Telegram-herald., 1890-11-29

soubt neat 10 the president of the
United States IN power and influence ia
this government Much depends, II
course, upon tAe man. but in the speak
er's Office a man Of active brain and true
qualities Of leadership need never fear
that any one, the PRECEDENT alone ex-
cepted. VIII OyersAsaow him. This Is
distinctively government by congress
Some one has ssid thai IL was govern
ment by buresus, but that Is not true
The executive departments not enly
derive their authority from congress,
bat the scope Of their powers, their funo-
tions, are from day to day reg ulated by
congress 10 suit it's own fanciez This
applies TO details as well as to funda-
mentals. What win congress think,
what viii congress say, what viii con-
gress do? are the questions the chief
men Of the departments are always ask
ing. Ia congress tas majority body, the
more important branch, is pretty well
under the thumb Of the speaker and the
men who nade and sustain him. The
house 10 more powerful than the senate,
not only for constitutional reasons, bnt
because 1t is nearer the people, because
it is composed of the men who are the
real leaders of public opinion In this
country.
See the power the presiding officer of
the house has within his grasp, In the
very nod Of bis head.
Two members are on their feet beg
giDg recognition. One, more eager than
the other, has walked down the aisle till
he is within few feet Of the speakers
dsis. There he lifts up his voice and
waves his arms, crying: "Mr. Speaker!
Mr.. Speakerp' But the speaker does not
SEQ hira, is apparently obhFious Of his
presence What the speaker does see is
a gentleman away off IN the corner of
the hall, who is not making so much
noise, bat who gets the recognition
which he wants, Just the same. The
speakers failure to see and recognize the
somewhat frantic person directly In
front Of him may forever bury In The
great Legislative tomb the bill which
that gentleman lad IN charge; may
affect favorably or unfsvorably the
fortunes, the happiness, Of many indi-
viduals or large communities. The
speakers eye is sun which falls not
upon all alike, but here blights and
there causes blossoms to sprout and
flourish. The president of the United
States may veto legislation with his pen.
The speaker Of the house prevents leeis-
lation by looking over, under, around,
through nan, and seeing him not.
No wonder, therefore, that large
majority party in the next house are
ambitious to be speaker. Already there
is plentitsds of csndidstes, open or
covert The list Of possibilities includes
Mills of Texas, Springer of Illinois.
Crisp and Bloant of Georgia, Aehillin
of Tennessee, Brsckinridge Of Ken
tucky, Bynum Of Indiana, Hatch Of
Misso ri. Cultivate Of Ohio, Wilson Of
West Virginia, and Lockwood Of New
York.
The prophets are saying the Dcrt
speaker will be Mr.. Mills, Mr. Crisp,
Mr.. Springer or Mr.. Wilson. The first
named is, undoubtedly, the leader OF his
party in the preeent house, and accord
ing 10 tradition succeeds 10 the speak
ership. 1t WAS Mr.. Mills who trst sug-
gested Carlisle for the spcakership, and
tie remarkable friendship between these
two men have already noted IN these
letters. When Col Morrison, Of Illinois,
The former chairman Of the COMMITTEES
on ways aad Hssna, was defeated fer