Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-12
THE NEXT CONGRESS.
Outside SPeeuIatIOns ON the Speaker.
ship.
Washington Correspondence Cincinnati Com

Outside SPeculRtiOns on the Speaker
ship.
Washington Correspondence Cincinnati Com
mercial.
So far Sam. Randall, of Philadel-
phis, is apparently ahead in the race
for the Speakership, which may or
may not indicate him as a fortunate
fellow. 1t is pretty certain that he has
more votes pledged to him than any
other candidate, but his strength may
prove his weakness, and undoubtedly
VIII if any other candidate can come
anywhere near him in popularity; for
In that case some quiet and hitherto
not-much- talked-of man Will walk IN
and seize the honors.
1t behooves the Democracy to be very
careful in selecting their Speaker, for
while the majority Of the Democrats
will come In inexperienced in parlia-
mentary ways, the Republicans will,
the most Of them, be men of experience
and knowledge, under the leadership
of ex-Speaker Blaine, who, II he proves
as adriot and energetic on the floor as
he was in the chair, viii give the ma
jority all they viii want to do to pre-
serve their equilibrium.
1t has recently been published that
Mr.. Kerr, of Indiana, has become dis
eouraged, and has about given up the
hope of securing the SPeakership. If
this is so, he has been in a little Of a
hurry, it would seem, for, in truth, he
stands next to Randall In the list of
probabilities. If there are a hundred
votes pledged for Randall, as has been
asserted, there are at least seventy-fve
VINO would prefer Kerr. The latter
has not had 80 long an experience
in Congress as Randall, and while
he is an able man, still his forte has
been rather that of a debater than of
a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES is, he sought
TO enforce his views by force Of argu-
ment instead of by resort TO parlia-
mentary strategy. He is broader and
a sounder man in his views than Ran
dali; he is Free Trader and a hard
money man.
Fernando Wood cOvets the Speaker
ship not so much as a regard for ser
vices rendered his party, or as an EVIL
dence Of his popularity, but as an or
namental honor that it would be well
enough to have about the house if it
could be secured. He has worked very
hard for the place, and is, in a sense, a
popular man with his party, but he will
not succeed. He has not the magne-
tism to draw men closely to him and
hold them in his service through thick
and thin.
Sunset Cox has a great many warm
friends, who are indefatigable in his
behalf. He returned his back pay and
voted against the allowance. This
makes him strong with the people and
their representatives, and tits not alto
gether Improbable that he Will succeed.
Its not necessary to speak of his ability
and quick wit. He is a good parlla-
mentarian. He has served for many
years as a member of the Committee
on Rules. He has probably more cul-
ture and polish than any of the gen.
tlemen herein before mentioned as his
opponents, has travelled extensively,
and is a rare instance of an omniver-
GUS reader who invariably makes the
most felicitous use Of his book knOwl-
edge at the right time and place.
Mr.. Milton Sayler, of Cincinnati, is
in fine position to profit by the misfor-
tunes Of those who start out IN the
race with more strength than be pre-
tends to have. He has enough strength
to make him possibly the most availa-
bic candidate after Randall and Kerr,
who viii probably develop all they can
command, In the beginning, and will
each have enough to prevent the others
success.
Once in a while we hear from some
rural rooster IN the South of a great
statesman Of that section who has an
ambition 10 be Speaker, but there is no
effort there to present a man
for the place. In consideration of the
fact that the majority Of the majority
are from the South, this mOdesty Is
somewha: remarkable. To me it is a
favorable symptom, and demonstrates
that the Southern people are not dis
posed TO rush IN and demand that
which their numerical strength
would secure to them, simply because
they have that strength. They seem
content to remain quietly in the back
ground TIL they have proven to the
country that they are fit to be trusted
with heavy responsibilities. 1t sc ms
certain that the Clerk Of the
next House viii be a Southern man.
Nearly all the candidates mentioned |
for the place ere from that section.
The Democracy are SO Jubilant that
they have a majority in the next House |
that it will make but little difference to |
them who is made Speaker. There viii |
be 10 discussions; they viii be happy
way the wind blows.