The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-04

Washington, March 30.-(Special.)-
selection OF Joseph w. Bailey, of
Texas, the Democratic candidate for
Speaker OF the House OF Representa-
tivcs emphasized peculiarly the action
Of the Chicago convention last fall. That
convention nominated William +. Esryan,
thtrty-siX years old, as its candidate for
the Presidency. The nomination fired
the hearts Of the young Democracy in
the South and West. They went into
the campaign with zesl and zeal born
of a power almost religious. 1t was the
reflex Of the wave in the. United States
Senate, where young men had come to
the front to stay. They are there to-
day, and their number there is jncreas-
ing. Antiques in politics are being sent
to the back seats. The young element
has also discovered its power in The
House, and has asserted it without re-
gard to precedent. 1t ike genuine de-
light In buryinS precedent. 1t, is the
same element that has ~aStounded the
grave and reverend seignors Of the Sen
ate for the last four years. IT lis now
showing its strength in the Hfusc Of
Representatives. This is it that makes
the selection OF Mr. Bailey significant.
The independent course taken by Du-
bois, Hansbrough. Allen, Kyle, Mantle,
Pritchard, Wilson and others with I'M
silrered hair in the Senate is finding its
echo In the other wing of the Capitol.
The Democratic members are the first
to respond by choosing Joseph w. Rai-
ley as their candidate for Speaker. The
selection carried with it the leadership
of the minority or the floor. That Bal
ley could walk off with the prize, with
such veterans as McNillin and Bland in
competition, may excite surprise. but it
is by no means astonishing. The old
members failed to see the cloud on the
horizon. They relied too much upon the
strength Of term OF service. General
Henderson, Of Illinois, made the same
mistake when a candidate for clerk in
the last House Of Representatives. Bal
ley's friends, with very few exceptions,
were men youthful and frightened,
without tufts OF gray moss on their
chins, and Without rheumatic pains in
their joints. They worked night and
day, while the veterans were asleep.
lntuitively feeling their power. they
gathered and used it With Irresistible
force.
THE URCHINS ON TOP.
Bailey is 33 years old. His youthful
friends pointed to his age with pride.
They regarded it as an element OF
strength, and not as 4 weakness. They
recalled the fact tina Napoleon com
manded the army Of italy when he was
only 26, but they seem TO have forgotten
that F~erSneaud, the chief Of the Giron-
d!sts, led his party to ruin II lost his
own head when n: the same age Of Bal
ley. y veteran Senator on hearing of
Bailey's nomination. said: well, the
urchins are or top. There are two roads
before them. One is TO Tophct. and the
other to a glorious victory" Which
they will take time will develop. The
march may be a. destructive as the
march of the Marseillaise to Paris, and
it may be as glorious rs the march Of
the battalions headed by Carnot at Wat
tigules.
Certain it is that Bailey has aplomb,
dignity and %boldncss. He is resourccful
and tactical. An excellent speaker. pol
iShed in manner, logical if not versatile,
and OF a pleasing presence, he must at
tract attention. The galleries will be
more than ever charmed with him, but
the veterans of the House will be apt
TO be cynical and skeptical as to his
Judgment. They will hardly follow his
leadership with alacrity. If ii is tenn
pcred with good Judgment, he may win
their affection, as Caesar won the affec-
ton Of the Tenth Legion by his cam
paigns in Gaul. There are dangerous
dcfilcs from which to debouch and peril
GUS heights to climb. Ambuscadcs are
TO be feared, and there are unfo-dable
rivers to cross. Some fear that the
young leader will be vain and conccitcd,
IL not self-opinionated. They say that
he is more fitted to play the role OF
Apollo than tina of Mars. His record in
the House of Representatives, however,
is good. lie inherits to a great extent
the conceptions and ideas of that old
excmplar of Texas political economy,
John II. Reagan. Indeed, ii sometimes
looks as though the young Texan had
taken Reagan for his mentnr. Through
whatever canyon he is marching, or Owe
whatever craSs in politics he * climb
ing, he keeps his eye on the Constitu-
ton. 1t Is to him the ark of the cove
nant. Wherever there is the slightest
doubt as TO the constitutionality OF n
measure he vigorously attacks 1t. For
instance, he does not believe that Con-
gressS has a constitutional right to char
ter corporations, and he has inneXibly
set his face AGAINST such mna surns