New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-22
THE CONTEST FOR SPEAKER
uurRMAN APPARENTLY LEADING CAN
ppATE IN THE STRUGGLE.
xr,,xnrRsoN's CHANCES BRIGHTER-FoRE-
CAST OF THE voTEs-PAYNE WILL
STAY IN THE FIGHT.
fnY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

Inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
>csshington. May 21.-The situation has un-
ssrrone a few changes In the last week respect
,,g the contest over the Speakership of the
,,e,.s ~ Representatives. While Mr.. Sherman
- eli regarded here as the leading candidate
- far as there have been any developments. the
ssorces of Colonel Henderson have materially
,,,proved Notwithstanding the absurd letter OF
csrerai Dy-enforth intended TO attract votes
:, the Iowa member as the soldiers candidate.
,-,s friends OF Mr.. Sherman do not appear TO be
,rnhled over the attitude of the Pennsylvania
alteration which is one friendly 10 Colonel Hen
as,son. They say that should Pennsylvania
ahicb casts the largest vote in the caucus. de-
ride 70 20 TO Henderson. the fact would divest
az ,atter's candidacy of its dangerous element
that OF sectionalism. For all the votes in the
ras, Western candidate would get Sherman
Dould receive perhaps an equal or greater num-
ns- IN the West This reasoning is based on the
,Ss. that Pennsylvanias action would be re-
rorded as preventing the raising of the sectional
,.sus MI Hopkinss friends seem to be more
intent than the others upon securing aid for
Rim, as the candidate Of the West. One other
thought is strongly presented in connection with
,hs claims Of Colonel Henderson-that he and
M. Sherman represent conservative views with
regard 10 the conduct of public business.
Resnecting the attitude Of New-England and
.he south something more definite can be stated
,han could have been said with any authority
ten DAYS ago The Northeast is not apparently
solid for any candidate. Most of the avowed
candidates have their friends in the New-Eng-
land delegations. The two New-York candi-
dates. Messrs. Payne and Sherman and one
Western candidate, Mr.. Henderson, in partic-
ulsr. are favorites. Mr. Sherman's friends here
fha VIZ, o.
land vote 1t is a fact that within a few days
the chances OF Colonel Henderson securing
good share Of that vote have improved.
The Southern members are not rapidly COM
uniting themselves. Some Of them are certainly
friendly TO Mr. Sherman. Colonel Henderson
has a number OF friends among the Southern
Representatives. Mr.. Brownlow. OF Tennessee.
IA one OF these. The Southerners say that they
want no factions or sectionalism in the party
that there has been too much talk OF candidates
from this section or that section. Some or them
have not been we'll pleased with their treatment
in the assignment Of committees. The beief
here is that they have not made up their minds
as between the candidates
Taking u general view Of the situation. some
forecasters are inchned TO say that II States ike
Ohio and Pennsylvania. having the largest rep
resentation in caucus. go to any particular can
ton on an early ballot. II Sherman or an early
ballot secures a pretty strong support In the
East and South. and a respectable vote scat
tered through the whole West II will be diff
cult to defeat him. II. the other hand, Hen
derson greatly distances Hopkins IN the West
and shares the East with Sherman. obtaining
portion of the Southern vote. and loses nothing
on the second ballot his election is not impos-
sible The chances slightly favor Sherman, but
not in the degree they did fortnight ago.
Representative Payne, of New-York. who was
in this city yesterday expressed much surprise
that there should be any doubt as TO his remain
ing in the Speakership fight. "Of course shall
stay in," he said. why not?"
His attention was called to the general I'm
preston that Mr.. Plat had marked Mr.. Sher-
man as the recipient Of favor from the New
York delegation. and that Mr. Reed also favored
Mr.. Sherman.
Senator Platt has not marked out Mr.. Sher-
man." said Mr.. Payne. MT. Reed has net
marked out Mr. Sherman. and the Administra-
ton has not marked out Mr.. Sherman. If the
impression has gone abroad that will drop out
toward the end OF the contest it is erroneous