The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1899-10-17
THE POLITICAL
OUTLOOK
Who Will Lead the Democrats
In the Next house7

The Democrats will save leo merit
oers IN the next house, This IL a
larger representation than they have
enjoyed for some time. and j. we'll
distrthuted over the entire caaat-y.
n 10 expected that all the party rep
rsssntatives Will participate IN the
caucus 10 be held on the eve Il the
assembisnG OF congress. the onfs
dcves being in tho case % J. II.
nayer. the 6cid Democrat. elected
- Nassachusetts TO succeed tho fiery
ana irascibie walker. OF the Thiri
DISTRICT. Although there Il quite a
Hunosr of northern. eastern ana
vsstsvn Democrats. the Southern
0sasea including Kentucky. Ten
usspee. AMI Missouri. havs a total
representation Of 1917. % that thsiF
combination upon one candidate for
Usahsr would insure success, II -
n1e likely. however. that sectional
lines will be drawn.
fhs narrow ma ,ority by which the
3spubiscans control ehs next house
spd the near approach Of the prssi-
deasiai campaign. give 10 the contest
for minority ieadsrrhip an unusual
importance this year. TIE Demo
cratic members appreciate shis fact.
and their canisdste for speaker viii
not be chosen without q struggle.
All shs more care viii b bestowed
upon shs selection. because II the
my seventh congress should be
D<mocrasic. the representative hon
oSsd shis year with leadership Of the
ni1norssywiil be IN line for the sp~ak-
spship Nomination this year. there
fors. ms future possibilities which
asU not 60 be overlooked. In addi-
tton 90 this. the fact that Reed will
~ longer preside over the house. en-
eoaraese the Democrats 20 believe
tAee they have excellent opportunity
for MAKING political capital II they
only take advantage Of n.
There 10 first % all disposition on
IN part OF leading Democrats 60 re-
turn to the conditions which pre-
vailed In the days % Randall. Car
i'sie. Miias. and Crisp II has only
been within the last four years that
the Democrat selected rs the minor
ity candidate for speaker has at
tempted 10 be literally the ruler OF
he party In the house. formulating
. policy and dems ndinz its obedient
obssrvsnce. The really great Demo
Gratis who preceded Bailey we're con
tent To be simply pnrlia mentary
issdsrs-foor managers. rs II were
who protected the minority against
unfair tactics. Insisted upon an equal
division Of time. and compelled a
full extent Of recognisiu. II vas in
the great parliamentar battles With
Reed. for instance. that Crisp Sc
cured the prominence which led to
his own election as Reeds success
sor.
II the present purpose ~ the Dem
ocra,ic leaders is carried out. there
fore. the next congress will ace
departure from the methods inauR-
urased by Representative Bailey
with such disastrous effect to his
party. They propose rather that all
questions 81 policy shall b. settled
I'm Democratic caucuses or In inform
al conferences. where every member
OF tire party shall have ample Oppor-
tunity to make hia views known.
Under this system-which would be
stmply a return to long -estabiiahei
and successful precedente--ths Dem
ccrst selected as the minority candi-
date for speaker would follow In the
safe footsteps Of Crisp. not attempt
ing 10 set no a standard Of party
policy. but rather acting as the
guardians ~ the rights Of the minor
fty. II 10 believed that this system
would prevent the friction which
vas % apparent under Bailey. would
0sn,sh all jealousy and resentment,
and would lead 10 a coheslveness In
action and unity IN purpose which
wouId srnoeth the way for the Demo-
crate IN tbs next presidential cam
paAgn.