The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-11-29
IVOEONE:. .IDIIARES
TO7GONTE'sT FOR.
SPfAKERSHIP
Congress Meets
Next Week

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20. = When
Tie sixtieth congress conyenes in
swashlngton three days hence the fa.
niiliar figure Of uncle Joe" Cannon
viii be seen in its accustomed place
in The speakers chair. No one has
sdared contest for the honor and ''Un,
stcle joe will resume his place without
the semblance Of struggle.
8 As matter OF fact, there has not
been a contest afor the speakership
since the conyenlng Of the fifty-sec.
gSond congress in December, 1891. In
tthe fifty.frst congress there was a
struggle for supremacy between nve
Republicans, but Thomas B. Reed
was chosen on the second ballot. The
.other candidates were William McKIn-
ley; Of Ohio: Joseph c. Cannon. of II
Illinois julius Burrows. OF Michigan,
and David B. Henderson, Of Iowa.
Both Henderson and Cannon subse-
iquently achieved the coveted honor.
That was the last contest In the
Republican party for the speakershlD,
although seven Republican congresses
have been elected since that time. The
contestifo for speaker in the Democratic
Il Caucus in 1891. however. was the most
hotly Ewased battle of Its kind known
since the long drawn out contest be-
4 fore the civil war. Roger Q. Mills,
Of Texas, and Charles F. Crisp, Of
Georgia. were the fayorites in the race,
although William S. Holman, OF In.
diana, and William s. Springer. of II.
Slinois, also ran" The last two nam
& edsneyer had a chance OF finishing ain
the money. however, and they finally
gave their influence to Crisp. who Sc
cured the post. Holman was reward,
! ed with the Craftsmanship OF the up.
propriations committee while Spring.
erF was made chairman of.the ways
4 and means committee OF the house.
Two years later Crisp was again cho-
sen without opposition.
When the Fifty-fourth congress met
the5R Republicans were again in control
u and have since held the balance OF
3 power without interruption. Reed
returned to the speakers chair
without opposition in December. 1896,
S;and again when the next congress con.
rened in 1897.
Reeds announcement OF his retire
5nient from the house Immediately re-
ss;sulted in the beginning Of an open
fight among the various aspirants for
the honor of being his successor.
Many candidates appeared. among
Shem Cannon and Hopkins, OF Hin,
offs; Sherman and Payne, of New
York; Henderson, Of Iowa, and Dal
I zell, of Pennsylvania.
1 BY : species of wire-pulling that
mas always been source of wonder,
ment to the people Of Illinois. Hop.
kins secured control of the delegation
from that State and became their OH
cial candidate. "Uncle Joe" was the
most popular man In the house, and
Except for the opposition Of his col
leagues from Illinois, would unaoubt
sedly have been selected at that time
The action Of the Illinois congress
z men in declaring for Hopkins, as
against Cannon. aroused the resent
ment Of the members from other
States and, in order to defeat Hop
klns, they agreed upon Dave Hender.
10 son. OF Iowa. This selection took
place several months before congress
convened, and the name of the Iowa
man was the only one presented at
sStthe caucus. Hopkins had successful
lyS played the part Of the dog In the
manger and in this he incurred the re.
! sentiment Of the people OF his homo
State. The political memory is motor.
iously short, however and Hopkins
= - ~ H- - -
was later rewarded with senatorial
toga.
After serving two terms, Henderson
suddenly announced his withdrawal
ysheS did this remains one Of the
congressional mysteries that have
sneyer been solved. Long before the
Fifts s-eighth congress assembled "Un
scle joe Cannon had become the unan.
ipous choice Of the State delegations
and Republican members from every
part OF the country. He was again
elected TO the eakership without op.
position when the Fitty.ninth congress
met and this process is again tosbe
SeonsiSSsss On SSoc Z foaf.S =