The St. Louis Republic., 1900-11-18

Special Correspondence Of Tic Sunday Republic
Jefferson City. Nov. 1.-THE Missouri po-
litical pot that two weeks ago was boiling
over has simmered down TO its wonted con-
Slstency. The strife occasioned by it is now
a closed incident until the recurring contest
for political preferment two years hence
AT the capital, though. politics Is perennial.
The atmosphere is charged with it, and il
Is never absent from the daily life of the
denizens of Jefferson City. 1t is the sauce
as We'll as the staff OF life Ia many here.
and in consequence Is always uppermost.
Without the confines Of the capital people
have lapsed into disi?terestedneSs on the
subject. but the scene has only shifted in
Jefferson City. With the settlement of the
issues involved in the State elections that is
now history-new ones have arisen here.
Nearly two months intervene between now
and when the Legislature assemblies, bu.
there is already speculation as to the or
ganization of the Forty-first General AS
sembly. 1t will grow apace until the Lcgis-
lature meets, and will be at white heat
until after the Speaker and Chief Clerk are
elected and the numerous assistants are Sc
lected There Is no more interesting oc-
cupation than watching the formative per-
iod Of Missouri Legislature. Political
fnesse OF the most finished kind may be
seen. and the campaigns are carried on
with vigor and enthusiasm that attaches
to no other political contest. There are
candidates galore for every position within
the gift of the Legislature, from Speaker
down 10 spittoon cleaner. and while the
latter's campaign may not be conducted
along as dignifled and as able lines the
former, the intensity of 1t does not suffer
thereby.
The most important and. Of course. the
most talked OF position is that OF Speaker.
The efficacy of a legislative body depends
largely upon the tact and ability OF its
presiding officer. and effort is usually made
to secure some one who has both ability
and legislative experience. The capacity Of
more than half Of those who are elected to
this office is misguaged and the admins
tration OF many is accordingly failure.
A term as Speaker Is usually the Capstone
of the incumbents political career, and the
same tradition that has made the vice
presidency Of the United States n political
graveyard attaches to the Speakership
Whether II Is n popular tallacy or not. the
fact still remains that not many Missouri
politicians who have been speakers of the
House have been able to use the office as
a stepping-stone to higher things politically
Up to date there are seven gentlemen
who have been prominently spoken Of for
this important position. All are wel-known
Democrats. who will take an active part
IN the deliberations of the next House The
candidates in question are: c. &. Dickin-
son of Henry County. j. H. Whitecotton OF
Monroe. w. D. Hamilton of Davies. Peter
Huck Of Ste. Genevieve. Joseph Tapley OF
Pike County and ]. r. Nicholson of Cass
Thomas Hackney of jasper, who defeated
Fire Alarm" Flanagan In that county. has
also been mentioned as n candidate
OF the prospective candidates for the
speakership three are old members J. H.
WhitecottOn was candidate before the
last House. against w. J. Ward of Stod-
dard. MIR. Whitec"tton was defeated hut
the contest was sharp and interesting and
presages what kind of a fight NAV be
expected from Monroe County's candidate
Mr.. Whtecotton was also known as the
leader in the last House of the "Fi!ip:nos,"
an organization of Democrats which was
opposed 10 jhe administration
w. D. Hamilton is from Governor-cl..t
Dockery's county. and is a close poIitlcaI
frierd of Mr. Dcckery. lie has been mo
of the leaders of the Democratic. side of the
House for three sessions of the Legislature.
He has always been accounted one of The
readiest debaters In the House. and In no
litical tilts with the minority he usually
leads the fight. He was "A member of me
Revision Commission. and is responsible in
part for the new arrangement of the stat
utes.
Peter H. Huck of Ste ienevieve will serve
his second term in the Legisaturc this VIM
ter. He was also member Of the Revision
CCmm1SS1OE. ilr. luck. II Is said, VIII e.
ceive the support OF the members from
Southeast Missouri for the Speakership.
j. r. Nicholson of Cass was Il well-known
member of the last Legislature. His candi-
dacy has not been formally announced but
1t is understood he will make the race.
Joseph Tapley, c. C. Dickinson and Thom-
as Hackney are newly elected members ,f
the Legislature. They are prominent in
their respective sections of Missouri and
can command a strong following Not for
many years have SO many candidates
sought the speakership, and the sequel viii
be an interesting contest.
The candidates thus far mentioned for
chief clerk of the House are Joseph f. Tall
OF Clark County. Lon Luther OF Pettis Web
ster Gordon of Boone, and Joseph Shelby of
Kansas City. Mr.. Tall was enrolling c,rrk
of the last House and Mr.. Luther was on
the clerical force of Chief Clerk Henry a.
Newman. Mr.. Gordon was representative
from Boone County. and Mr.. Shelby had