The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-19
BON. GEORGE L. DOUGLASS FOR
s.fo:r : z I'D

Late news from headquarters indicates
| that, whatever may lie the result in the
legislature on joint Lailot. the Rspubli-
cans will Control lie lower house,
In that event he EAGLE dominates
George L. Douglass fox speaker. 1t has
long been the custom to select for this
/! position q member who has served
mer legislatures. Douglass is one OF
the very few surriecrs of the last two
houses, who Will sit in the coming legis-
iature. In 1889 lac served as chairman
of the Judiciary commitiee-.he great
committee OF the house-and the state
| owes 10 him much Of the best legislation
| of that session.
During the last session the
committee chairmanships pretty
| nearly all went to the Alliance. but ow-
ing to the inexperience of the Alliance
members the leading Republicans were
generally called to the speakers chair
to preside while the house was in COM
mittee of the whole. Douglass was
called on to preside oftener than any
other member because of his special
adaptability 10 the duties of chairman.
The EAGLE correspondent in writing
up this subject at the time, said;
Douglass can do moro business
sin the chair in an hour than any
''other man in the body, not excepting
elder, can do in five hours. Of all the
"men who have been in the chair this
session, lie is by far the most admirable.
Had he been elected speaker, twice
"the amount of business would have
"been accomplished. Every thing in
expedition is conferred on the presiding
"ofiicer."
If Douglass is speaker it is a foregone
conclusion that the house will be bust
ness body and Republicans viii have no
fear that the record to be made will not
be good one.
No man in the state, probably, is bet
ter qualified for the position. A fiue
parliamentarian of experience, quick,
conservative and fair, he would, as
presiding officer, prove acceptable to
everybody.
In the Botkin impeachment trial
Douglass was employed as counsel for
the state; and to him was assigned the
opening argument upon the law ques-
tons Of the case, as well as the summing
up of the evidence at the close. TIE
EAGLE some time ago read d
letter from Judge William Law
renee of Ohio, who is the
great authority upon the law of i'm
parchment in this country. He had
read Douglass argument in the Botkin
trial and referring to it he said that "Its
learning and ability place it alongside
of the great historic arguments in the
important impeachment trials Of this
country" Douglass connection with
the case was merely that of lawyer,
employed to present the side of the pros
ecution, and Judge Lawrence's opinion
is the highest testimony as to the ability
with which it was done.
But better than all, it seems to us, is
the fact that Doug lass is a believer in
clean politics. Boodling lobbyists would
have no encouragement in any house
over which lie presided. He abhors the
whole tribe Of bride takers and bride
givers, and his hands would be against
all their jobs. So well is his position
understood as to this and other import
ant points that we venture the assertion
that he will receive, probably, the
support of all Republicans
who have served heretofore in the house |
with him; and what better endorsement
could man have?