The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-03-06
the srEAKrRsHIp.



Ftom Mt boston Herdid
Mr. Reed is not the first man 20 serve
as Speaker of the House Of Representa-
tives but q single term. Including Mr..
Reed, thirty.onc different men have held
the office Of Speaker. two Of them for only
part Of a Congress, each being elected
to I'LL vacancy. Sixteen OF these held
the position for only q single term. They
were not all undistinguishcd persons
either for among them were such men as
Howell Cobb of Georgia, Galusha A. Grow
Of Pennsylvania, Jonathan Trumbuli of
Connecticut, X. NJ, T. Hunter of Virginia,
and Sedgwick, Winthrop and flaiiks OF
Massachusetts. Mr.. Samuel J. Randall
only secured two full terms, IN addition
to the unexpired term Of Speaker Kerr,
which he was chosen to complete.
-Four Speakers had the exceptional
honor of serving three terms each, and
they were all eminent parlamciitarians
Tho first was Nathaniel Macon ~ North
Carolina, a Revolutionary soldier, who
afterward became n Senator and President
pro ioH. of the Senate. Next came Mr..
Colfax, aftcrward Nice-Presideni; then
Mr.. Blaine, and last, Mr.. Carlisle. Mr..
Andrew Stevenson of Virginia WAS even
more fortunate. He was chosen for four
terms. but did not complete the fourth.
resirning in 1884, and being later ON Min.
lister TO England. Ills son went into poll
tics, and became Governor Of Kentucky
and United States Senator. In later life
he was chairman of the convention which
nominated General Hancock for the Presi-
dency, and was president Of the American
| Bar Association, inhcriting, seemingly
some Of his fathers ability IN parliament
ary matters.
The most popular Speaker, II judg.
ment may be formed from the number Of
reflections, was Henry Clay. He hal
| the remarkable distinction of being elected
to the Speakership on the first day Of the
| first session Of the first Congress 10 which
he was elected, and was reelected five
times, There was break in the service,
| only five OF the terms being consecutive,
and in two of those he resigned to take up
| other important public work. Mr.. Clay
was a splendid debater, and did what has
rarely been done by other occupants of
| the officcEhe frequently left the Speakers
chair aph participated In the debates Of
| the HoHse.
The Speakership has been held by many
| very ambitious men, but II has rarely been
the stepping-stone which It seems fitted TO
be. Only one ex-Speaker ever became
| President-James K Polk. Three others
| We're nominated for the Presidency, Henry
| Clay, John Bell, who ran in 1850 with Mr..
| Everett and James g. Blaine. Mr.. Colfax
secured the Vice-Presidency by his popu-
larity as Speaker.
The Speakership has been held by Ken
tuokians twenty.four years. Massachu-
setts has bad four Speakers, the same
number as Kentucky, but they only held
it ten years. Virginia has had four
Speakers, who. like the four from Massa-
chusetts, held the office ten years. The
great State of New York has furnished but
one Speaker, who held it for one whole
term and part of another. Ohio had 1t but
one term, and Illinois never furnished a
Speaker.
In fact, during the century, and more,
| Of the nations history, only fourteen
States have been honored with the be-
stowal of this position upon their sons.
If the geographical sections are considered,
the South has had the lions share. Four
teen Southern men have held the Office of
Speaker while New England has had
seven, the Middle States six and the great
West four. 1t is very doubtful whether
New England will ever furnish another
Speaker Of the National House of Repre-
sentatives. The South is very likely to
secure the prize again frequently, and
will be the great rival of the West in
such matters.