The St. Louis Republic., 1902-11-13
1t Is Only Il Custom and Not a
Law That Has Been
Observed.
ANY ONE CAN MAKE THE RACE.
Iowa Editor Wants Senator Dol
livar TO Run for Speaker Of
the House - Provisions
of the Constitution.
The Republic Bureaa.

Washington Nov l2-Anybody can se.
into the contest for the spr.kersaip of the
House of Representatives. so far as the .F-
strictions of the Constitution o: he United
States IN relation to that office are con-
cerned. In fact, there is nothing except Gus
toni. which has prevailed from the oesih-
ming of the Government. to susses- that
member of the House should b, its Speaker
This interesting even IL ra.her acedic
discussion has arisen in connection with the
pending contest. The constitution or tEe
United States provides that THE House OF
Representatives shall choose their Speaker
and other officers" That leaves the field
open to the world, SO far as the law 's con-
cerned, and the sugg ss.ion OF the Iowa ed1-
tor who wanted Senator Doll!ver to keep
his place in the august body at the north
end of the Capitol and 10 run .cr the speak
ership of the House as size Issue comes
within the range of the possible.
Henderson of Iowa and all other states
men of parliamentary tendencies who would
like to be Speaker of the House will be en-
tirely within their rights as citizens If they
come to Washington and open headquarters
and rally their forces for the fray. The
speakershp Of the House of Representatives
in the Fffty-eighth Congress Is open to TIE
world.
Just how it happened that the first Speak
er OF the House was chosen among Its mem-
bers while all other officers were taken
without that body, Is a question that re-
lates to the first doings of Congress. The
Constitution made provisions FOR the Senate
so that its presiding officer should be an
outsider, with absolutely no authority rs d
member OF that body beyond his duties as
such, except in case OF tie vote. when
he has the deciding vote. The presiding of
ficer of the Senate. when that office IS filed
by the Vice President. confines himself to
parliamentary rulings. He appoints his
secretary a messenger and :sleg-apher,
and there ends his patronage. except SO far
as personal reasons might extend it. He has
nothing to do with the appointment OF COM
mittees. and when he iesignates 4 Senator
for any duty he does SO II d perfGnctory
way, the name and purpose of ths Gss.sna-
tiorl having been placed In his hand without
consulting with him. In the case of a
President pro tenn of the Senate tie selec-
ton is made from among Eat body and the
Senator does not, of course, lose any priv
ilege.
But the Speaker OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives has, from the formation Of that
and from time to time tile authority of
the Speaker has been enlarged until he las
grown to be an autocrat. BIT the Sonstitu-
tion left the place open for appointment as
the House of Representatives secs fit. II
the Democrats were to c oIic INTO power they
could not be prevented from calling IN as
their Speaker either of their ,ne tina peer
less leaders-.i,her Mr.. Clevclaru or MI. Bry-
an as their inclination might suggest--to fill
that important office. and he could do every
thing any other Speakers could do, except
to vote. The possibility of either OF the DEM
ocratic leaders being called IN has passed
for the present. but the possibility uf that
honor being conferred upon any one In tile
Republican party the House might desir, ts
entirely open. Candidates for all the other
Offices of the House come to this city ard
open headquarters Whenever there IS
change Of party management in he Yaurc.
and II anv one wants to enter upon a ein,-
liar campaign for the speafc-ctip there Ia
no reason of law why he shoult! not do It.