Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-10
NOW COMES HOT FIGHT
FOR SPEAKERS CHAIR
There Are Cannon, Bab-
cock, DaIzeII, Payne,
LittIefield and
Sherman in 1t.

WASHINGTON, Nov. S.-For speaker
of the house of representatives ifty-eighth
congress-: Joseph Cannon, of Illinois;
Joseph W. Babcock, OF Wisconsin; John
Dalzell, of Pennsylvania; Silas Sherman.
of New York; Chas. Littlefield, of Maine;
Serene z. Payne, of New York, and sew
eral horses.
These are the parties to the contest for
the Office second in power only to that Of
the president of the United States, con-
test that is now in full swing. and which
promises to be one of the liveliest speak
ership fights in recent years. All of the
gentlemen named are in the fight for the
office, If possible to obtain it. Some OF
them undoubtedly will, according to the
strength they develop. secure better COM
mittee assignments in the next congress.
The latter consideration is by no means
unimportant.
AS soon as the fight for the speaker
ship assumes definite shape and the list
of candidates sits down TO the men who
will enter the caucus, the applicants for
the several house offices, clerk, doorkeep-
er; postmaster and sergeant at arms viii
, appear on the field. These offices carry
with them considera BILE patronage, and
they always figure largely. in a speaker
ship fight.
If Mr.. Cannon should fail to land in
the speakers chair, Illinois would prob
4
which is decidedly the best position out
side of the speakership within the gift Of
the house. This position has been held
continuously by Major Mcdowell. OF
Pennsylvania, since the ifty-fourth con-
gress. If Mr.. Cannon should win, Ma
jor Mcdowell would, no doubt. be re-
elected unless Cannon's managers should
be forced to trade places in order to win.
These house officers sometimes are more
potent in determining a speakership fight.
than committee appointments, because
there is no patronage attached to COM
mittee appointments outside Of chair
man, and there are only some fifty odd
chairmanships at the disposal of the
speaker, while all the patronage of the
house is distributed by the officers named.
1t was reported today that General
Grosvenor, OF Ohio, would be in the race
next week.
An effort is to be made to have the ad-
ministration give at least an indirect in
huence to Representative Cannon in his
contest for the speakership.
The idea has been suggested to the pres
ident, but 1t is unlikely that he win do
anything to indicate his preferences. He
is a hearty admirer of the abilities and
fitness of Representative Cannon, but for
the speakership he could not well afford
to be placed in the position Of favoring
any particular candidate.
cRuMPAcKER GHOST AGAIN
REVIVED BY GENERAL PAYNE
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. s.-Post-
master General Payne, as the presidents
political adviser. upon whose authority
IL was announced last night that there
would be revival of the agitation TO cut
down the southern congressional and con-
vention vote. had a long interview with
the president this morning after which
he announced that the stories coupling
the presidents name with the subject
were .'unwarranted."
1t is further stated that the president is
'.non-committal'' as to the matter.
1t is understood here that Postmaster
General Payne has, in a large degree. won
the president over to his way OF thinking
on the southern representation question.
PAYNE believes that If the negro is to be
disfranchised in a state there should be
a proportional decrease OF representation
in that state, in congress and convention.
The president is believed to take this
view Of 1t, though for obvious reasons
he is not willing to allow a statement to
that effect to go out, preferring, as ii
was said today, to be in a non-committal
attitude"
1t is said today the Republicans viii
never be able to get through congress
bill cutting down southern congressional
representation. It could pass the house.
but a few determined Democratic sena-
tors, under the latitude Of debate allow
able in that body, would easily defeat
such a measure
All the Republicans contend that the
present system OF southern representa-
ton is unjust, but most of them admit the
impossibility of what they call remedial
LEGISLATION. IT is only the stubborness OF
the Paynes and the Crumpackers which
keeps the subject alive.