Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-14
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER II. 1899.
Nrvr sEssIoN or CONGRESs.

The first Monday I'm December VIII ma
r,opgrsss in session. and the absence Of
Mr.. Reed will be noteworthy. lie has
retired from active political life, and is
now engaged in carving out fortune Tor
himself at the New York bar. His record
while he was Speaker shows that he
dearly loves power. and his retirement Is
therefore. still a matter Of wonder.
He may make money IN New York, but
there is very nttle prospect that he will
rise TO dazzling eminence in public af-
fairs there. Mr. Platt controls all the
Jobs the Republicans have I'm the Empire
state. and there is no reason TO suppose
he VIII favor Mr.. Reed above Mr. Roose-
yelt and other Of his lieutenants. So it
would seem that the ex-Spcaker will
have to content himself for the present
at least, with gaining distinction in his
profession. But even there his success
IS not assured. Though he is Undoubted-
w a man Of marked ability, there are
others I'm New York who excel him in the
law. Upon the whole. we may be fairly
certain that never hereafter will Tom
Reed occupy in the public sight the space
which he occupied while he lorded it
over the House Of Representatives.
His place as Speaker Of the House will
be filled by the election of General Hen
herson. OF Iowa. Whether he viii con-
tinue the autocratic methods which Mr..
Reed introduced, or will permit the
House TO have something to say as to its
government. remains to be seen. Any
KAY. Henderson will have a difficult task
10 perform. If he chooses to assume the
roll OF car it is scarcely probable the
members Of his party will yield him the
ready obedience they accorded Reed; on
the other hand. If he is more ienient In
his sway. by some he will be set down as
q weakling. For our part, we hope he
will honestly and fearlessly carry into
the Speakers chair that degree Of fair
ness and that suavity of manner which
distinguished most Of the Speakers be
fore Mr.. Reeds time. lie may meet with
difficulties in the beginning, but ultimate
Iy his Efforts must be appreciated by the
majority Of members on both sides OF
the House. Unless we much mistake
public sentiment, the country would re-
1oice TO sec man Of judicial tempera-
ment presiding over the House. whether
Henderson has that temperament We do
not know, but at least, there is some
hope from him. whereas there was none
from Mr.. Reed.
The washington correspondent of the
Baltimore American states that Of the
half dozen gentlemen who are aspiring
20 the leadership of the Democrats Of the
House. MIR. Richardson. of Tennessee, As
the one upon whom they probably will
agree. He says. further, that the oppo-
sition to the Republicans. being only hf-
teen less than the Republican strength,
Will be more formidable in this Congress
than in the last
1t appears TO be the purpose Of the Re
publican leaders TO restrict legislation as
much as possible at the coming session,
but already there is considerable discus
sion upon the question whether bin
shall be passed OF not enacting the gold
standard into law. 4 committee of Re
publican congressman IS ready TO report
in favor Of that action. we believe. Tic
New YORK sun ana some other Papers
argue that law now on the statute
books has settled that question already,
but their argument is not satisfying TO
many other prominent Republicans. We
take II for granted that the policy Of the
Republicans win be 10 Keep in the back
ground all questions which are likely to
create divisions IN their ranks. Natural
~. they wish 10 have as few encum-
brances as possible IN the presidential
campaign, but they may not have their
way. The opposition IN the House Is
large enough 10 make merry war
whenever they are united. Therefore II
Is 10 be hoped they VIII be successful In
choosing leader who VIII be equal to
the occasion.