Arizona republican., 1902-09-24

ever, until it is finally settled. The speakership of the national house of representatives is one of the greatest ways been so. And while Thomas B. Reed raised the position to one of autocratic power. and his successors Crisp and Henderson, did what they questionable whether the office is any more attractive now than when it was filled by Blaine, Randall and Carlis-ie under rules which gave the individual members a pronounced voice in legis- lation. It is not the autocracy lent by any set of rules, but the power and dignity conferred by the constitution which places the speakership among the greatest honors of the republic; and were it not that the speaker must be elected every two years the office would be almost as attractive as the presidency itself.
 Should the people of the country have a fit of insanity and elect democratic majority to the next house, the democ- racy would be embarrassed in trying to find a man really big enough fo- speaker. The election would probably go to David De Armond, or Champ Clark, both of Missouri. James D. Richardson of Tennessee, as leader of the minority on the floor, has lost, rather than gained, prestige. It is al- most idle, however, to consider the possibility of a democratic speaker.
 During the week which has elapsed since Henderson's sensa tional an- nouncement, four republicans have been frequently mentioned. These are Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois, Serene E. Payne of New York, James s. Sher- man of New York, and Charles E. Lit tlefield of Maine. Discussion of the qualities of leadership possessed by these men will continue throughout the coming year, and during the coming short session each of them will be un- der close scrutiny from the public. Very likely the choice of the party will
 
 gress convenes-there is TO probability of a repetition of Henderson's first campaign, when by a sort of plebiscite taken during the summer, the gentle man from Iowa demonstrated that he had majority of the republican mem bers for him long before congress con- vened. Cannon, Payne and Sherman have been so long in congress, and each for himself so long ago won l leading position in the house, that little which is new concerning either is likely to be made public. Cannon as chair man of the committee on appropria- tions, Payne as chairman of the com mittee on ways and means, and Sher- man as chairman of the committee on Indian affairs, have each shown quali- ties of statesmanship of a high order MT. Littlefield is the unknown factor. It Is remarkable that such new mem Der should have achieved such prom- hence. He was first elected in June, 1899, to fill the unexpired term of Nel- son Dingley, who had just died He had hardly taken his seat before he took a stubborn position against his party associates on the question of the Porto Rican tariff, and his speech on that question caused embarrassment to President Mckinley and the party lead CTS almost in proportion to the sensa- tion it created throughout the country Subsequent events demonstrated that the president and the conservative leaders were wise in deferring free any mistakes made by MT. Littlefield have not tended to make him backward in offering his counsel He is undoubt- edly a man of brilliant parts, and since he is drawing an antitrust bill which is to embody the policy of the adminis- tration, his prominence has taken form that may win him the speaker ship.
 It is well within the possibilities, however, that the office of speaker may go to a man who heretofore has not been mentioned-Chester I. Long of Kansas. MT. Long is one of the younger members of the house, but he has won a leading place on the ways and means committee and during the debates on the Cuban reciprocity issue in the closing weeks of the last session he proved that he was easily the leader of the party in handling that question. l He is one of the presidents most l trusted friends, and is popular with all members. He has many of the quail | ties of a strong national leader. He is | certain to be returned to congress this | fall by an increased majority, and |