The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-17
Who VIII Follow Dingley as Leader?


about Speaker Reeds choice of a sue
cessor to Mr.. Dingley as chairman OF
the committee on ways and means Of
the national house of representatives.
This interest, however. is not so much
due to possible future tariff legislation
as to who shall become the leader of
the majority on the floor, which dis
tinction the craftsmanship Of the ways
and means committee carries with it.
Serene E. Payne. of Auburn, n. Y.
stood next in order to the late Mr..
Dingley He has been in every congress
since the F'orty-eighth to the pres
ent with the exception of the Fiftieth.
1t does not follow that he will be Mr..
Reeds choice. Indeed, there may be
subtle reasons why the speaker might
feel disposed to give him sly whack
for having, on one occasion, presumed
to allow himself to be Endorsed for the
speakership by the New York delega-
ton Then again, Mr.. Plat would un-
doubtedly be pleased to control the
speakership of the next congress, in
asmuch as it is believed Mr.. Reed does
not stand so high in the New York
senator's favor now as he did In 1892
and vice versa. Mr.. Reed, moreover,
has had the experience of appointing, a
rival for the speakership to the chair
manship Of this important committee
who afterwards became his successful
rival as candidate for the presidency
in the person Of Mr. Mckinley, and
may not want to take any chances by
elevating another rival by the same
process. To bring Mr.. Payne into
prominence as leader on the floor of
the house might result in bringing him
into further prominence as a rival can
didate for the speakership In the event
of coalition of forces against his own
reelection. On the other hand, to
slight Mr. Payne by appointing some
one over him might raise the latter
into the attractive position of martyr.
Thus it will be seen that Mr. Reeds
position is surrounded by some awk-
ward elements. which from certain
points of view approach embarrass-
ment.
The leadership Of the house, on the
other hand, involves the possession of
certain qualifications which are not
conspicuously revealed in the general
makeup Of Mr.. Payne. He is a man
of fine physique, but not a forceful
speaker, and in the mental activities
of colloquial debate, especially in
volving details of economic questions
he would probably not be so ready as
some others of his colleagues Nor has
he ever been regarded as a student of
political economy in the degree which
characterized Henry L. Dawes, Will
liam D. Kelley. William r. Morrison,
r. Q. Mills, William L. Wilson, Mr..
Mckinley or Mr.. Dingley. These were
always quick and agile. while Mr..
Payne is much more deliberate and
sometimes to the point of hesitation
and doubt
John Dalzell. of Pennsylvania, fol-
lows Mr.. Payne on the list. He is
fl ON the western iron-producing sec
ton of that state and has been in
every congress since the Fiftieth. He
is a thorough student of tariff subjects.
a ready speaker and resembles in his
intellectual qualifications and his ner-
vous force both Mr.. Dingley and Mr..
Wilson. But Mr.. Dalzell, in the event
of the failure of Senator NJ s. Quay
to be reelected, may prove to be that
distinguished statesman's successor in
the upper house.
The next in order is Albert J. Hop
kins, of Illinois, who entered the house
in the Forty-ninth congress, and has
been there ever since. But he was
the leader in the rebellion against Mr..
Reeds course in the Cuban matter and
will probably not find favor in the ewes
OF the speaker
Gen. Charles H. Grosvenor. of Ohio.
comes next in order. With the excep-
ton of the Fifty-second he has been
In every congress since the Forty
ninth He is an exceedingly able man
and a forceful speaker; and his close
ness to President Mckinley has caused
him frequently to be regarded as the
mouthpiece of the executive on the
floor of the house. He is we'll versed
in tariff matters and as ready in de-
bate as Mr. Reed himself, and, at the
same time. he is not only more tact
ful and diplomatic than the speaker.
| but much more agile and quite as
caustic III repartee. Gen. Grosvenor Is
national leader and one who ALWAYS
commands respect, even where he does
/ not invite it.
| The above named compose the ma
| terial out of which Mr.. Reed will be
| compelled. In the nature of things. To
| make his selection of floor leader of
the majority. AS suggested above, and
as viii be appreciated fully when ev-
cry condition is weighed and meas
ured. his task does not appear to be