The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-11-22
The SPEAKERSHIP.


lature will be called upon to per.
form during the present session is
the selection of speaker to preside
over it. Not only does the success
of the session, but the welfare OF
the state and the future of the re-
publican party depend on a proper
selection.
AS in, the national congress most
of the legislation originates in the
house of representatives. The COM
mittees virtually control legislation
and the speaker appoints the COM
mittees. The character of the leg,
islation passed this winter will very
largely depend on the kind OF a
man that is chosen to ill this
Office. There are questions to be
settled this winter that are of the
greatest importance to the state.
A glance at the roster will con-
vince anyone acquainted with the
public men of the state, that the
coming Legislature, though largely
made up OF new and inexperienced
legislators, is composed of an ex-
ceptionally strong and able mem
bership and if no mistake is made
in the beginning great work may
be expected from them.
Already there are rumors, more
or less accurate, of candidates for
the speakership forming combina-
tions and trades with candidates for
the minor legislative positions.
This is not only ill-advised but
positively disreputable, and any
candidate who so belittles the
dignity of this high office as to
approach the candidates for other
positions with offers of support in
return for the support of their
friends, is unworthy of the place.
In the national house of
representatives, where as many
combinations are formed as in any
Legislative body on earth, where a
member must join the ''hog COM
bine" or be left entirely out in the
cold as far as patronage is con-
cerned, the speakership is always
left out and member who would
trade, or offer to trade his vote on
the speakership in return for votes
for his candidate for chief clerk,
sergeant-at-arms, doorkeeper, post
master or chaplain, would promptly
be sent to coventry. In our four
terms of service in congress we
never even heard snch a proposition
limited at. The speakership in that
body is regarded as an affice in a
class by itself. AS Thomas B.
Reed aptly expressed it "It has no
equal, and but one superior" In
Importance it ranks second only to
that of presidency. In many re-
spects it is the more important of
the two. A bad speaker can do
more damage to the country than a
bad president.
What the speaker of the national
house of representatives is to the
nation, the speaker of the legisla-
ture is to the state. 1t is second
only in Importance to the governor.
The same rules ought to prevail in
his selection as govern congress.
1t ought to be kept aloof and settled
entirely separate and independent OF
the contests for the other Offices.
1t does not make the least
difference in the world to a member
who is chief clerk so long as the
work is honestly and capably done
1t cuts no figure who is sergeant
alarms, doorkeeper, postmaster o.
who prays for them, or whether
they are prayed for at all or not
most members are past praying fol
anyhow-but it does makes vas
difference to each individual mem
Der what kind of a man is mad,
speaker. In times past combina
tions for the minor Offices hav'
often settled the speakership. W.
trust this will not be the case thi,
year. A man who will enter int,
a combination on the speakershil
is unworthy to be a member of thu