The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-10
SPEAKERS or The HOUSE.
Many whs wero Famous aad Many Moro
Who Were Not.

There have been fifty four Congresses. There
have been thirty-two Speakers of the House OF
Representative, When the term Speaker"
originated In England. It was the custom for
the Sovereign To deliver orally to Parliament
such communication as he desired TO make at
the commencement Of . session. Tho House so
addressed responded to the communication The
presiding oficer headed . procession OF men,
bers OF the House. waited upon the Sovereign
and read the response, thus speaking for tho
whole body: therefrom comes tho term
Speaker" which we adopted from the British
Parliament. The first Congress heard Washing
toms address, aud prepared areply. which the
Speaker. accompanied ny the members OF the
House. delivered to the Prosidenton May 8, l7s9.
Thomas Jefferson determined that his COM
munications to Congress should be made by
written message. and that no answer would be
expected This led to q general change In this
regard in Congress and other American legisla-
tive bodies. Notwithstanding this. the title
speaker" has adhered and many Of the former
Speakers may DO included. IL 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
Henry Clay, who was the Speaker In
three Congresses. and was. moreover. a
and repeatedly a candidate for President; john
Bell OF Tennessee. who was Secretary OF War.
United states senator. and n candidate Tor
President 10 1880: James *. Polk. who was tho
eleventh President Of the United States, inaug-
urated In ls45. ten years after he became
Speakers; Robert VI. T. Hunter OF Virginia. who
WAS United States Senator and Confederate
Secretary Of War; Robert G.. Winthrop Of Mas
from the Bay state; Howell cobb of Georgia.
who was Governor OF that State. Secretary OF
the Treasury under President Buchanan, and a
member Of tho Confederate Congress; t;alusha
A. Grow. q veteran member OF Congress, who.
born in Connecticut In 1894. was elected in
November u representative from pennsylvania;
Nathaniel +. Banks, Schuyler Colfax. after
ward Woo President; James q, Blalne,. twice
seeretsry OF State a United states senator
President in 1894. John g.. Carlisle. afterward
United States senator and now Secretary OF
the Treasury: Charles +. Crisp, of Georgia and
Thomas y. Re- d. the present Speaker ~ Con-
rre-s and the slated speaker OF the next Con-
gress. These are some-hut not Rll-of the
Speakers who have obtained celebrity.
The list OF Speakers who are little remem.
bered In perhaps even longer. In recent
years there has been j. Warren Ke!fGr OF Ohio.
OF Now jersey. who had been Governor OF that
State no was elected Governor twenty-thres
years before he became Speaker-and there was
Andrew Stevenson Of Virginia. who presided
can Congresses, and was the only speaker to do
30. Few persons OF the. present, day and few
students of American political history Iemem-
Der even the nnme OF Stevensoni Tower still
know from what state he came. The Speaker
ship Of Congress Is either "A stepping stone for
an ambitions statesman or the eliminating
point OF official service for u negative man
whose choice is sometimes dictated. by tho de-
sire or necessity for compromise. Win the en-.
larGement OF membership In Congress the
Inent OF the Senate has. u contrary cnoct by
limiting the influence OF the Vice-President.