The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-09
THE sPEAKERsHIP.

THE SPEAKERSHIP.
There have thus far been four for
mai entries In the race for the speaker
ship Of the merit house Of representa-
lives. OF course. there may be other
Republican representatives who would
be willing to preside over the delibera-
lions OF their fellow members. but on
~ four have thus far announced them
selves as candidates. These are Reed
Of Maine, Mckinney Of Ohio. Cannon
Of Illinois and Burrows Of Michi-
gan.
The man who Is 6rst thought OF a. a
candidate for this position is Thomas
Reed Of Maine. This is because he
kas several times been honored with
the Republican caucus nomination for
speaker when there was no chance Of
his election and because he has been
the nominal and actual leader Of the
Republicans OF the house since the
retirement OF Garfield. He is ready
debater and thorough tactician. Al
though not close student Of the rules
sf the house. or OF anything else. he
has the faculty Of mastering their in
tricacies without apparent effort.
There is nothing which delights him
more than TO worry the Democrats
with points OF order and TO make the
position OF Speaker Carlisle an uncom-
Portable one. In spite Of this falling,
however. he is exceedingly popular
among both Democratic and Repub-
hcan members. His candidacy for the
speakership is generally looked upon
rs more promising than that of any of
his competitors.
The next candidate in ordar OF prob
able strength is William Mckinley, of
Ohio. Mckinley il better known 10
the country than any other Republi-
san member of tho house. He easily
carried off the honors In the tariff de-
bate during the last session. and dur
ing the presidential campaign he at
tracted larger crowds and did moro
effective work than any other Repub-
Iican except Blaine. For eight years
he has shared with Reed the honors
Of the Republican leadership of the
house. He is not a close student OF
the rules, and never. under any cir
eumstances, can he be induced to take
part In a wrangle over IA point OF order.
When a question OF real importance is
before the house, however, his power
IL apparent and he FORCES to the front
with the most powerful and conyinc-
mig arguments. With firm voice,
iine presence and quick, decided
manner, he is model presiding officer.
and the body which he does not in
stantly bring under his control must
be very turbulent one indeed.
Representative Cannon OF Illinois is
also candidate for the speakership.
and his candidacy is apparently a
more active one than that Of either
Reed or Mckinley. He IL not so well
known TO the country as Is either of
his competitors, but he has served in
the house long and creditably. He is
said to be close student OF the rules
Of the house, and 10 be an adept in !
parliamentary tactics. His greatest
strength. however. lies in the close
friendship existing between him and
General Harrison, and in the feeling !
which Ia said to exist that the speaker
Of the next house should be Western |
man. Reed, of course, Is frora the !
East, and Cannon's supporters rule |
Nc Kinley out on the ground that Ohio !
is not quite far enough West to count. !
Mr.. Cannon himself expresses great |
confidence that he will be chosen |
Speaker. and this confidence is shared |
by his friends.
The fourth candidate is Julius &. |
Burrows. OF Michigan. Burrows Is a
ready and ieryid orator, and he has
for several years occupied a Appointment
position In the house. though he has |
been by no means such leader rs
Reed or Mckinley. His claim for
preierment is based upon the assump- /
tion that the Michigan Republicans
should have something nice for their
excellent work during the campaign /
He Is supported by the entire Michi
gan delegation, and IL is not at all i'm
possible that he may win as u compfo-
mise candidate. His danger, and /
Cannon's as well, lies in the warm
friendship which exists between Reed |
and Mckinley. Either OF these two
gentlemen would rather see The other
In the speakers chair than anyone
else except himself, and it IS probable
that they will combine their strength
rather than see a third party carry off
the prize. II would be impossible for
either Cannon or Burrows 10 make
Roadway against such a combination,
In any event the speaker of the next
house will be man OF ability. Any
one of the four candidates mentioned
would honor the position which has
been filled by so many OF the ahlest
men whose names are Identified with
American history.