The times., 1899-06-01
THURSDAY. JUNE !. 1899.
Who VIII he Speaker.

Always legislative pest Of honor, the
speallership of the National House of Rep
resentatives has become in the last quarter
OF the century one of the two most coveted
positions under the General Government.
The late occupants description of it as the
second Office in the Republic is often ac-
copied as accurate. Those who have filled
ii have not always been the foremost men
in the body, but the greater number have
been men of large influence in Congress.
if not in the country. Speakers like Clay.
Blaine. and Carlisle have enlarged the Of
fice. The same is true, in a sense, of
Reed who possibly lacks some of the quail
ities of the former three great Speakers
named. But he possessed in the chair other
qualities which enabled him to figure as
one CT the notable presiding officers OF
the century. The greatest difficulty the
Republicans in the Fifty-sixth Congress
will confront viii be to find successor
TO the autocratic man from Maine They
viii probably cut the Gordian knot by not
trying 10 secure a Speaker having com
manding abilities or even remarkable will
power
field. the claims OF none are presented
with the argument advanced that he is
the necessary intellectual successor OF Mr.
Reed. All of them are men of something
more than average ability. and Of consid-
cradle experience in the House of Repre-
sentatives. The remark might be extend
ed so as to apply to other candidates.
The dominant party has chafed under the
masterful control of the late Speaker and
his withdrawal from the House and public
life
The choice of a Speaker seems to depend
upon two or three considerations. VIII
the West demand the office? If so, will
that candidate be nominated who shall
make the best showing in his own section,
OF in the whole country? At present
Messrs. Henderson and Hopkins vie with
each other eagerly and hopefully for the
votes OF the leading delegations. By gain
ing the ten members from Wisconsin Mr.
Henderson inspired his friends with the
greatest Confidence that he would also
score similar successes in Michigan, Ohio.
and Indiana. The votes of these States. to-
gether with those already obtained in the
solid delegations OF Iowa and Wisconsin
and votes apparently secured in New Eng
land, would put the Iowa member in the
lead, distinction his friends have been
claiming for Mr.. Sherman. The latter's
strength has seemed to be chiefly in the
old Central States and in the East gener-
ally. Mr.. Payne. Chairman of the Ways
and Means Committee. disputes Mr. Sher-
mans right to the New York delegation.
and while no precise figures have been
given TO the public. so far as has been
noted. IL is understood that he regards
himself as having certain pledges which
would prevent a solid delegation for his
rival. Whether he would obtain many
other votes likely to go to Mr. Sherman
if he were the only Eastern candidate is
as yet purely a matter Of speculation II
IS not worth while TO consider the claims
of candidates nominated to hold delega-
tions for one OF more ballots. until their
sponsors should be ready to throw their
votes where they would do the most
good"
In the new Congress the Republican rep
resentation from the Eastern States is as
fellows: