New-York tribune., 1901-11-29
RICHARDSON TO LEAD THEM
ppyAN APPARENTLY STILL THE DEMO
CRATIC PARTY BOSS.
M y aRMOND WON'T GET BACK FROM THE
PHILIPPINES IN TINE TO MAKE
FIGHT FOR THE sPEAKERSHIP
NOMINATION.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

FBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
t-.ebi,.yton. Nov 2S.-At their first caucus on
Saturday morning the Democrats of the new
House will face a rather remarkable situation.
The object; of the caucus is to organize the
minority fta the work of the session. Except
for a eurioL's circumstance there would be a
lively conte at with the usual Democratic
commandments, fer the chief honor to be be-
slowed, which is the nomination for Speaker,
carving with it the titular leadership of the
nartv in the Hause. The nomination will again
go 10 James D. Richardson, of Tennessee; but
this time he wf1l get it by default The alti-
tudinous and angular Tennesseean. known
among his Congressional associates as slippery
Jfn" owes his present good luck to the singular
misfortune that has befallen David A De Ar
,,,ond of Missouri ryho is now somewhere in the
Pacific Ocean. hs; return from a trip around
the globe. which he made ostensibly for the pur-
pose of studying the Philippine question at close
range-a diversion thast is becoming quite popu-
lar with Democratic statesmen since they have
learned that through the courtesy of the War
T,enartnent they can travel around the planet
on an army transport free of all cost except the
small item of 81 day tor food Mr. De Ar
oond was a member of the Congressional party
that left New-York last July in an army trans
port for the Philippines via, the SueZ Canal ana
is returning home by the Pacific route These
Francisco on November 1. but their arrival has
hAen indefinitely delayed by accidents to two or
three transports on which they have been dead
head passengers since they left Manila nearly
two months ago.
AT the close of the last Congress the Mis-
souri, delegation, with a loud flourish of trum-
nets. nominated De Almond as that States can
ddate for the minority leadership of this Con-
gress The Democrats were SO dissatisfied with
hot
predicted he would stand no show for the en-
ioynlent of the same honors in the LVlIth Con-
gress. De Almonds supporters among the
Missourians saw that if he We're here they would
mix it, with Richardson in the caucus Satur-
day. but since the fates have consplred WITH
Neptune TO prevent his being in Washington on
schedule time. they do not intend to present his
name to the caucus. Therefore Richardson will
carry off the honors without a contest
SITUATION PLEASES REPUBLICANS
House Republicans are greatly pleased Win
this situation. They say it foreshadows for
them an easier time than they could have ex-
pected had De Almond been made the minority
leader The Missourian is an alert and vitriolic
fighter and believes in opposing everything
that is indorsed by the Republican caucus. The
Tennessee man. the contrary is mild man
nered and peace loving. and would rather COM
promise at any time than fight It is suspected
also that the unaniuity with which the Demo-
Gratis have turned to Richardson for leadership
is CT more than ordinary Importance. Mr. Rich
ardson was chairman OF the last Bryanlte ma
tional convention, and owed his selection 10 that
post the personal influence OF Bryan himself
lie also was Ex-Governor William j. stones
chief, lieutenant in the ridiculous Bryan cam
paiGn in the East last year that was conducted
from the Hoffman House. under the general
direction OF Richard Croker. Bryan 1t is SAID
sent word to Washington week ago that Rlch-
ardson must again be made the minority Leader
OF the House This indicates that the Peerless"
is still the party boss and that he IS watching
the reorganiZeTS so closely and with Sucn sus-
pcion that he will not even consent to change
OF leadership in Congress even though that
leadership may have proven weak ana lnconl-
1t goes without saying that If Bryan is thus
bossing MS party in the House. he is also trying
to boss IL in the Senate Hence he is insisting on
the minority in the upper chamber sticking 10
the banner OF Jones. of Arkansas. who as the
Bryanitc national chairman has enjoyed the
honors md immunities or Democratc leader OF
the Senate since the retirement of German. or
Maryland. But the chances are that Bryan
will not have such easy sailing with his Jones
era II as he is having with that OF Richardson
The younger and more vigorous element among
the minority of the Senate seem determined TO
repudate Jones's leadership at the torthcomtng
session, irrespective of Bryans demands Iney
saw that Jones threw them down" al the last
session by fighting the Army Reorga MIA ton
bill and other similar measures which contained
what the Bryanites denounced in the campaign
cr 1900 as imperialism The Arkansas Sen
ator was also derelict in other important re-
spects, according 10 this view OF him. and the
opposition probably Will bring forward senator
Bacon. of Georgia. for the utular leadership or
the minority :nti German returns. two years
hence. Bacon. by the way. is with De Armond
ont in the Pacific. and there is no telling when
he will get here. But the Jones opposition Will
see to il that the minority caucus IS not perIna-
nentIy organized until the Georgian arrives