River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-11-21
FREE FROM CONTEST.
Coming Session of Congress to Be
Without Excitement.
Two Men from Town VIII Continue to
shape National Legislation
Some Historic Speaker
ship Fights.
Especial washington letter.
X CONSTITUTIONAL require

nY CONSTITUTIONAL require
b ment the congress must convene
annually on the first Monday in
December; and in compliance with
that mandate of the basic law the
statesmen are gathering.
Usually at the beginning of new
congress there is a scramble for the
speakership and the offices of both
the senate and the house of represent
atives; but this year there is no con-
test, no excitement, no indication Of
acrimony in any quarter.
The writer has witnessed many or
gani1a tons of the congress, and re-
members well the contests which re-
suited in the elections of Randall, Car
isle, Reed and Crisp 10 the speaker
ship. In those days the adherents of
the aspirants for that high honor
were busy by day and by night during
the two weeks preceding the conven-
ing of the congress. The older mer-
bers were carefully watching the rail-
road depots and the hotel registers,
either personally or by proxy, in or
der to gather in the new members and
secure their votes in caucus for their
favorites.
In November, 1883, the democrats
had a majority Of the house of repre-
sentatives and the great contest was
between ex-Speal1er Sam Randall and
John G. Carlisle, resulting in the Sc
lection of Carlisle. 1t was the first
great battle inside of the democratic
party between the protectionist and
free trade elements. William r. Nor
rison, of Illinois, was the leader of the
Carlisle faction, and his successful
management naturally caused his sub
sequent selection for the chairman
ship of the committee on ways and
means. In that capacity free trade
bill was formulated by him, and it
was we'll known as the Morrison bin.
1t was celebrated measure, and all of
the newspapers gave columns upon
columns to its discussion. So fleeing
IS fame, however, that the name of
neither Morrison nor Carlisle is now
known to the average reader of daily
newspapers.
The next great speakership contest
was at the beginning of the Fifty-frst
congress, in November, 1889, when
Reed, of Maine; Mckinley, of Ohio;
Burrows, of Michigan; Cannon, of Illi-
nois, and Henderson, of Iowa, were
the leading candidates. Mr. Reed was
selected and Mckinley was made
chairman Of the committee on ways
and means. A protectionist bill was
framed which became celebrated as
the Mckinley bill. That measure was
rejected by the people in 1890, and Nc
Kinley was defeated for reelection to
congress. 1t is a singular fact that
out of McKinleyis defeat for the
speakership and his defeat for reelec-
ton grew his presidential opportuni-
ties. He was twice elected governor of
Ohio, in which position he served with
out flaw or blemish. The fame of the
Mckinley bill did not die. Thus he be-
came the champion of protection, and
his party kept him to the front until
finally he was made president of the
republic. Very well might he have re-
peated Tennyson's popular lines:
81 hold It truth with him who sings
To one clear harp in divers tones
That men may rise on stepping stones
OF their dead selves, to higher things"
The next great speakership contest
was in November, 1891, when Crisp, of
Georgia; Mills, of Texas; McMillin, of
Tennessee, and Springer, of Illinois,
were the leading candidates for that
honor. The writer was in the room of
the committee on appropriation that
evening, when Springer, of Illinois,
concluded to withdraw in favor of
Crisp; and that brought about the Sc
lection of Crisp. with the subsequent
appointment of Springer to the chair