Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-10
HOUSE LEADERSHIP.
WHO WILL LEAD THE DEMOCRATS
ON THE FLOORf
THREE PROMINENT ASPIRANTS.
unul0head, of AIabnma, Dc Almond,
of Missouri, and Richardson, or
Tennessee.-The Iast-Nnmed seems
to Have the Inside Track.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. September p
Especially with the passing Of the sum
mer and the approach OF Congress, in
terest in the coming contest for the
leadership OF the minority in the House
IS manifest. The aspirants for the
10 .ro- i-..c ia, .neir strength ard
counting votes for the first ballot.
They are choosing their lieutenants and
are preparing for an active fight before
the Democratic caucus. II is very like
ly that the Democrats will assemble IN
Washington several days before Congress
convencs, in order to have their contest
settled in advance Of the session. phe
Republicans have settled their differ
ences. and months ahead of time have
selected their leader Mr.. Henderson.
Their caucus action will be purely .
nominal affair, as there will be no other
candidate before tho party.
THREE ASPIRANTS.
But with the Democrats things are not
so smooth, and more interest hinges On
the election Of their leader than on the
speakCrship Of the House itself. There
are three avowed candidates, and no dark
horse is even i'm sight. one may develop
later, but at the present time there are
in the field only three aspirants-Alr.
Richardson, Of Tennessee; Mr.. De Ar
mOnd, Of Missouri, and Mr. Bankhead, OF
Alabama. Under the chaperonage OF Mr..
Bailey Mr.. Bankhead made a squirt ahead
at the close Of the last session. and had
the election taken place then, he would
have pOlled a heavy vote, even il he had
not won. But since then he has been
steadily going down the hill in this mat
ter. Among other things, he is said 10
have told mis- friends that the Chicago
platform was a handicap, and some Of
these friends thereupon forsook him ana
went bag and baggage, to one Of the
two other candidates. Mr.. Bankhead
afterwards denied that he had ever ex-
pressed any sentiments hostile either &C
Mr.. Bryan or the Democratic platform,
but there were his erstwhile friends who
had become alionated from him, and these
gave evidence against him. Re will un
dOubtedly try to rally the old Bailey
forces when the caucus meets bat it IS
hardly likely that he can DO so, and II
is unlikely, moreover, that Mr.. Bailey
will interest himself i'm the matter for
a candidate whose loyalty 10 the platform
is under suspicion. Then, too. Mr. Bailey
will not care 10 bother himself with
House affairs, as he has practically se-
cured the seat Of Senator Chiffon. But
his former support will be Bankheads
shibboleth.
DE ARMOND POPULAR
The candidate that Mr.. Richardson will
have 10 fear Is the MissOurian. Mr. Do
Almond is popular. and will get much
Of the strength from Mr. Bankbead. The
opponents Of the Tennesseean are already
beginning TO rally to De Almond as the
most available candidate 10 pit against
Both Richardson and De Almond are
strong. able men, but on different lines.
d. Almond il easily the peer OF any
member Of the House in inveciive and
in handling sarcasm and irony has not
an equal on the floor He is delightful
personally. and numbers his close, int
mate friends 10y the score. But withal
he Is not considered good material t0-
leadership lie Is Quick-tCmpered, and
what 3 a greater fault still Ia one who
Gspires for leadership on the floor Is slow
in debate.
WELL-EQUIPPED.
Richardson on the contrary, Is agile ~
cat III debate. and his knowledge il
extensive. and every bit OF il Richardson
has OF mis- fingers lips. There f. no rule
o. precedent In Congress OF any other
well-knOWn legislative body that Rich
quote al will. and apply with wisdom ana
10 the discomItur OF an enemy In de-
bate X is no disparagement 70 General
Henderson 10 say that the latter Is but |
an amateur IN parliamentary procedure
as compared % the tall and wiry Ten
nesseean. Back of Richardson's agility
and readiness there Is a learning which
goes to give him depth and weight in
whatever he says or does. lie IS quick |
to see the vulnerable points Of an OPP |
ponent and 10 take advantage OF an OPEN |
ing The Democrats will be able 10 do |
much 70 discorcert their opponents with |
such a .eader-Ona who can unite them |
and lead them adroitly and skiltuliy |
in an attack.
A HEATED CONTEST.
He and De Almond are personal friends |
now, and 1t will be thu effort OF both |
70 prevent Their enthusiastic followers
from bringing personal animcsllies into
the campaign. The contest Will he a
heated one. however, and has already |