The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-09-24
SPEAKER HENoERsoN's
WITHDRAWAL.

WI FfOnAWfNEs
The withdrawal Of Speaker David
r. Henderson from the congressional
race Of the Third Iowa, district is a
surprise, but it Is not a mystery. He
had two political contests ahead Of
him and was liable to defeat in each.
The element of danger was within
his own parry Henderson is the type
Of man who can stand up in a poliu-
cal fight that is conducted along
straight party lines, but is apt to man
ifest pique whenever opposition
comes from wi,hin the party ranks.
Having had his own way SO long in his
district. he could not brook the asser-
ton of popular sentiment against his
extreme protectionism He did not
even stop to consider that this oppo-
sition was not so much against him
as against a wholly unjustihahle sur
vlval Of high protection as applied in
many instances, says the Kansa City
Star
The nomination of Mr.. Horace Boies
by the Democrats Of his district ag-
gravated the situation While the Re
publican leaders declared confident
ly that Henderson would be reelected,
they betrayed their lack Of confidence
through the extraordinary program
laid out for the canvass of his dis
trict Republicans who had no reason
to confuse or misrepresent the situa-
tion believed from the tlrne Of the
nomination of Boies that Henderson
was almost certain to be defeated.
In his course as speaker, Henderson
lost popularity in his party in gener-
al rather than in his district. His
rulings have been arbitrary. At most
he has taken counsel with but few
leaders Of his party, and they have
been consplcuously of the "old crowd,
against which there is a sort Of revo-
luton in the house. His Cogged o9-
position to the appropriation for the
ST. Louis exposition hurt him. espec-
tally in the west. He insulted the SEN
ate by writing a gratuitous open let
ter practically calling its members
towards in connection with the Porto
Rican legislation He betrayed un-
statesmanlike prejudices and a lack of
tact by going to President Mckinley
and the secretary of war. and person
ally expressing his disapproval Of the
bill TO promote General Miles and
General Corbin, but the measure was
passed in spite of his unrelenting op-
position as speaker In his treatment
Of the chairmen Of various committees
and individual members he has seem
ed to forget that he had been elect
ed by them as 2 presiding officer Al
though chosen twice without opposi-
tlon, his unpopularity in the last ses-
sion grew to such proportions that he
foresaw a fight Tor a third term.
Mr.. Henderson's exalted plea that
ne caraot run because he Is not in
harmony with the sentiment Of his
state is not wholly in keeping with
| his record. It will be remembered
that he opposed the Cuban reciprocity
bin at first, and that he came around
very gracefully when he heard from
Iowa I. is, therefore. amusing to say
the least to note his boast of friend
ship for Cuba. and his professed ina
lbnty to adapt himself to the senti-
ment OF his party.
The adap,abnity required of Mr.
Henderson in making the oongression-
al race was not extreme. Iowa adopt
ed a very elastic tariff plank-signif-
icant, but capable Of varying construc-
tions-as witness the innocent mean
ing extracted by Secretary Shaw. One
would suppose from Mr. Henderson's
lletter of explanation that his state had
declared for free trade, when, as a
matter Of fact. at most !, was only
for a modified revision of those tsrffs
that give shelter to monopoly, with
the extreme and unfortunate probabil-
ity that even this limited policy would
not be applied by the Republican
party IN the near future.
No. Mr.. Hendersons withdrawal Is
not a mystery It is a case OF fear