Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-24


The canvass for Speaker now In progress is being
treated by some newspaper writers rather as per.
Sonal conteSt-a sort OF struggle In political pu-
gillsln-between two or three prominent demo-
Cratic members OF Congress, than as a preliminary
to the choice OF the most important officer OF the
federal legislature While 1t is a fact that such
treatment OF the subject has given 10 Il some ap-
pearafce OF mere personal contention, that is not
the shape II takes In the minds OF considerable men,
and we shall not regard IL from that unbecoming
point OF view at all IL is simply question as 70
who on the democratic side OF the House is the best
fitted member to be Speaker-the best qualified
the best for the orderly dispatch OF the public
business, the best for the House and for the
country. Some Will be inclined To add this: sand
best for the interests OF the democratic party"
The last mentioned consideration having A
purely party bearing does not usually fall
within the line OF our discussions, stfI we
have no objection Ia letting it stand here, with the
remark that the speaker Who is the best fitted for
the business OF the House and the country cannot
fail TO be the best for the interests OF the party OF
which he Is a member. Among the men who have
been mentioned from time 10 time are Messrs Ram
dali. Oh this state Carlisle OF kentucky Cox of New
York Springer. or Illinois, Blackburn, of Kentucky,
men: but Mir. Blackburn and Mr.. Morrison having
withdrawn-only the first four remain TO be
considered, and among these it appears
that only Randall, Carlisle and Cox are very
actively pressed. Now considering them alone,
Is theG any dispassionate person, well acquain-
ted with their unqueStioned qualifications
but must Say that Mr.. Randall stands foremost?
He is thorough master OF the rules; he has AWAY
the clearest sight of the precise point TO be dis
posed OF; he has the faculty OF Keeping the House
well in hand. with admirable self CONTROL he Is at
tentive, ready, fair courteous. firm, and rapid In
the dispatch OF business. These are the qualities
and natural gifts that GO into the makeup OF the
fully-equipped presiding officer and that MIR RAN
dali has them all In pre-eninent degree was proved
In the years he served in the Speakers chair His
possession OF them has been tested by experience
and demonstrated by approved practice.
Perfectly willing any one may be TO concede
everything that is due to the abest OF his able and
eminent competitors IL would have TO he said after
all that Mr. Randall is the only candidate brought
forward for whom all OF the above essential quail
1cations can be claimed. II should be the verdict
then that he ought to be speaker; and this srould
be the verdict without serious contest we feel as
sured, if there disturbing influence OF s.rev-
nue. tarfn, 'protectve tariff ''free trade" in the
canvass. And why should this disturbing element
speaker contemplate the appointment OF such
committee OF ways and means as will force into
Congress and precipitate upon the country In 1884
renewal OF the tariff agitation? IL so, what whole
some public Obect-what advantage TO the demo-
cratic party even, is To be gained by that? The
thoughtful public man, the clear-headed democrat
must see, the moment he takes good round look
at the question. that nothing but revived agitation
unSettlement and injury can come TO the country
and nothing but risk TO the democratic party cam
come from any such proceeding
1t is not necessary TO go into detail with any such
man or any Well-1nformed man 10 show him why
that must be so. or why the attempt must inevita-
bly, lead up TO disastrous failure IL is plain
the line OF track between his home and Washing
ton, II he VIII only put his eye upon the map IL Is
Therefore. most mpolitic to force the tariff question
into prominence I'm this canvass for Speaker. TO do
so, and TO decide the canvass on that line. would be
a first misstep 10 a series that can hardly fail to
have disastrous results to the party making IL In
1884. There might be a time when democratic d.
vision for the Speakership on that line would be OPP
perfume at least but that time is now. IL Is an
1mpo1tfc element I'm this canvass, and should be
eliminated on that ground, If no other. And that
being done there is no remaining for contest
Ing the Speakership with Mr.. Randall, who stands
foremost In qualification, and holds ume-honored
democratic doctrine on the subject or the tariff
common sense conservative and true, and Is as near
right as any one is likely TO get On the whole sub
ject OF the federal revenue