The Washington herald., 1909-03-28

Although scarcely mentioned in the
Constitution. possessing few Of the at
tributes OF power that generally give a
man fame, and having practically no pat
ronage. the Speaker OF the House Of Rep
.resentatives Is to-day generally aci1nowl-
edged 20 be, next TO the President him
self. the most powerful man in the ma
ton. This influence. as Prof. Albert
Bushnell Hart has pointed out. is largely
a silent one. Neither Constitution nor
statute nor rule defines his functions.
they are the result rather Of the slow
growth Of unwrit5en practice. Ordinarily
the choice OF a Speaker occupies but a
few days. and It seldom assumes the pro-
portions Of a national problem. while that
OF the President Upsets the country for a
half year at least. II is these things that
have led even so capable a critic OF Amer
lean government as Mr. Bryce TO miss
the real Importance OF the Speakers Of
fce. says a writer In the New York Post.
Joseph C. Cannon's election 20 the
Speakership for the fourth time is not
without precedent Henry Clay was six
times elected Speaker; Andrew Stevenson.
Ike Cannon. was chosen four times. and
Nathaniel Macon. Schuyler Colfax. James
g. Blaine. John G. Carlisle. and Thomas
3. Reed served three terms each
The Contest of 1909.
Spirited contests FOR the speakership
have been OF frequent occurrence. Many
times when party lines have been closely
drawn or when no party has had ma
jority, IL has taken several ballots TO
elect The election or 1903 afforded the
first instance OF a contest. On the first
ballot Joseph 3. Varaum the Speaker
or the preceding House. receive 81 votes.
Nathaniei Macon. who had served thrice
as Speaker In former Congresses. g
votes. Timothy PitEiE, % votes. while two
other candidates received one each. and
there were two blank ballots. II the
blank ballots were not counted as votes.
Narnum would have a majority and be-
elected II they were counted there
would BE- no choice When il was finally
decided 20 proceed 10 another ballot
Macon. who had no expectation Of cleo
tiou himself. rose and announced that his
health would not permit him 20 accept
the Speakership n elected. and asked his
friends 20 vote FOR some one else. The
second ballot gave Varnum a majority OF
six votes.
Contest over slavery.
The next contested election. like all the
historic contests Of later dates. arose
over the slavery question The contest
followed Clay's resignation OF the
Speakership. in November. IS20. John W
Taylor. Of New York. was the candidate
OF the Northern friends OF slavery re-
striction. His principal opponent was
LOwndes. OF South Carolina Seven bal
lots were taken on the first day withou,
success. and on the second twelve more
ballots. With the same lack Of result. On
the third day Taylor was chosen on ths
twenty-second ballot The four mOsi
memorable contests over the Speakership
however. were those OF 1Ses. 1879 1856
and 1853
The contested election Of 1883 hinged ~
+ the question as 20 whether the contested
I New Jersey election cases should bs
taken up. The struggle was precipi;ateC
when the Clerk. IT. reading the roll. askeC
whether the New Jersey members shouIs
/ he included Without the New jersey
members. the House comprised fl9 Demo,
Gratis and rs Wings The admission O.
either contesting delegation would Civ,
/ its party control Of the House tn,
f Democrats, hoping TO gain the Speaker
ship az any rate. fought FOR delay
Scenes OF the greatest disorder ensued
+ the Clerk refusing persistently 10 put an,
question TO the House on the ground tha
7 he had no authority 70 do so.
Adams to the Rescue.
! After four days Of futile wrangIing. ex
/ President John Quincy Adams. then
I Representative from Massachusetts. ros,
in his seat and made a stirring appeal Z,
the members 10 proceed TO orga anizatiol
by placing on the roll those New Jerse,
members holding certificates signed b,
the governor But who viii put IN.
motion ." Cueried a tinid member Il vii
put the question myself was the ex
+ Presidents reply. A dozen member
moved that Adams take the chair. an,
the motion was carried by a practicall,
unanimous shout. Adams presided. firm
F. Is and resolutely. controlling the Hous
as probably no other member could hav,
done. After week Of debate the HOus,
voted 20 proceed 70 organization. exclud
ing all the New Jersey contestants. tn,
decision pleased the Democrats. but IN
hual outcome was bitterly Disappointing
10 them A small group. dissatisfied wit
the administration forces. effected an al
lance with the Wings which. on tn
eleventh ballot, resulted In the choice o
{ Robert NJ. T. Hunter. or Virginia VIII
called himself an independent -
The contest in the Thirty-first Con
gress dSss) WAS one Of She bitterest tha
had Up 20 that time been waged for IN
( Speakership. When the House met 4
organize Howell Cobb. the Democrat
caucus nominee. Ted on the first bailo
over Robert c. Winthrop. who had bee
Speaker Of the last H&se. by seve
votes. the Free Soil followers Of Gid
dings. on the one hand. and a smal
clique or Ultra-ra deal Democratic boIter
devoted 10 Robert TOombs. on the other
holding the balance OF power and prevent
ing an election. Thus the ballOying con
tinued day after day for thirty-siX bal
lots. no one obtaining majority, The
Winthrop withdrew I'm the hope that har
mony would ensue- A coalition was ef
fected that on the fortieth ballot brough
William J. Brown within two votes O
election. AT this juncture the charge. ap
parently well founded, was brought tha
he had made bargains in regard 20 com
mittee chairuen 20 secure support. an
the Southern members deserted him in
body Again the contest centered abou
Cobb and Winthrop. Day after day th
Senate adjourned after tTansaEting sue
executive business as came before II
Thus three weeks dragged on with n
more prospect Of electing a Speaker tha'
had existed on the opening day FINALLY
the House agreed 10 amend the rules TO
this election only. so that a pluralit
should elect On this understanding. q
the ssxty-third ballot. cobb was electe
over Winthrop by l02 votes to 100. wit
twenty votes scattering.
The long Contest OF 1855.
The contest for the Speakership in IN
Thirty-fourth Congress was the Ionges
end most exciting in the history OF IN