The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-03
CONTEST FOR
THE SPEAKERSHIP
Is Absorbing Much Interest in
Washington at Present.
SHERMAN AND HENDERSON
Duke and Duchess D'Arcos Wa mly
Weigh McVeihn VIII
Probably Relinquish Lowry
Mansion to New Minister

Washington, June 2-(Special.) = The
speake ship contest Is absorbing most of
the political interest about Washington just
now General Henderson is forging ahead
in the matter of caucus action in the va
rious states with surprising rapidly. While
this makes his candidacy consp. cuous, yet
it does not mean any remarkable show of
strength.
Mr.. Sherman's campaign does not seem to
be making much progress, but there are
some clever workers abetting him who are
not accustomed to show their hand until
the game is pretty nearly at end. 1t
is rather difficult to estimate the strength
of Mr.. Sherman, but there is no doubt
whatever that Mr.. Paynes candidacy mas
weakened him. Still the tip is gwen out
here that Senator Platt is advising the
sporting contingent in New York to bet on
Sherman, giving no details or reasons,
but simply saying that there is luck in the
name
Mr.. Shermans friends claim that there
are twelve states already pledged to him
and that there is every reason to believe
that there Will be u deadlock between
Hopk ms and henderson. There are some
shrewd politicians here who go SO far as to
predict that there viii be a deadlock be-
tween all the present candidates and that
the house will pe tied up until a new man
VIII be brought into the race to break the
deadlock ana bring about the reorganiza-
ton. If such q state OF alta Is does exist
it is the general opinion that Cannon of
Illinois Will become the compromise cam
didate. Next in order to their favoritc
m xx,ilii
Cannon Is the second best piece of speaker
snip material in the house. 1t would not be
at all surprising if such a condition OF af-
fairs did not arise which would bring about
the election of Representative Cannon.
Many of the leading republicans who are
now active Tor other candidates are oven
anxious TO see Cannon elected for the sake
OF the party. They all realize that the next
house will be opened more or less ia the
charge OF eXtXravagance and party cor
rupt'on. With Cannon in the chair such a
charge Will be largely weakened His rem
utatloh Tor economy and for honesty will be
Oh material assistance to his party in the
next presidential campaign There is al
ready heard good deal of Cannon talk
underneath the canvasses of the various
factions. Anything like serious deadlock
VIII bring about an early disIntegration of
forces which, in the opinion of MANY will
result IN a stampede to Cannon, the present
chairman of the committee on appropria-
tons.
Royalty in Washington
Inc Duke and Duchess D ARGOS have ar
rived IN washington and have been met
with the warmest welcomes, both by the
government officials and the social friends
VINO nave known both the duke and
cuchess for number of years. The new
minister refuses to discuss the Cuban or
the Phlllppine questions with any one, tell
ing every one who approaches him on the
subject between Spain and the United
states is dead, and that he has no issue to
take up with the government He has de-
fined his position and that of his govern
ment very clearly. Nothing that hap
pehed before the Spanish-American war
concerns either him or his government Of
fcially now He will open new books at
the legation, the old ones having been
shipped to Spain at the outbreak of the
war. The old ones, he says, have gone into
the archives of Spanish history, and when
he opens his official residence which he
expects to do now at a very early date il
Will be like the beginning of diplomatic
negotiations between two countries rather
than like resumption.
The duke frankly says that he owes his
present mission largely to his wife. She
has won nothing but admiration during her
difficult and trying position in Spain, and
as soon as peace was assured he was by
general consent chosen as the minister to
the United States, not on account of his
firmness in diplomatic matters, but on ac-
count of his wife's diplomacy in social and
political matters. 1t is said that she has
never made a mistake during her sojourn
in Madrid, and on account of her tact and
graciousness has been the recipient of
marked attentions from the queen regent.
Miss Lowry comes from a southern fami-
s,,1,A rff oil f1A
common to the women of her family and
section.
few days prior to her sailing she was
invited by the queen regent to kiss her
hand and to take the pillow as the cere-
mony of sitting in the presence of royalty
is called in Spain 1t is the highest honor
that the queen regent can bestow on
woman. The ceremony is simple but most
dgnifed. AS the invited enters the
room the queen regent rises and extends
hr hand to be kissed, after which she
waves her arm in the direction of low
settees near by which betokens the esteem
in which the person so received is held
On the queens reception days only those
who have been received in the manner in
which the Duchess D'Arcos was received
is permitted to sit, no matter how long the
reception may continue. But once having
taken the pillow this privilege becomes a
right and stamps those given 1t as the
favored women of the court.
The duchess in describing it to her
friends said that the ceremony was very
similar to such scenes as one is accustom-
ed to see enacted upon the stage in the
presence of stage kings and queens.
The Lowry mansion in Washington is at
nresent leased to Weihn McVeigh, but it Is
thought that he will offer to relinquish it
TO the new minister and his wife, but
whether the duchess will be willing to take
II is doubtful The minister has expressed
some preference for the old Spanish Legal
ton, which is well adapted 1or the WORK
connected with an embassy. A. W. B.