The San Francisco call., 1899-11-25
SCRAMBL|NG FOR
AN EMPTY HONOR
Democrats After House
Leadership.
MANY ARE IN THE CONTEST
RICHARDSON APPEARS TO BE
THE FAVoRITE.
Sulzer and Bankhead Are Making a
Diligent Canvass, and Each
Claims Enough Votes
to Win.
MANY ARE IN THE CONTEST
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CALL HEADQUARTERS, YELLING
TON HOTEL, WASHINGTON, Nov. "a
Representative SulZers arrival here to-
day gave additional impetus to the con-
test for ,he empty honor Of leading the
Democratic minority in the House OF
Representatives.
Mr. Sulzer comes from his attendance
at the meeting of the National Democrat
ic Committee at Chicago and he claims
that the national leaders Of the party IA
vor his selection as leader Of the min
ority on the ground that II would be
good politics to bestow the honor on an
Eastern man. 1t is further urged by Mr..
Suffers friends that he desires recog-
milton because OF the gallant figh. he
made for Bryan and free silver in New
York contrary TO the advice Of Mr..
Croker
II remains to be seen what effect this
argument will have upon the Democratic
members when they reach Washington.
At present there are almost as many can
didates for the minority leadership In
town as there are Democratic members.
At the postoffice Of the House of Repre-
sentatives but thirteen members are
known 10 be in the city. Five of these
are from New York. In addition to Sui
Zer Amos Cummings. George b. McClel-
ton are here to push along the Sulzer
boom. Representative William ID. Daily
Of New Jersey also is actively at work
at Suffers headquarters, which are locat-
ed at the Chamberlain. Corporation Attor-
ney Childers Of New York, who has a
large aciuaintanceship with Southern
Representa- is here in the interest of
Sulzer. The supporters Of Sulzer claim
that they will have the solid Democratic
vote Of The New York and New Jersey
delegations in addition TO a large scat
tering vote in the South and West.
Amos Cummings will present Suffers
name in Congress and the nomination
will be seconded by a well-known South
ern man. whose name will not be dis
AT Representative Bankhead's head
quarters in the Riggs House but little act
I've canvassing was done to-day. Bank
head informed me tonight that nearly
all of the Southern and Western Demo
Gratis would come to Washington un-
pledged. rs they had in reply to written
suggestions said that they did not care
10 commit themselves In advance. Bank
head says there are so few members in
the city that he will take things easy till
next week, when there will be more Con-
quite satisfied with his chances and is
counting upon receiving Suffers support
should II become apparent that the New
York man cannot win.
Bankhead is not responsible for the
statement, but IL is freely asserted at his
headquarters, that the real contest is be-
tween Mr.. Richardson and Mr.. Bankhead
and al the proper time, at the command
OF Mr.. Croker. the strength of the New
York delegation will be thrown to Bank
head. II is also said that the friends Of
Representative Bailey Of Texas, who re-
signed the leadership OF the minority IN
the last Congress. Will unite in support OF
Bankhead 10 punish Richardson and his
friends for antagonizing Bailey.
In the meantime Richardson is making
q systematic canvass, supported by some
of the most influential members OF the
minority. He has not established head
quarters nj ary OF the public houses but
IS making a house-to-house visit 10 men,
bers as they arrive. He had a long and
friendly consultation with Bankhead to-
day.
Mr. de Almond OF Missouri is practi-
cally out of the running. His supporters
probably will go 10 Richardson, who ap-
pears 10 be the favorite at the present
writing