The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-18
WHAT rs THE MEANING OF THE
SPEAKERS WITHDRAWAL.

SPEAkEkS WITHDRAW AL.
The withdrawal of Speaker Henderson
from the race for Congress is the most
sensational piece of political news since
Roscoe Conkling and Thomas c. Platt
resigned their seats in the Senate. IL
Representative Lacy is right, it may be
that Mr.. Henderson will re-enter the
race, for he predicts that the speaker
will be renominated by reclamation and
will be elected. The declaration of Mr..
Henderson, however, is probably sim
cere that he will not re-enter the race.
1t is we'll often to read between the
lines to ascertain the true reason of a
politicians action. The Iowa platform on
trusts and tariff this year is identical
with the platform of 1900 when Mr.. Hen
derson was the successful candidate. If
he could run then on that platform, he
could run now. Therefore the real rea-
SON must be looked for outside of the
platform.
Mr.. Henderson and the Republican
chairman agree in giving as the reason
that he is not in accord with the senti-
They believe that protection bounties
ought to be withdrawn from trusts. Mr..
Henderson opposes such withdrawal.
The Des Moines correspondent of the
Washington Post says that Mr.. Hender-
son "attended a conference at Water
loo a week ago last Saturday, and from
reports and views expressed at that con-
ference by the chairman of the county
committees in the district, he came to the
conclusion that his views on the tariff
and trust questions were not in harmony
or accord with those of many in his party
in the district, and he reached the de-
cision which he announced today"
Chairman CHASER agrees to this state.
ment and adds: ''Mr. Henderson finds 80
MANY OF HIS PEOPLE believing in
his duty to decline the nomination for
Congress" And so, we see, it is not be-
cause Mr.. Henderson is not in agreement
with the platform, but because $50
MANY OF HIS PEOPLE believe that
the Babcock bill ought to pass that the
speaker declines to make the race.
Does he fear defeat? The Democrats
say that the strong sentiment among
Republican voters in favor of removing
the tariff on trust-controlled articles
threatened the defeat of Mr.. Henderson
before Gov. Boies was nominated. His
popularity added to the possibility of de-
feat. In 1896 the speaker had majority
of 10000, in 1898 of 1000. Before the
Democratic division his average majority
was 1900 to 5000, though in 1890 his ma
iority was only 159. Therefore if the
tariff reform sentiment is as strong as
Mr. Henderson and Mr.. CHASER believe,
IL may be that the speaker resigned in
order to save himself from probable de-
feat Certain it is that with the knowl-
edge that Gov Boies will wage his CAM
paign solely on the proposition to with
draw tariff duties from articles controlled
by trusts, the speaker foresaw great
shrinkage in his majority, and even il
elected, small majority would prove the
strength of the tariff reform sentiment
What will be the result of Mr.. Hen
derson's withdrawal? Opinions, OF
course, differ The Washington Post
takes this view:
1.-THE effect of Gen. Henderson's action
upon the present campaign will, of course
be far-reaching. 1t comes at a time when
the President is about to start upon q
lengthy tour of the West. when he is to
make speeches in Iowa, Michigan, Min
nesota, Kansas and Nebraska, where the
question of tariff is of absorbing inter
est. In Minnesota and Iowa, especially
the demand for tariff revision is almost
universal. In Minnesota the tariff has
been the principal issue in the Congress
sional primaries, which reached theil
climax yesterday.
with Gen. Henderson deliberately
separating himself from the majority o
his constituents--for that is PRACTICAL.
the admission ia his lettcr--becaus'
they are for tariff revision, while he il
against it, the position of the Prcsiden
becomes one of extreme delicacy. LIZ b.
advocates revision of the tariff, he com