The times., 1899-05-11
GENERAL POLITICAL
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

incidentally 1t has acted as Stinulant
to the various aspirants for the position.
From present indications the first session
OF the Fifty-sixth Congress will begin not
later than the first of September, and 1t
| may be called together at much earlier
date. 1t is believed that the Speaker
| ship matter will in all probability be set
tied within the next ten days or two
weeks. The Administration, while abb
staining from any direct interference in
the fight, will nevertheless endeavor to
prevent the election of man VINO is inim-
ical TO its interests. or in fact, who can
not be trusted implicitly. So far as Mr..
Mckinley is concerned, his political future
is, to very considerable extent. involved
in the Speakership contest. 1t is OF vital
importance to the President TO have a
Speaker who is in sympathy with his Ad-
ministration and who will endeayor. so far
as it may be possible, to carry out the
policies of the Administration in the mat
ter of legislation. A hostile Speaker could
do great deal TO thwart the purposes OF
Mr.. Mckinley and his friends. He could,
in fact. nullify practically every plan that
might be proposed BY the President.
Mr.. Reeds so-called voluntary abdica-
tion has not deceived any of the men who
have followed closely the proceedings up
RshsN
Mr. Reed has been antagonistic to the
present Administration from its inception.
IL he had remained in Congress 1t would
have become necessary for the Admins
tration to have brought the matter to a
direct issue, and either Mr.. Reed or the
President would have been forced to ac-
knowledge defeat. The closest friends Of
Mr.. Reed speaking confidently, admit that
he perceived the handwriting on the wall,
and availed himself of an opportunity
which was presented, perhaps accidentally.
to retire gracefully into private life. He
realized that it would be impossible for
him in the next House to maintain his
autocratic rule particularly in the face of
determined opposition from the White
House. Rather than submit to the humili-
alton of a public acknowledgment of his
undoing, Mr. Reed preferred to go into
voluntary retirement with his colors still
flying. There is no one in politics today
VINO imagineS for moment that Thomas
b. Reed will ever again cut any figure in
the national politics of the United States.
Before he will be entitled to vote in the
State of New York. assuming that he has
taken up his permanent residence in that
Commonwealth. the National Convention
which will nominate the Presidential can
d1date of the Republican party in 1900
VIII have met and adjourned. 1t is hardly
conceivable that any man, however dis
tinguished. could hope to be taken up by
any State and pushed to the front as a
Presidential candidate before he had ac-
quired the right to class himself as a
citizen thereof. Mr.. Reed. at the present
time. is not receiving any serious atten-
tion at the hands of the politicians. He
naS already been placed upon the shelf
and it is not even likely that he will have
anything to say regarding the selection
OF MS successor as Speaker of the House.
The friends of Mr.. Sherman, of New
York. have already discovered that they
have made serious mistake in attempt
ing to create the impression that he was
Mr.. Reeds residuary legatee-in other
words, that Mr.. Reed would prefer his
election over that of any other nan.
While 1t Is no doubt true that Mr. Reed,
owing to his strong individuality and other
qualities which compelled the support of
men who were at heart antagonistic to
nlm,. would have been reelected Speaker
il he had remained in Congress, there are
undoubtedly a good many members who
would take secret delight in voting against
any man for Speaker whom they believed
Mr.. Reed favored.
The Speakership contest promises to be
much closer than was generally believed
week or SO ago. Mr. Sherman will not.
from present Indications, have the united
support of the delegation from the Eastern
States; as a matter of fact, it is not yet
determined whether he will be able to con-
troll the delegation from his own State.
The Hon. Serene E. Payne of Auburn. N.
y, still regards himself as an aspirant for
the Speakership. and according to the
statements of his friends, a majority of the
delegation from that State, II left alone.
will support him in preference to Sher-
man. However, Sherman is banking upon
the support of Senator Thomas C. Platt.
haltnUnG hat Dlo.t
to deliver the goods when they are called
for, and this may not be a very extrava-
CANT presumption on the part of Mr. Sher-
man. Conceding that Mr.. Sherman, with
the assistance Of Senator Platt, will be
able to control the Republican delegation
from the State Of New York he will still
be some distance from achieving his am
bition. 1t Will require more than the votes
OF the New York delegation to name the
Speaker OF the next House. Mr.. Quay has
put up dummy in Pennsylvania in the
person OF Representative Bingham. mere
ly for the purpose, 1t is believed, OF hold
ing the delegation together and prevent.
Ing Mr.. Dalzell, OF Pittsburg, from max
ing any headway with his Speakership
boom. Quay OF course, is always open
for trade. and no one is probably bet
ter acquainted with that fact than Senator
Platt. Mr.. Quay's seat in the Senate Is at
Stdhe Inc vote upon MS ADMISSION on
Governor Stones appointment is likely to
be very close. The general opinion today
is that he Will be seated and that the
Senate will reverse the precedents which
1t has established in appointments of this
character. AT the same time 1t behooyes
Mr. Quay to look out after his own inter-
ests, and to move very cautiously and not
to antagonize any of his old Senatorial
colleagues unnecessarily. Senator Allison
who is very influential member of the
Senate, is supporting the candidacy of
General Henderson for the Speakership
with great deal of ardor. Allison could
easily prevent Mr.. Quay's obtaining his
seat, and until the Quay case is settled
it is not likely that Mr.. Quay will under
take to openly support any particular can
didate for the Speakership. 1t Is intimat-
ed that the Administration, for reasons
of its own, would prefer the election of
an Eastern man, and Mr.. Sherman. appar-
emily, is Mr.. Mckinley's choice In the
final roundup. however, Brother Sher-
man may find the support OF the Admin
istration to be something of handicap.
The people of the West believe that they
are entitled to the speakership, and they
intend to get 1t, if possible. The only
thing that can prevent their electing the
next Speaker will be their inability to
unite upon some one man. They have
the votes, and II they stand together they
will absolutely control the situation.
OratoricnI Governors.
(From the Boston Ueraldl