Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-17
WILL RECONSIDER
Belief in Regard to Speaker
Henderson.
SHOCK TN THIS CITY
COMMENT ON HIS LETTER OF
COMMENT ON ELS LETTER OF
DECLINATION.
Secretary Shaw's Views Upon His Ac-
tion-The Democratic Opinion
Matter of a Successor.


from Iowa this morning what was the most
startling and sensational piece of political
news Of the fall Congress campaign-a
declaration from David B. Henderson de-
clning the nomination of his party to the
Fifty-eighth Congress from the third Iowa
district, because his views on the question
of the tariff are not in accord with those
of the platform of his state and district.
Notwithstanding the belief that the
Speaker will reconsider the news of his de-
cision not to return to Congress is a pro-
life source of political speculation.
who will be the next Speaksr?" and rs
the republican party in the west divided
over the TARIFF These are the two ques-
tions which are at once asked, and the one
who asks the question will generally pro-
ceed to give himself an answer according
to his own tariff predictions and choice
for Speaker.
Tariff Phase Of Situation.
When the tariff phase of the situation Is
discussed the conference yesterday at
Oyster Bay between the President and
the leaders of the Senate is cited as a
most significant coincidence. President
Roosevelt is going into the western country
where the question is rife. He wanted to
know what the party leaders. in the Sen
ate had to suggest regarding the attitude
he should take on the question. The pre-
ponderance of opinion was voiced by Sen
ator Hanna, as quoted in The Star yester-
day. that the tariff should not be revised.
Speaker Henderson announces in his dec
laration that he holds precisely the same
view, and that this view is not in harmony
with the party declarations of his state
and district Being himself In harmony
with the great party leaders of the country,
however, those who venture an opinion on
tn course Of the Speaker are rather in
cIined to criticise him for what they term
his hasty and il-timed action in retiring
He should have stood by his guns. they de-
clare, and made an effort to convince those
of his constituents as well as the leaders of
the revisionists in the state that they were
wrong. The party needed Mr.. Henderson
very much in this capacity in his state and
his throwing up his hands at this time and
for this avowed cause is considered politi-
cal oversight of disastrous significance.
1t is with this view In mind that the be-
lief that he will reconsider Is entertained.
Speaker Henderson is too old politician
not to be aware of these facts, and those
who know him best say that his bold decla-
ration not to be candidate is his own fear
less way of announcing unequivocally his
tariff views, and this done, the republicans
of his district can do no more than come to-
sether in second convention, nominate Mr..
Henderson by acclamation and declare him
all right in his position on the tariff. This,
it is argued. would be a signal victory for
the administration position; would make the
Speaker Independent of the Cummings
iver-Roberts tariff revision element in the
state, and check the tide of popular opinion,
which the Speaker recognizes in his letter
of declination for tariff revision.
Question of Successor.
If all this is not so. and the Speaker re-
mains steadfast in his refusal to again be
a candidate for Congress, the question of
y fe
once becomes all-absorbing topic of dis
cussion.
The combinations which were formed and
broken when Mr.. Henderson was elected
Speaker. indicate that the middle west will
undoubtedly form com mbination to control
the place, which would be hard to break.
Opposed to this combination would be Rep
resentative Sherman of New York. who had
strong following in the east and far west,
with Mr.. Littlefield and several other gen
tlemen as possibilities.
The middle west combination would un-
doubtedly start in with three candidates,
Mr.. Cannon Of Illinois, Mr. Hemenway Of
Indiana and Mr.. Burton Of Ohio. A combi-
nation that could be worked very success
fully in this connection would give the
speakershlp to Mr.. Cannon, Mr.. Hemenway
to receive in return the chairnaanship Of the
appropriations committee, Of which Mr..
cannon is now chairman, and Mr. Hemen-
way member. Mr.. Hemenway is now
thlrd member of this committee. He likes
the work and has a capacity for the place
General Bingham of Pennsylvania is the
ranking member, but Mr. HemenWay has for
some time been the right-hand man of Mr..
Eahnon "a IN making up appropriation bills.
framing the bills over to Mr.. Hemenway
tnat ne nlmself might have freer hand on
the floor Of the House when they were put
saa,t on their M passage This. however, would
ha h;
promotlon If not, and Mr. Burton should
combine with Mr.. Sherman, an element of
uncertainty would at once enter the situa-
tion. and then the dark horse" would en-
ter the arena
The Democratics view.
AT the democratic Congressional head
quarters here today there is an entirely
olHerent view being taken of Speaker Hen
derson's announcements yubfIa tien is the
sentiment of the demGcrats s.Henderson's
pTeak VIII give us twenty-five seats in the
House, is the declaration made. The
cause OF Mr.; Hendersen's refusal to run is
aeciared TO be fear that he will mot carry
his own district This is backed MP by the
declaration that in 1890, when thettariff was
an an issue Mr Henderson was elected by but
10 10 votes. ms majority WaE iraereased at
tne following election toli 500. land has
Seen steadliy growing ever ce-until the
speaker holds his present seat by a major
1is 1;svs OF .hss nearly l2'ooo. The demnerats be-
.Ao'C iiOnuIfidLe1 the Only man
Who could beat Mr.. Henderson, In former
move mowernor or. Boies and they. declare, with
any man the republicans may nominate to
take the place on the ticket Of the Speaker.
Ahotner element Of fear which they ascribe
to the Speaker Is the disaffect1on of the
colored vote in his district There are. it
is sald, l4.oOO coiored voters in the state,
ana Is per cent Of these are in Mr. Hender-
sons district
This view of the situation is not generally
conceded. however. as It Is known that II
any rear was felt that the Speaker could
not carry his own district sthe republican
campaign managers would Throw enough
campatgn weight into his district to far
overbalance anything the democrats might
90 70 win the district. The Epeaiser has al
ready entered Into the camnaign, and it is
stated that both Governor Cummings and
senator Doliver were to have stumped the
district for him.
The Iowa Platform.
The Speaker has always been a straightout
republican so far as tariff matters are con-
cerned, and at the last session of Congress