The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-05-01
GENERAL POLITICAL
NEWS AND GOSSIP

me HS AMI OOoolH
The Speakership Battle. If the
Speakership contest is really to be free
for-all fight, as some able politicians seem
to think. it will probably be as interesting
a struggle as has been witnessed up on
Capitol Hill for good many years. None
of the many aspirants for Mr.. Reeds toga
has sufficient Individuality or personal
following to give him any special advan-
tage over his rivals. The support of each
seems at present to be confined largely to
the delegation from his own State, and
several OF the would-be Speakers are not
even sure of the unanimous support OF
their respective delegations. Mr.. Sher-
man will not be able to control the New
York delegation unless the Hon. Serene E.
Payne of Auburn kindly steps aside and
renounces his claims" to the Speakers
gavel. Mr. Hopkins of Illinois has rival
in the person of Uncle Joe Cannon. Uncle
Joe" is a much more aggressive man than
Hopkins and has had a longer experience
in Congress He is quite likely to capture
a majority of the Republican Representa-
tives from Illinois, but he can hardly hope
to make many converts outside of the
State. especially among the Older mem
bers. He has been Chairman of the Com
mittee on Appropriations for four years
and he has been compelled to turn deaf
ear to the personal appeals OF good many
Representatives who were anxious TO get
pet appropriation schemes through; con-
sequently he has made a large number Oh
enemies. Right after the formal announce
ment of Mr.. Reeds intended withdrawal
from political life the friends of Mr.. Sher-
man appeared to take it for granted that
he would have no serious rival in the East.
1t was given out, evidently by authority,
that the gentleman from Utica was Mr..
Reeds political resduary legatee: that he
would have the united support of every
Republican Representative from East OF
the Allegheny Mountains. This is GER
tainly the impression that Mr.. Sherman
and his immediate friends wished to create,
but it is very far from the truth. Mr..
Moody of Massachusetts has launched
Speakership boom on his own account and
the chances are that he will get majority
of the votes from New England. The peo-
pie from that section of the country are
clannish to a degree and they like to COM
pliment a favorite son.
Mr. Dalzell OF Pittsburg, has also en-
tered the race and it is thought that he
will have the united support of his State.
He will have one advantage over all of
his rivals: there are more Republican Rep
resentatives from Pennsylvania than from
any other State. Pennsylvania is prepar
ing an elaborate argument to prove that
she is entitled to the Speakership by nat
ural right, but such arguments, as rule,
count for very little unless they are backed
up by substantial number OF votes.
1t is not thought, however, that the
Speakership matter will be settled with
out either direct or indirect interference
from the Administration or the trust mag
mates. Il do not see how the Admins
tration can keep out of the scrimmage."
said a prominent Republican yesterday. in
referring to the Speakership struggle. Its
interests are directly involved, for on the
next Speaker, TO very large extent, will
! depend the successful carrying out of the
Presidents policy. 1t behooves the Presi-
| dent and his friends. therefore, to see to
| it that a man in harmony with their views
and upon whom they can rely is elected
| Speaker. Another reason why the Presi-
| dent wishes to avoid a protracted strug-
| gle over the Speakership Is that the hand
| of the trusts viii surely develop in that
event and much scandal will ensue. The
| trust issue is more than likely to give
| us great deal of trouble in the Presi-
| dental battle year hence. and If it should
appear that the trust nagnates had elect
| ed the Speaker 1t might cost us the Presi-
dency.''
Mr.. Quay's Case. - The friends OF
former Senator Quay are getting impa-
tent. it is understood because the Gov
errors of three other States, Delaware
| Utah, and California. where the Legisla-
lures failed to elect Senators, have failed
to emulate the example set by Governor
| Stone and I'LL the vacancies by ap-
pointment 1t was expected by Mr.. Quay
and his friends that the Governors Of the
| States named would lose no time in is
! suing certificates OF appointment. but as
they have not done SO Mr.. Quay's friends
are somewhat anxious Mr.. Quay's case
| will be made the stronger, they think, il
| it is backed up by similar appointments
from the other States where vacancies
| exist.
Mr.. Quay said a Pennsylvania Re-
| publican yesterday, has had a pretty ac-
curate poll of the Senate made on the
! question of his eligibility under Governor
! Stones appointment, and he is satisfied
| that he will be seated. Quite a number
| OF Republican Senators will vote against
| seating Quay, but their votes will be more
| than offset by the votes of Democratic
Senators who will support his claim
There is no ironclad rule in the matter
| you know; there have been precedent:
both ways. Mr.. Quay is very popular per.
sonally on the Democratic side of thu
Senate Chamber. About half of the Dem
ocratic Senators signed paper, you will
remember. a short time ago urging the
| Democratic members of the Legislature
at Harrisburg to vote for Quay. l d.
not think that Mr. Quay need worry very
much over his case. He will be seated
|