Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-18
sPEAkER HENDERSON, WITHDRAWAL.


II the withdrawal Of David B. Hender-
son from the race for congress in his
district means his retirement from pub
lie life It can be regarded in no other
light than a national calamity. AS
speaker Of the house Colonel Henderson
has become a national figure. the
speakership in Importance and influence
ranking second only to the presidency
itself. 1t will be conceded by friend
and foe that in that trying position
Speaker Henderson has acquitted him
self in the most efficient and creditable
manner.
No other man in congress could have
succeeded to the place vacated by
Speaker Reed and accomplished the
same results with as general satisfaction
and as little friction as has Colonel
Henderson. 1t is no ~disparagement of
Colonel Henderson to say that following
in the footsteps Of that giant Of states
manship his notable achievement has
beer to hold the speakers power built
up by Speaker Reed and to guide the
course Of legislation in smooth channels
without encountering the personal OPP
position which Mr.. Reed met from mem
bers Of the house of both political
parties. Speaker Henderson's hand upon
the legislative throttle has been the all
powerful factor for safe and conserva-
tive law-making in the national halls of
legislation since the retirement of
Speaker Reed.
In view of these conditions, viewed
from the national standpoint, It is GER
tainly to be hoped that Colonel Hender-
sons determination to decline his re-
nomination is not irrevocable and that
he will be prevailed upon to reconsider
his announcement and to continue in
the position Of party leadership he now
occupies.
The reasons given by Colonel Hender-
son for his refusal to make the race
for congress will, as a matter of fact,
strike broad-minded republicans as of
minor and inconsequential Importance.
The difference between his views and
the declaration Of the Iowa republicans
on tariff revision. emphasized in his
statement, is rather more apparent than
real. Colonel Henderson declares that
he does not believe tariff reduction is
the cure-all for trust evils and in this
only narrow-minded bigots will disagree
with him. The 'most that ardent ad-
vocates Of tariff revision could look
for would be simply a partial relief
from exactions by the few trusts that
have been sheltered by tariff advan-
tages.
The most careful reading of the Iowa
platform announcement does not. in our
judgment, admit fairly of the interpre-
tation Colonel Henderson has put upon
it, hut on the contrary it strongly re-
aff1rms the historic protection policy of
the party. Much more ado has been
made Of 1t by the Iowa democratic press
than it really justifies. Even If Colonel
Henderson were at variance with a por-
ton Of the republicans of his district
on this one question. a he seems to
think, he is still in full accord with
them on all the most vital issues of the
day, and they could well afford to over
look one point to retain the services of
a man of such transcendent ability as
the speaker.
Colonel Henderson looms up so faI
above all the other western members
of the house that should he retire the
speakership would certainly be lost tC
the west. The west particularly would
rejoice If, after all, it should be found
that no considerable element of the
party in his district takes uncompro
missing issue with his position n hC
should yet allow them to ~re-elect him il
November.