The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-11
LONG TERMS GIVE
MEMBERS PLACES
Minority Leader Points Out That
Reflections Strengthen Hold
Upon Congress.
From The journal Bureau. Colorado Build

From The Journal Bureaus Colorado Build
ing, Washington.
Washington. April 11.-During a
recent debate in the house Of repre-
er, John Sharp Williams, was taken to
task by somebody on the republican
side for his share in the work of
making minority committee assign
ments at the beginning Of the con-
gressional session.
1t was charged that Mr.. Will
liams gave too much prominence to
southern democrats, and not enough
to democrats from the northern
states. In his reply he tells why he
did this.
The southern states long ago
adopted the policy Of continuing their
congressman in public life for long
terms of years. This gave them a
right to the principal minority assign
| ments over the democratic members
from the north, who seldom come for
more than two or three terms each.
MIR. Williams speech is an argument
in favor Of longer congressional terms
| and is quoted for the benefit Of poll
ticians who read It h Journ | {.
He said:
AS to the ways and means committee it
is well known fact that, with the ex-
ception Of myself and Champ Clark Of
Missouri, whom I placed upon that COM
mittee. I did not place anybody else
there. I had to go on because had been
put in this position of quasi leadership
or whatever it Is.
Follows Precedent
The gentleman from Missouri {Mr.
Clark Is from the west, and everybody
who knows his record in this house knows
he deserved to go on that committee.
Now, the gentleman from Connecticut
understands, Of course-nobody better
| that one Of the reasons why southern rep
resentattves have better committee assign
ments on our side is because there are
more Of them, and another reason is be-
cause they stay here a longer time.
There are a great many northern con
stituencies that make senseless business
Of letting representatives stay two and
four years and then turn them out. The
gentleman knows as well as I do that il
I had dared defy the seniority traditions
Of this body, even II had wanted to dc
so, would not have been in this quasi
official position forty eight hours.
| Minnesota Doing Well.
Minnesota has been doing pretty
well in this respect, and is not to
blame, save in one district, that there
were changes in her delegation at
Messrs. Heatwole, Morris and Eddy
I retired voluntarily; Mr. Fletcher was
defeated at the polls. The old mem
bers Of the Minnesota delegation
Messrs. Tawney, McCleary and Stew
ems, are now among the leaders OF
the house, and their strength and USE
fulness will increase from session to
session.
In all probability Tawney will be q
prominent candidate for the speaker.
ship. when Mr.. Cannon Is ready to re-
tire, which will not be for many years
Mr.. McCleary is slowly rising in posi-.
ton on the appropriations commit.
tee, and some day will be it's chair
That position would be worth much
to the state and northwest.
Mr.. Stevens is one Of the most infu
entail men Of the house, and by man,
. competent judges is held to be thu
strongest man in the delegation. AL
these things are matters of SLOW
growth. They cannot be developed
> under the old system of changins
) congressman every few years.
l Dakotas Might Do Better.
: North and South Dakota still hay
something to learn in this regard
: The effort to prevent the renomina
: ton Of Mr.. Martin in the latter state
= this year. and the strength which
: assumed, shows that the state utterl,
: fails to appreciate the value Of con
\ tinued service in congress. Mr.. Mar
4 tin is believed by many members t
!. have the making Of fine figure OF
chance. If this Is true, his retire
. ment would do the state more iniur
! than it would do him.
w :" Tor,,,eoa