Evening star., 1899-06-02
PRACTICALLY WON
Almost Universal Opinion of Hen
derson's Fight.
HIS RIVALS AROUSED TOO LATE
Stiff Opposition to Be Made tc
the Last.
THE PR ESENT OUTLOOK

Tho whirl with which Gen. Henderson has
gone into his speakership campaign has al
most taken the breath out of the opposition.
Each thing that Gen. Henderson's friends
have claimed has come about in order and
the action of the Ohio delegation is "A seri-
Gus blow to the other candidates. 1t is said
by Henderson people that there is no doubt
about Indiana, and that the Iowa candidate
will have all the votes he needs bagsed be
fore his rivals have time to get over their
surprise.
1t is understood that Hendersons cam
rGign was well laid out when he was in
Washington a short time ago, and that at
that time understandings Were reached
that practically assured him eighty-three
votes, in addition to some individual per-
sonal pledges not dependent upon delega-
ton action, and not counting the Penn
sylvania representatives. who might not
find it practicable to at once make known
their preference for him.
With strong Influences at work and some
of the best men in Congress managing
things, the stampede campaign was started
and now it is sweeping along in a way
that is utterly bewidering to some OF
those who figured that it would be a good
thing to let Henderson have little start,
so as to knock out Hopkins. The friends
of Sherman looked upon HenderSon's cam
ddacy with complacency. and there was
ST!ItEdl lltd among ItltlH lIidl s,iltI man
would derive the advantage from Hender-
sons overthrow of Hopkins which they
foresaW.
Awoke TOO Late.
Now, though they will not publicly
knowledge the fact, they realize that Sher-
man, well as Hopkins, has been left
standing on his state line, while Henderson
is going with a hop, skip and jump from
state to state, making better run with Il
IL.
be contrived by the modern inventions Of
politics.
Shermans friends are thoroughly alarm
ed, but have not got themselves together.
1t IS not to be assumed however, that they
are going to give up the contest, acknowI-
edging themselves beaten. on the con
trary, the fight will be fierce and hard
against Henderson frcm this time on. Hen
dcrSOn's friends realize that he will
draw the fire from all directions, and that
every sort of a combination that can he
cCntrved will be entered into to check him
in his progress.
The Sherman people will give no more
thought to Hopkins. and will devote them
selves to trying TO hamstrng Henderson.
and the Hopkins forces will ignore the New
York candidate and the question of east or
west and will give henderson all their at
tention.
II is believed by many to be doubtful.
however, whether the Illinois contingent
will keep up a stiff fight against Henderson
ing they would be simply serving the in
tereSts of Sherman.
sherman viii Make IA Good Fight.
A good many men say since the action
of the Ohio delegation that Henderson has
a walk-over and that even Sherman Will
realize before very long that the thing is
settled beyond his power to change the re-
suit. This however would not be a safe
calculation for Henderson's friends unless
they have everything nailed down hard and
fast.
Sherman IS not going TO give up without
very determined and a pretty dangerous
fight, even IN the face of certain defeat and
1t is predicted that he will soon begin very
active demonstrations designing to distract
attention from Henderson and to cast doubt
upon the stability of the show of strength
ne ls making. But while it is evident that
Henderson is now in position TO be sub
ject to the combined attack of all the rival
forces, TIE almost universal opinion is that
the awakening of his rivals has come too
late and that he has practically got the
winning lead already. The feeling is that
he has stampeded the situation