New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-28
OPGANTzTYG THE BOUSE.

The "slrieks of locality" rarely worthy oil
notice, are particularly out of place in the
| selection of a Speaker of the House. No man
| is fit to be selected for the delicate and i'm
portant duties of that high position who Is
capable of using it for merely sectional ends.
If it is proposed to put any man into that
position for the purpose of securing special
favors for any section in the organization of
committees or undue influence for any section
in the conduct of business in the House,
the Republican party has a right to OBJ
ject most earnestly and Indignantly. The
Republican is a National party, and it intends
so 10 conduct itself that it can appeal with
equal reason to loyal, law-abiding and pro-
gressive men of the East, the West, or the
South. Any attempt by the President to run
the Government in the interest Of New lork
would be and ought to be thwarted, and 50
should any attempt - operate the Govern
ment, by means of the Speakership. Ill the
interest of any other section. Wherever the
successful candidate may live he ought to be
supported, not because he comes from that
State or section, but because he is the right
man for the place.
In the coming Congress- the man to be chosen
ought to be not only well qualified, but he should
also be member whose leadership on the
floor is not indispensable. The presence of
many new members in a House from which
nearly all the experienced Republicans leaders
have been Withdrawn, renders it unusually inn
portant that the small corps of quick debaters,
skilled parlamentaridns and tried leaders
should be weakened as little as possible. If
any member is needed on the floor he ought
-. ~.
whether it pleases him and his friends
OF not For the rest, the successful candidate
for the Speakership ought to be a man of
SOLID judgment, great breadth Of information,
| thorough impartiality and undOubted integ-
rity. 1t is more important that he should be
well fitted in intellect and character for high
and very responsible position than that he
| should be the most adrOit parliamentaran in
the House, for the Republican leaders on the
floor ought to be capable Of meeting Mr.. Ran
dalls shifts and devices, and if they are not
it will often happen that a Speaker, however
capable, will be powerless.
Under modern rules the organization of
committees well-nigh determines the character
of legislation. A Speaker ought to be chosen
who will not fritter away the future of his
party in any effort for personal popularity or
, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, in rewarding friends, punish
ing foes, or promoting factions, but who will
have the wisdom and the courage to
take especial care, regardless of all per-
s0nal interests or private feelings so to
organize the House that it shall act in
harmony with the will of the Republ-
can party. 1t will not do to have Committee
of Ways and Means, for instance, that will
permit a reversal of the splendid financial
policy of the party. 1t will not do to turn
over the banks or the railroads to the mercy
of members with communistiC lcanngs. A
mistaken selection of Speaker, at this time,
may easily cost the country and the party
more than several Republican defeats. But
the choice of a judiciOus and able Speaker
will go far to insure more than one Bcpubli-
can victory