The committees
were not appointed until the following December. Butler suspected
somehow that there was doubt about his getting the coveted
prize. He accordingly went to the door of the Speaker's room,
which was then opposite the door of the House of Representatives,
by the side of the Speaker's chair. He found Blaine's messenger
keeping the door, who told him that Mr. Blaine was engaged
and could not see anybody. "Very well," said General Butler,
"I will wait." Accordingly, he took a chair and seated himself
at the door, so that he might intercept Blaine as he came
out. Blaine, learning that Butler was there, went out the
window, round by the portico, and entered the House by another
entrance. Somebody came along and, seeing Butler seated in
the corridor, said: "What are you about here, General?" "Waiting
for Blaine," was the reply. "Blaine is in the chair in the
House," was the answer. "It isn't possible," said Butler.
"Yes, he is just announcing the committees." Butler rushed
into the House in time to hear Mr. Dawes's name read by the
Clerk as the Chairman of Appropriations.
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