The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-07
HENDERSON SURPRISED THEM.
WAS NOT THE ADMINISTER ATOMS
CHOICE FOR SPEAKER.

Crafty Politician and a Grand-
stand PInyer-QuestiOn Whether
Mrs. Henderson VIII Play a Prom-
inont Part in society.
Washington, June 6.-(speclaD. Gen.
Dave Henderson, the one-legged veteran
from Iowa. has surprised hts friends all
over tho country by the quiet and success
ful manner In which he has conducted his
campaign for the speakership. His per-
sonal popularity made him second choice
of many members who were pledged to
other candidates
Ton days ago his best friends had no
idea that he would have such a landslide
so early in the contest 1t Is known that
he was not the first choice of the admin
istration or the powers that usually con-
troll In the Republican party. probably be-
cause 1t was thought that he would not
prove winner. White Il cannot be said
that the administration is opposed to Gen.
Henderson, it was supposed that some
other man would be chosen as the sue
cessor of Mr.. Reed.
Gen. Henderson. however, evidently had
a straight tip from Mr.. Reed, as to the
| latter's future Intentions, for Il now turns
out that Mr. Henderson has been assist
ed in his campaign by some of the ablest
of Mr. Reeds lieutenants and the em-
ployes of the House who have the facul-
ty OF getting on the winning side, when
the scramble for the fruit on the con-
gressonal tree begins.
The election Of Gen. Henderson TO the
speakership viii probably result in many
! unexpected changes In the makeup OF
the various committees Although Il ls
announced that Gen. Henderson has not
| made single committee pledge, II is but
fair to assume that certain members who
have helped to propel the band wagon have ..
an understanding with the probable speak
er that is as good as a pledge.
His Grnndstand Plays.
Gen. Henderson Is crafty politician,
who is not aEerse 20 winning popular favor
| when he can, nor Is he above playing 10
| the galleries. when the occasion Is such
| as to justify him in doing No one who
| has read his war record win derry that he
was a gallant and brave soldier. Friend
| and foe acknowledge that fact. Neverthe-
less, he does not hesitate 10 resort TO spec
tacular display Of the injuries he received
| during the war on appropriate occasions.
| For instance, when he was q member OF
| the committee on appropriations, he was
| generally placed In charge Of the pension
appropriation bill He usually wears an ar
| titicial limb in place Of the one he lost ON
| the battle field but when in charge of the
| pension bin he Invariably left his cork leg
at home, ana appeared in Congress mount
| ed upon a pair Of crutches. In addressing
| the House he would rest the stump of his
| leg on his desk and IN laundering tones,
| lead the fight for liberal pensions to the
Boys in Blue" and their surviving rela-
| tives. The dramatic effect of an old SOL
dier standing there upon his crutches
| pleading for pensions can be better imag-
| ined than described
However, he has a great big honest
heart, and he will be less vindctive to-
wards Southern representatives than was
Mr.. Reed who has never forgiven the
South because some OF his delegates 10
! the last national convention from the
Southland turned out to be "McKinley''
men on the final ballot. Mr.. Reed was at
one time under the impression that but
| little dependence could be placed In poli-
ticians from the South and he showed
his feelings in that directions on many
! occasions by refusing to allow legislation
Of special interest to the South 10 be con-
sidered.
Important Committee work.
In the next Congress the appropriations
committee will occupy a conspicuous place
in the proceedings While the committee
on ways and means may retain It's time
honored place as the ranking committee
II VIII only be so in name, for there is
no prospect Of the tariff question over
shadowing the demand for liberal appro-
priations. The administration will need
liberal appropriations for all branches or
the government, and the demands for ap-
preparations for the army and navy are
likely to be far beyond anything in the
previous history of this government
Therefore interest viii center around the
makeup Of the appropriations committee,
and also the military aud the naval COM
mittees.
The committee on banking and currency
will also be OF considerable Importance,
II the administration insists upon bringing
forward new financial scheme. 1t is un-
dorstood that there is to be a general
sbake-up in the leading committees, hence
the Republicans, as well as the Democrats,
will cast friendly smiles towards Gen.
Henderson while he Is engaged In making
up his committees.
From a Social View.
II Gen. Henderson Is elected to the
speakershlp Of the House, a bright Hight
of interest win be focused upon his FAM
y. The wife of the speaker has a high
social standing in Washington, but II re-
mains for some woman of the future TO
make the most of this fact and establish
herself as a leader in official society
The speakers wife has never yet lived
up to the possibilities of her husbands
position, and now that the Henderson
boom Is in the ascendancy people are
questioning If Mrs. Henderson will or will
not prove an exception to the rule IN case
of her husbands election.
Judging casually 1t would not appear
that the Hendersons would enter the race
for social prominence under any condi-
tlons. as their part has been so modestly
played during the Generals term in Con-
gress, but IL Is never safe to predict
woman's course of action II she Is backed
by an ambitious husband and an unmar-
rled daughter If Mrs. Henderson
achieves social prominence she viii do
what Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Crisp. Mrs. Car
isle and Mrs. Blaine failed to do while
their husbands held the Office OF speaker.
Widely known as are the last two named