The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-15
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
There was a time when the speaker of
the house of representatives was second
! in power only to the president But
that was when suc+-men as Colfax and
Blaine and Reed and Carlisle and Crisp
occupied the chair. There was a time
when the house" was the dominant in
fiuence In shaping national policies and
national legislation. But that was be-
fore the speakership of David B. Hem
derson. The rise of the senate from the
position of an advisory body to that of
virtual dictator, dates from the election
of David B. Henderson as speaker. Those
who attribute the loss of prestige of the
house to the notorious incapacity of the
speaker are only half right The cause
lies deeper. 1t is due to marked fall
ing off in the intellectual caliber of the
average member of that body. The
speaker being the free choice of the in
dlvidual members is to q degree the ex-
ponent of the composite ability of the
body of men whose choice he is. Ana
a legislative body which will deliberately
choose a man of the intellectual caliber
OF David B. Henderson as its leader, dem
onstrates it's incapacity and proclaims
to the world its inability to deal with
grave national affairs.
Just now when the nation is facing the
most serious commercial crisis of it's
history, and when the people, irrespective
OF politics, are looking to the leaders Of
the dominant party for some hint of a
policy which will tend to avert the
threatened commercial disaster this man
who occupies position only second 10
the president gives voice in a public
speech to the meaningless platitudes.
81 never was firmer believer in the
doctrine of protection than 1 am today
AFTER some three months spent this sum
mef IN several of the countries of Eli
rope, am only strengthened in my con-
Vretlons. No one policy has done so much
for the development of our country. for
the elevation of labor on the farm and
In tn. the shop, as this great policy.
80 some are urging a revision of the tar
III. am not now prepared to say wheth-
er the situation warrants revision or not
at this time, but if revision is entered
upon, feel, as did our 1amented presi-
cent, when he gave out the splendid ut
terance at Buffalo, that any action taken
must not interrupt our home produc-
tons -
What is this but the Cracking of
thorns under pot?" What is this man
waiting for-to receive instructions? If he
does not know now what he thinks is best
to do, is there any hope that he will ever
ma out? If such speech were the result
OF desire to trim-the foxy retreat of a
politician behind words-it might be ex-
cused. But we all know that that speech
was his best-a fair index of the mental
1ty of the man who presides over the
great house of commons of this nation.
We know it and it makes us sick at heart
to contemplate the momentous interests
consigned to such man. A tool is al
ways more dangerous in public position
than knave. David B. Henderson is
composed of the material of which tools
are made
From present indications Henderson
will be reelected speaker; the bosses be-
ing satisfied with his services. He will
have no opinion and no policy not dictat-
ed by those who keep him in his seat
That he will oppose revision of the
tariff and favor the ship-subsidy bill and
all kindred legislation there is not the
slightest doubt. The only redeeming fea-
ture to the situation is, his influence as
speaker is NIL He has no power
of initiative and consequently will
originate nothing. The house will
continue to play second fiddle to
the senate. We know what the senate
will dove know what it has tried to do
during the past two years. The only ray
of hope that cuts the gloom of the pres
ent situation comes from the White
house. There at least sits man who
will act. Whether wisely or not we do not
know, yet he will act from his own con-
yictions. The policies of the administrat-
ton will be his policies. o, for a Reed
in the speakers chair-a man capable
Of comprehending the present situation
and courageous enough to act upon his
comprehension. But there are no Reeds
nor Blaines in the house of representa-
tives-that body is composed of Hender-
sons. '.'Tis true, tbs pity and pity it's
tbs true"