The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-01-30


has passed his fortieth birthday. Frye
was four years younger,th that when
he took the oath.
Mr.. Hale, differing in many ways
from MIR. Frye, like him had the power
to command influence. He was not es-
teemed the orator that Frye was
thought to be, but he had many person.
al graces and unusual political tact.
and he, too. while still young man
was chosen to represent his district in
Congress. Within Il term they COM
manded respect; within another such
influence as placed them among the
leaders of their party upon the floor of
the House. They were often called
Blaine's lieutenants. They were more
than that, for although Blaine leaned
win perfect confidence upon them, yet
they commanded by their own abilities
influence thereby outside of and be-
yond any that the Speakers favor
might secure for them. Therefore dur
ing Blaine's second and third term as
Speaker 1t was Il common thing to hear
men say, Maine directs the House OF
Representatives. In a proper sense
that opinion was correct. Both Hale
and Frye We're ready debatcrs; Hale
polished, courteous, his shafts coated
with polite veneer; Frye, aggressive
earnest. quick. impetuous. But their
devotion TO committee work their sin
gular aptitude for self-possession in
Representatives Is, brought them to be
with Garfield leaders upon the Republi-
cen side.
Hale afterwards might have served
IN Il Cabinet post had he been inclined
TO give up parliamentary life Frye
would i'm all probability have been cho-
sen Speaker of the House in 1851 had
he not few months earlier been elect
cd Senator from Maine. Mr. Hale had
Deen elected to the Senate as the sue
cessor of Hannibal Hamlin. and Mr..
Frye te the vacancy caused by the res
ignation CT Elaine that he might enter
Garfield's Cabinet as Secretary of
State.
THE RISE OF DINGLEY.
When Garfield was elected United
States Senator from Ohio in the winter
OF 1850, common opinion pointed to Frye
as pre-cminently indicated as the lead
er OF his party In the House He was
already spoken Of with confidence as
the next Speaker. In case the Republi-
cans gained majority Of the members
at the next election Such majority
was secured, and undoubtedly Maine
wonld again have won the honor of the
Speakership had Frye remained in the
House.
When Frye went to the Senate many
OIL his old associates OF the House said
on, his district will not send another
IKE hlm, ana when upon the meeting
OF Congress. Il small, quiet man went
forward to take the oath as Frye's sue
cessor. the old members eyed him curl
DUSTY as though 1t were almost an as
surance for him to hope to maintain
the influence that district had secured.
lie mad been, Ii was true, while still
a young man. Governor of Maine, but
mat might not count fer much. So far
as aggressive leadership Is concerned
the doubling members were correct
The new member had no conspicuous
capacity OF that sort but i'm intellectual
force, he was soon recognized as the
equal 0f any of his colleagues and the
olhcr DAY he was named leader of the
rouse. by virtue of his post as chair
man oi the Committee on WAYS and
Means. OF him it has been said by
those who have had long service with
MN III the House, that Gov. Dingley
! Is one "a the nhlest men who ever sat
III Congress" Thus Maine again as
suneS through its representative the
leadership of the House. as he does its
executive direction through her CON
Spicuous son. who is its Speaker.
FROM BLAINE TO FRYE: FROM
FRYE TO REED.
1t Is said by those who have thought
about the political service of this State
that it is an extraordinary thing that
since the beginning of the first admins
tration of Grant whenever the RepubIi-
can party has controlled the lower
House Of Congress, the representatives
from Maine have In larger measure
than those from any other State been
OF conspicuous influence in that body
out OF the ten years since 1869 that the
republicans were in majority in the
House OF Representatives Maine has
had the Spcakership eight years. and
would have possessed it in all PROBABLE
ny for all ten years had Mr.. Frye not
retired from the House.
Mr.. Blaine has been thought to ra nj,
with Clay, and one or two others who
were deemed ideal speakers. Yet MIR
Reed In his single term as Speaker TO-
cused to himself perhaps greater public
interest at least upon one moment Gus
occasion than any other Speaker ever
secured The succession of the leader
snip went by State heritage from
Elaine to Frye. and from Frye to Reed.
And the extraordinary coincidence nm
paiillelcd in the history of the country
Is now established. that Maine in tn,
person of Il Speaker of the House pre-
scented one candidate for the Presid an
tia! nomination. pre-eminent among I'll
other candidates, and then after an IN
tciVal of twenty years. and at the first
opportunity It could he done. presents
IN the person Of another Speaker a can
uidate Tor the nomination, who stands
forth conspicuous among all other can
didateS.
DANIEL STRONG