Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1897-02-19
FIR DAY. FEBRUARY 10, 1897
SPEAKERS or THE HOUSE.


England, it was the custom for the
sovereign to deliver orally to parlia-
ment such communication as he
Desired to make at the commencement
of session. The house so addressed
responded to the communication. The
presiding officer headed a procession
of members of the house, waited up
on the sovereign and read the re-
Spouse, thus speaking for the whole
body; therefrOm comes the term
speaker" which we adopted from the
British parliament. The first con-
gress heard Washington's address,
and prepared a reply, which the
speaker, accompanied by the members
Of the house, delivered to the presi-
dent on May 8, 1889.
Thomas Jefferson determined that
his communication to congress should
be made by written message, and
that no answer should be expected.
This led to a general change In this
regard i'll congress and other Ameri-
can Legislative bodies. Notwi6nstand-
this, the title speaker" has adhered
and many of the former speakers may
be included, if not, indeed, all of
them, in one Of two classes; either they
have become celebrated afterward In
the field of national politics or they
have become totally obscure. In the
former class are to be included:
Henry Clay, who was the speaker in
three congresses, and was, moreover
United States senator. secretary Of
state. and repeatedly candidate for
president; John Bell. Of Tennessee,
who was secretary OF war, United
States senator, and candidate for
president in 1860; James K. Polk,
who was the eleventh president Of
the United States, inaugurated in
1916, ten years after he became speak
er; Robert M. T. Hunter, of Virginia,
who WIS United States senator and
confederate secretary Of war; Robert
G. Winthrop. of Massachusetts,, who
was United States senator fro M the
Bay state; Howell Cobb, of Georgia
who was governor Of that state, secre-
tary Of the treasury under President
Buchanan, aud member of the con.
federate congress; Galushs A. Grow,
veteran member Of congress-, who,
born in Connecticut in 1923 waB
elected in November representative
from Pennsylvania; Nathaniel P.
Banks, Schuyler Colfax, atterward
vice-president; James G. Blaine
twice secretary Of 6tate; a United
States senator from Maine, and re-
publican candidate for president in
1884. John G. Carlisle, afterward
United States senator and now secre-
tsry of the treasury; Charles F. Crisp,
OF Georgia, and Thomas b. Reed, the
present speaker Of congress and the
slated speaker Of the next congress
These are Some-but not a1l-ocf thss
speakers who have obtained celeb.
nty.
The list 81 dp5sksrs Who 'arS fittle
remembered is perhaps even longer!
In recent years .thert has been. ].
Warren Keller, Of Ohio. Before the
war there was William Pennington, Of
Now Jersey who had boon governor
Of that state-hS ives elected Cover
nor % years before he became Speak.
er-snd there wa AndfSSw stevsnSS9pp
Of Virginia, who presided ovlsst Tie
deliberations Of four successive
American congresses, and was the
only speaker to do 30. Few persons
Of the present day and few students
0fAmsrican political history remem
bel even the hume Of Stevenson
.ReHsf atm Know ifofd What state h,
Oome." Tho ssppeskershiPP Of congress
ia either a stepping stone for a,
ambitious statesman or tho culminat
ing point Of official services for
negative man whose choices rs come
tfMss dicfStsd BY the desire or iieSeA
aisy tof 6ompfomfse.@ With tha OF