Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-22
FOR FOR TIE SP[AKERSH|P
Politicians Do Not Believe That
Littlefield Will Contest With
Henderson.
Cannon, Of Illinois. Will Be Can.
didatc Ii Opposition to Hen.
derson Develops.
Hardly Probable That Preseny
Speaker Will Be Deposed
Next Session.

Chicago. July ga Washington
special 10 the lnter-Ocean says: The
announcement here yesterday that MIR
Littlefeld of Maine. would be canai-
cate against MIR. Henderson for the
speakership, and that he expects to app
pear as an administration candidate
excited great interest, and was the talk
OF the politicians.
Old hands in the political game eN-
,ress great doubt as TO the truth of the
announcements If it is true. they are
wondering what the Maine mans
friends are driving at. They say that
instead of beng an administration man
Mr.. Littlefield has continually opposed
the president and the party.
Mr. I.ittlefield has been conspicuous
in the house during two congresses. but
in each Of them his most conspicuous
effort was against the administration
and against a majority of his party in
the house. He began his congressional
career by opposing the expulsion of
brigham Roberts, the Mormon membe.
from Utah. who admitted that he had
three wives.
Littlefeld, speech on that occasion
was brilliant, but it did not carry con-
viction to the members of his own party
in the house. Roberts was expelled by
an almost unanimous vote.
Mr. Littletield again took issue with
his party on the Porto Rico bin, and
while he had quite a number of other
republicans with him his leadership
only applied to minority of the party
In the last session of congress Mr.
I.ittlefield was conspicuous as one of
the leaders of the beet-sugar insur-
gents who opposed the presidents
policy of reciprocity with Cuba. In that
fight he divided honors With TaWney. OF
Minnesota, Smith, of Michigan, and
other republican representatives from
eet-suger states. He did not represent
the administration policy on any inn
portant question before congress.
Among the older members of the
house there is considerable curiosity as
to the purpose of the frequent an
rouncenents regarding Mr.. Littelfield
and his future as the administration
leader. They confess that they do not
understand what particular political
game Mr.. Littletield and his friends are
PLAYING.
The inspiration for these announce
ments does not come from the White
house, or from Oyster Bay. 1t is true
that there was a spirit of dissatisfac-
ton With the old leaders of the house
during the last session and that there
was much opposition manifest to the
present speaker.
Should there be a change of speaker
in the next congress the man who is
most likely to be elected is Joseph G.
Cannon. of Illinois. Mr.. Canaan was
the real leader of the house in the last
session. not by reason of favorusm
from the speaker. but because of his
own force as dehater and the con-
fdence reposed in him by his party as
sociates on the floor. In every import
ant question that came to the from
where there were differences in the
party Nj. Cannon took the lead and
generally led to victory.
A great may members have urged Mr.
Cannon to announce himself as 4 cam
didate for speaker of the next house,
but he has declined to enter the lists
against Speaker Henderson and try to
take from him the support of his old
friends who nominated him the last
time by reclamation.