The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-10

pilation and the dissertations thereon
which Hubert Bruce Fuller has made
under the title THE Speakers Of the
House." is bound TO attract widespread
interest. and evoke great comment. The
words Of his preface are perhaps the best
statement that could be made OF his
object in publishing the work.
In 1859. when the first Congress con-
vened under Washington. the Speaker
Of the House Of Representatives was
merely a moderator. who presided over
the sessions Of that body with calm de-
liberation and impartial favor. The pres
tlge Of his position lay rather IN It's
honor than In its power.
in 1909. after an interval Of hundred
and twenty years, the Speaker Of the
House Of Representatives is quite the
most potent factor in American legis-
lative life There is some room for
saying that he is even more powerful
than the President OF the United States.
To-day the Speaker is the absolute ar
bitter OF our national legislation. He
can dictate what laws shall be enacted
and what bills shall be defeated
An attempt has been made IN this
volume 70 give a brief, dispaesioaate
story Of the development OF power by
tho presiding officers OF the lower House
OF Congress. 49, The author has sought
TO lend 20 the story a personal element
by giving pen pictures Of some Of the
greatest characters of American legisla-
tive history, and by describing some Of
the most interesting scenes enacted upon
our legislative stage"
Tho scope OF the work IS best made
plain by statement Of the captions
used as chapter headings. They are:
'The British and Colonial Prototype,
''Muhlenberg the First and Henry Clay
the greatest Of American speakers" Re
action and contest" Turmoil and con-
tested elections" The mediOcricy OF
the Chair" Grow and Colfax dGmi-
mated by Thaddeus Stevens. James
G. Blaine" Kerr. Randall Keifer. and
Carlisle" Car Reed. :" THE TevOlu-
ton" Joseph C. Cannon. the present
Speaker and a chronological appendix.
Mr.. Fuller's premises as 10 the gradual
perversion OF the powers pertaining 20
the Speakership are well taken, as un-
questiOnably the founders Of this re-
public never intended that the mere pre-
siding officer of the lower legislative
body should ever take unto himself such
arbitrary personal power as he now
does, but some OF the reasons which he
gives will no doubt be disputed. and
some OF his estimates Of American states
man and politicians win probably not
conform 20 the estimates OF a great
many people, but everyone VIII find them
interesting by reason OF the vivid narra-
Al n
method OF giving his opinions. His des-
scription Of stormy scenes just before
the civil war Is mastery. particularly
a. that period when Helpers book, THE
Impending Crisis" made so much
trouble, especially for John sherman.
His estimates Of the characters Of noted
men are remarkable for their candOr OF
expression, especially considerable that
some are still living. and in power.
Witness: Henry Clay; He stands out
clearly the typical American-not a demi-
god like Washington. not an enigma Ike
Lincoln. $50 From the day he took
the oath OF Office until 1852 Henry Clay
was a compelling figure In American
politics. -" This perfect union c. voice
and person was probably the secret Of
the masterfui eloquence which shivered
the dynasty OF Jackson IN the person
TO the nearer than TO the reader-more
70 the present than 10 posterity. - .
Clay seemed 10 lack the power OF anRly-
sis to prefer the plausible 10 the solid.
''' He would have persisted without
human companionship, which was not
alone his life and entertainment but
the fount Of his knowledge. Whosoever
he touched he drained. he read men in
stead OF books Without affectatiOn. he
allowed no pride OF position, no conceit,
no vanity 10 tarnish the beautiful home
illness Of his character. A free liver. he
would SIT at cards far into the night,
studying his political associates while
the puritan Adams. alone In his study
INDUCED his literary taste"
James G. Blaine-"Blaine was by tenn
permanent romantic, picturesque impel-
ling. 'a' At first he was a politician.
a wire-puller and party manager. but in
1882, when he laid down the portfolio
Of state, he was a statesman. This
very development was a tribute to his
greatness. still through Il ali he re-
tanned the impress Of those first years
and that early training During all his
active connection with national affairs
he kept hiss hand on the lever Of the
regular political machine. Clay was with
out question the greater orator. How
ever, Blaine entranced his audiences by
his oratorical brilliancy. lie used few
gestures, but his language was so chaste
and apt and his thoughts so clear and
so arustically draped that he enthralled
| his listeners even when they were not
persuaded Blaine was a profound think
er and possessed of wider knowledge and
was positive and fearless. Clay was g
man Of compromise. Both were intense
ly American-both worshiped at the al
ter of American glory and advancement
To both the great prize beckoned-both
reached out and failed"
Joseph G. Lincoln IS his idea
Of an American stetesman and this
ideal he has apparently sought to ini-
tate in certain superficial traits OF
speech, dress, and habit. He is studi-
ously democratic IN his tastes, and re-
markedly abstemious in his habits and
desires. At no time has he been sub
jeCted TO moral or financial criticism
His ideals are not exalted; he lacks
imaginative or artistic genius. His men
tai attitude reveals the lack Of such
I broadening influences as education, cul-
ture, and travel In early life; he has
an honest and sincere contempt for art.
architecture, and refinement generally.
A superlatively intense partisan, he be-
lieves FIRMLY in but two ideals--his party
and his religion. He clings with religious
/ tenacity to the political ideals prevalent
In the pOst-bellum days when he FIRST
entered Congress. Cannon is IN all ways
! temperamentally a conservative He con-
stitUtionally opposes any change from
the existing order 1t has been well said
that had he attended the caucus on Gre
alton he would have remained through
out loyal 10 Chaos - at banqUets he
drinks champagne from his water glass,
Tits his chair back against the wall and
smokes the finest cigars in the style
popular at the crossroads store.
He has rare and courageous in
difference TO public opinion. AT all
times his frankness, even brutal
bluntness, has commanded a certain
measure of resoect n not admiration .