The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-07
SHERMAN WITHDRAWS.
New York For Hender-
son For Speaker.
Meeting Of Empire State Delegates
Yesterday.
Large Majority Were
For Sherman.
Declared For Iowan At His Sug-
gestion.

New YORK, June GA conference OF
Republican congressman of New York
state to decide upon q candidate for
Speaker of the National House was held
at the Fifth Avenue hotel today and re-
suited In decision to support David b.
Henderson OF Iowa.
Before the resolution to support Gen.
Henderson was agreed to. compliment
ary showing of the strength Of MIR. Sher-
man was made and it developed that II
Of the 10 congressman from this state
would have voted TO press his candidacy
had 1t not been for MIR. Sherman's sug-
gestion that the delegation declare for
the Iownn.
The conference went into session be-
hind closed doors at the Fifth Avsnue
hotel at 1890. Representative Sherman
did not 40 into the conference. He said
1t was his intention to abide by the de-
cision of the conference. whatever 10
might be. Congressman Ray and Wads-
worth left before the conclusion Of the
conference, and said they had done SO be-
cause Representative Littauer had offered
a resolution endorsing Mr.. Sherman.
They said they considered this an insult
to MIR. Payne whom they favored as q
candidate. Soon after this those In the
conference notified MIR. Sherman that
they had decided to vote for him. Mir.
Sherman then went into the conference
AMI said that MIR. Henderson of Iowa,
having developed such great strength as
would make him practically the only
candidate, he would suggest that the
delegation go ever TO that Congressman.
An informal discussion followed and IL
was decided to support Mr.. Henderson.
Representative Sherman was requested to
telegraph Mr.. Henderson notifying him
OF this action. The conference then adj
journed.
General Henderson:
"New York, June 6-General d. B.
Henderson. Dubuque. La. The Republi-
at a meeting held today, Mr.. Wadsworth
and Mr.. Ray withdrawing therefrom,
and Mr.. Payne not being present,
tendsred me their support for Speaker.
acknowledged with gratitude the honor,
but stated that in my opinion a majority
Of the Republicans of the Seth Congress
had already Voluntarily expressed a
preference for you and that that support
was not confined to any section. That
with long acquaintance and service with
you / was aware of your eminent fitness
for the position OF Speaker aud that
unanimous election would tend to
strengthen you, whereupon the meeting
at my request instructed me 60 notify
you that the New York Republican
representatives rendered you their sup
port.
(Signed)
JAMES S. SHERMAN"
While the Congressman were In session,
the following communication from
Representative Payne was read:
Fifth Avenue Hotel, June 4th, 1899.
'To the Conference of the New York
Delegation:
Gentlemen:-I regret cannot be with
you because l am to be at Hamilton,
Ont, on the sixth TO join an excursion to
Alaska, a trip have finally concluded
to take on account of the recent develop
ments in the Speakership contest. Thsrs
is no longer any doubt that Col. Hender-
son has a majority of the votes publicly
pledged to hii.,, TO be still further aug.
mented during the coming week. have
verified the news reports by personal in
teryiews with members from Ohio, Penn
sylvAnia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Wis
consin, Minnesota, Indiana and other
states, and have no doubt about the
facts. Why should not New York move
at once to make the nomination unani-
nous. Why wait for the other states
which are rapidly coming into line. The
ability and fitness of the candidate no
one questions. 1t seems to me eminently