to some one OF their
own number, some of these congressman
are likely to transfer their support to the
Western candidates. New Jersey. Mr.. Hop
kins says, is not tied up with New York,
and there are several members OF that dele
CATION not disposed to be handed over 10
Mr.. Sherman. Mr.. Payne is said TO claim
three or four of the New York congress-
men as in his column Representative Dai-
Zell and one or two other pennsylvania
men will not be controlled by Senator quay
or his house lieutenant, Congressman Bing-
ham, and may support Westerner. There
has been much uncertainty about the ONO
delegation, but Mr.. Hopkins says it Will
line I'D for the candidates from the West
In short, he thinks the West will be loyal
to its own sons. while the East will be
divided He is confident, therefore, that
the speakership will so beyond the Alle-
ghenies
There are persistent rumors in Washing
ton that congressman Sherman and Hen
derson have entered into an alliance for
the speakership fight. The story goes that
they have agreed TO make a friendly lest
of strength on the first ballot in the Re-
publican caucus, and that the weaker man
is then to retire and throw his support to
As a reward the defeated candidate is
to be made chairman of the committee
on ways and means, which would carry
with il the Republican leadership on the
floor This report is so circumstantiai that
it goes so far as to assert senator Alnson
ence with some one representing Mr.. Sher-
man, and outline a detailed programme Tor
the combination.
at this sort of talk They say it is part
of the Eastern game to stir up feeling be-
tween the two Western candidates II MI.
Sherman's managers can make Henderson
and Hopkins suspect each other of de-
sign to betray the West to the East in or
der to win a little personal advantage. the
result may be to make breach In the
Western ranks that will not heal, with the
result that the New York man will ulti-
mately win. according to estimates by
friends of Hopkins. but Henderson's sup
porters say this combination would elect
him speaker.
There were rumors some time ago that
Senator Hanna would favor an Eastern
candidate, and IT was stated he was partic-
ularly opposed to Mr.. Hopkins because the
lllinoiSan ruled against the steamship sub
sidy bill pet measure of the Ohio sena-
tor. 1t is emphatically asserted. however,
that Senator Hanna has written friends de-
claring that he is in no way taking part in
the speak kership contest, and it is added
that he has no feeling against Mr. Hop
kinS. 1t may also be stated authoritativeiy
that the president is entirely neutral.