The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-25
(Bv c. Arthur Williams.)

of the minority in the house. of the Fifty-eighth
congress has appeared in the person Of Repre-
sentative Champ Clark of Missouri Compare
lively little has been said about the matter, but
it is known that Clarks friends are giving 1t
considerable amount of attention and that unless
something occurs to cause them to change their
plans, a very determined fight on behalf OF the
Missuurisn will be put up at the proper time.
OF course 4 minority leader will not he Sc
lected for nearly year and the place is one OF
| somewhat empty honor at best but there will
probably be more or less vigorous struggle for
IT, Just the same, AS has been frequently stated
in this correspondence, Representative Richard
son of Tennessee, the present leader. is by no
means as popular as he might be, Many com
plants against his methods have been made. 1t
has been frequently charged that he failed to do
his full duty TO his party in conducting its bat
ties OH the floor of the house and on occasions
it has been limited that these failures were as
much due to Mr.. Richardson's Discrimination TO
do the right thing as 10 his inability to do IT.
! OF course no man could fill the trying posi-
ton aeeeptsby to all concerned. Joseph Weldon
| Bailey held the place and It IS generally coil
coded that it could not have been placed in more
! capable hands Yet many Of Baeys actions
we're criticised by some members Of his own
party and The opposition attempted to ridieulc
and belittle him at every turn. Richardson is by
no means as strong man as Bailey, 50 1t IS not
/
was the Texan. BY many it is considered foee-
gone conclusion that he will not lead the demo
| Gratis in the house OF the next congress.
The members Of the Missouri delegation arc
not known to have any particular grievance
| against Mr.. Richardson but they naturally prefer
! man from their own State Missouri will have
! hfteen democrats in the next house--more than
any other State except Texas and New York
! and those fifteen will naturally be in position
! 10 WELD a considerable amount Of power when
! the time Tor the selection OF floor leader ar
rives. 1t IS stated on good authority that the
| Missouri democrats OF the present house will
| hold a caucus Immediately after the holidays for
the purpose Of discussing ways and means of get
ting their man prominently before the people
who will do the choosing next year.
A great many people may with reason wonder
| why any member al the house should want such
| place-s place which is a trying one from
every standpoint and which clothes its possessor
with little real power. he only satisfactory all
swer is, that any successful leader of the minority
would doubtless stand excellent chance OF be
ing elected speaker i'll the event OF the house
being captured by the democrats. Had the cleo
tons of last month resulted tavorably for the
democrats, Mr.. Richardson would have been a
| candidate for the speakership and would HAYS
been able to enlist some very effective support
Whether he wishes to succeed himself as leader
| present
prediction is freely made that he will not SO sue
coed himself whether he wishes to or not.
There is plenty of leadership material in the
house. At least half dozen men are generally
thought to be preferable to either Richardson or
Clark Among the De Almond whose name
has already been mentioned; John Sharp Will
iams of Mississippi Thomas H. Ball of Texas
and John II. Bankhead Of Alabama Mr. Ball
would hardly consent to the use OF his name as
candidate unless he could be shown that there
would be little or no opposition to his selection
His prospective retirement from congress two
years hence makes tight hardly worth while
II is not doubted however that should he be
induced to enter the race he would prove d
strong factor
There was touching little incident on the
floor Of the house shortly after adjournment
today which made a deep impression on the one
or two who witnessed it. The oldest member
OF the Texas delegation and the youngest figured
IN II. Colonel Lanham, who will retire from
congress early next month in order to accept
from the people OF Texas the highest gift at their
disposal. has seat well down in front toward
the speaker, several rows in advance Of what is
known as the Texas colony, in the next to the
last row from the rear, where Messrs. Henry.
Burleson, Sheppard, Russell, Cooper and
Stephens have seats About year ago Colonel
Lanham promised to give his seat, when he left
congress to take up the duties and the RESPONSE
bilities OF the governorship, to John Levi Shep-
pard, then member OF the house from the old
Fourth Texas district. Colonel Lanham did not
forget his promise when Judge Sheppard died
He said nothing about it, however until TODAY.
when he called the dead mans son to him and
said
Morris, | promised your father 10 give him
! my seat when ! retired from congress. He is
not here to accept it and occupy it,, and want
you TO take it instead. It's much better seat
than you have now and it is right that YOU
should have it."
Young Sheppard said little, but what he did
say was sincere and to the point He ,yrune
the hand OF his dead fathers friend and not
without emotion said 81 thank you, colonel
thank you from my heart"
1t was a kindly act on the part of the next
governor Of Texas and il by no means detracted
rom the esteem IN which he is already held by
the few who witnessed the. affair
Speaking Of young Mr. Sheppard recalls ,be
fact that he greatly shocked the representative
OF one Of the telegraph companies day or two
ago. The representative in question profered
him book Of telegraph franks. such as are
furnished complimentary to all members Of con
gress. Under ordinary circumstances the new
congressman who does not Immediately receive
this token Of esteem and friendship" on the
part Of the telegraph companies starts out to
md the reason why. Accustomed TO this sort
Of thing and to the opportunities of some mem
oeTS who hnd occasion 10 send great many
messages by wire, the telegraph man was MI
prepared to resist the shock that came IN hin,
when Representative Sheppard CALMLY declined
The pToffered favor. He vas dazed itbe tele
graph man. not the congressman, and there ar.
some who say that he has not yet recovered