The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-22
SPEAKER HENDERSON POLITIC
KNOWS HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THE
CHAIRS FAVORs.

Possible.
Washington, June 21.-Some note
worthy changes in personalities, so far
as proceedings in the National House
OF Representative are concerned, have
been wrought by Speaker Henderson
during the last three months. The up
heaval in the Republican leadership.
the opposition Republicans on the Gu
ban reciprocity bill, is responsible for
this in part, but not altogether. Soon
after the leaders were overthrown
Speaker Henderson was credited with
the remark that he would have to take
in little timber. Whether or not that
remark was made, it represents what
he has been doing.
Out of that overthrow has grown
some gossip about a change in the Re-
publican speakership should that party
retain control of the next House. The
name of Representative Sherman of
Utica, n. Y, one of the best presiding
officers in the membership of the House
for decade, has been mentioned.
Mr.. Sherman was renominated for an
oother term, nevertheless, IL can
be taken for granted, whatever
may be said hereafter that If
the Republicans have major
ity after March in the popular branch
OF Congress, Speaker Henderson will be
elected for another term. 1t is a seri-
Gus undertaking to dislodge a Repub-
lican speaker and there is no Repub-
hcan who would earnestly attempt IT.
Distributes His Favors.
In the last few months the Speaker
has been taking a number OF promi-
nent Republicans to assist him in the
task of presiding. These courtesies are
always highly priced, for 1t is regard
ed as no mean honor to WELD the gavel
over the House for two or three days
at time. When consideration of i'm
portant bills is under way, Central and
Western New York Republicans used
to monopolize a large share of those
honors under Speaker Reed, but at
this session of Congress Representative
Sherman is practically the only New
Yorker who has been thus honored.
He is brought to the Speakers desk to
preside in Committee of the Whole
almost invariably when difficult
question is involved in a pending bill,
requiring a firm and well-posted pre-
siding officer.
The member who has come most rap
idly to the front in the Speakers esti-
nation as a presiding officer is Repre-
sentative Harln +. Olmsted of Har-
risburg, Pa. He is very conversant
with parliamentary law, and time and
again this session has been asked to
assume the gavel when there were
prospects that the wild colts would
rear and attempt to take the bit in the
teeth. Mr.. Olmsted is the Speakers
personal and intimate friend 1t has
also been noticed that within the last
month or so several of the new mem,
bers of the House have been asked TO
preside when in Committee of the
Whole. AS a general thing new mem
bers are barred from this honor, but
the Speaker has picked two or three
from the Tantilus Club, an organiza-
ton of new Republican members who
have shown considerable adhesiveness
and therefore some promise as po-
litical factors in the management of
House matters. Sam" Powers of
Massachusetts, president of this Tan
titus Club. has been called to preside
as has Col. Kit" Haskins of Brattle-
borough, VT, long speaker of the Yer
mont House and intimate friend of
Rudyard Kipling during the author
residence In the Green Mountain
State.
Opposition Men selected.
Three of the foremost opposition Re-
publicans in the Cuban reciprocity
fight have been called to the chair to
preside of late, which demonstrates
desire for Cancellation. Representa-
tive Littlefeld of Maine. the successor
of Nelson Dingley, has been thus Sc
lected two or three times on important
occasions and proved that he is
very strong man to take the gavel in
hand and that with a little more ex-
perience as to parliamentary action
he will rank with Representative
Sherman of New York, Tawney of
Minnesota and William Alden Smith
of Michigan, two other so-called beet
sugar Republicans, who have been put
in the chair to preside recently.
Mr.. Grow Never Called on.
Neither Speaker Henderson nor
Speaker Reed ever called ex-Speaker
Grow, the only member who ever
served through the Civil War period
now in the House, to WELD the gavel,
which has often been the subject of
comment. But Mr.. Grow is very
old man and was familiar with
House proceedings at a date when
they differed widely from the present.
Mr.. Grow has been a member at large
from Pennsylvania for the last six
years. He will go out of Congress
March 4, as Pennsylvania has been
redistricted.
Prefer the Old Wool Hat.
The headgear of members by no
means conforms to the well-regulated
usages of society. Many are still
averse to the stylish silk tile and pre-
fer an old wool hat instead. OF such
is Representative Richard S. Minor
of Sturgeon Bay. Wis, a sturdy Re-
publican who was born in Jefferson
county, New York.
Five years ago, when Mckinley
was first elected" said Mr.. Minor in
the House cloak room the other day,
81 felt pretty good, as did many
others. / had never worn a silk hat,
but Mrs. Minor and / went down
town and I purchased a full Prince
Albert rig, including the latest style
of silk hat. That evening several
friends gathered in my Washington
residence and 1 thought ! would sur
prise them by appearing in my new
togs, so l put on my Prince Albert
coat and covered my head with my
new hat. AS / came down the stairs
my little 9-year-old daughter caught
sight of me: Papa she exclaimed
whose coach are you going TO drive
tonight That was too much for me.
/ boxed that hat up and sent II out
TO Wisconsin, where Il has remained
ever since. This wool hat is good
enough for me-"