The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-07
From the Syracuse, n. Y, Daily Courier.
The Speaksrship.

The Democratic house of representatives
chosen last fall will not meet, unless called
in special session by the pre- sident, until
the first Monday of next December. Mean
while afriendly but spirited contest is GO
ing on among the various candidates for
speaker Of that body. The position OF
speaker of the house of representatives is
only second, among all the positions of
power and influence in the general govern
ment, to the presidency ITSELF He makes
the standing COMMITTEES, and thereby
Houlds to very great extent the charac-
ter Of the legislation of congress. The
vice-president is respectable fgurehead,
the speaker is a real power. 1t matters
very greatly to the party in what manner
of man is vested the welding OF that
mighty lever, the speakers gavel. The
speaker is in position to do his party great
service or great harm.
Thus far, four candidates for the speak
er's chair have been especially prominent:
Fernando Wood and s. s. Cox, Of New
York; Samuel J Randall, of Pennsylvania;
and Michael &. Kerr, of Indiana. Each
of these has an extended congressional ex
perience, and possesses the requisite par
liamentary skill for successful admins
tration of the duties of presiding officer.
Each, too, has performed, in his day, con-
spicuous party service. There is not much
to choose betwee them, so far as fitness for
the performance of the immediate duties
Of the position is concerned. But other
considerations should and doubtless will,
have their weight in making the choice
Wa admire greatly the talents of Fernan-
do Wood and Samuel j. Randall, and hon
or them for their steady devotion to Dem
ocratic principles, through adversely and
prosperity alike But neither of them
should be counted in the race for the speak
ership, land for the one reason that both are
salary grabbers. In an evil moment each
chose to defy the universal sentiment of
the American people, and to join the mis-
cradle crowd Of back pay" men. They
soiled their hands with the legal bride, and
must now stand aside. The Democratic
party in conventions in nearly, if not every,
state Of the Union, denounced in unequiY-
ocal terms the congressman who voted
for and afterwards took backpay. Among
those it denounced were Messrs. Wood
and Randall. The Democratic party
would be irretrieYably disgraced were eth
er of these men now to be honored with
the choice of speaker. Mr.. Wood, who is
very wealthy, had not even the excuse of
poverty and need for his grab" His con-
stituents may have him to be their repre-
sentative if they will; as to his further ele-
walton the Democracy of the whole nation
have something to say. 1t is great pity
that Mr.. Randall who has many excellent
qualities, and some special qualifications
for speaker, should have been tempted to
an act which must virtually prescribe him
for eyer from endorsement by the national
Democracy. The party cannot afford to
make him speaker
To neither Mr.. Cox nor Mr.. Kerr at
taches any personal objection. Both are
pure minded and clean handed. Both are
hard-money men, and both stand justly
very high in the esteem of their party
We urge Mr., Cox's choice on the grounds
Of party policy; this location SHOULD
turn the scale in his favor. Indiana haC
the speaker (Mr. Colfaxl for about half 9
dozen terms and the president of the sen
ate Mr.. Colfaxl for four years. The ad
joining state of Illinois has given the coun
try the four presidents of the Unitet
States last elected. New York has no
had its fair share of recognition in nationa
politics. The greatest state and the grea
test city in the Union have claims tina
ought not longer to be ignored. We are gla
to see that the sentiment in favor of MI
Cox extends far and wide. Both the par
tvs and the country's welfare may safel
be entrusted to him. Why not make
unanimous?