The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-01-28
CANDIDATES FOR
SPEAKERSHIP
Some Of Those Being Men,
toned to Succeed Cannon.
WILL ROOSEVELT TAKE IT.?

{ Is Said In Washington That This Is
the Position He Wants-Tawney Re-
ported to Be Uncle Joe's Choice For
Speaker - Insurgents Are Saving
| Wood.
Washington, Jan. $3.50 thoroughly
Is it accepted here that Joseph G. Can
non is out of the race for the speaker
Ihip of the next congress that num-
Der of candidates have already come
INTO the field. Still more significant is
The fact that most of these are from
The ranks of the regulars, and some of
them are Mr.. Cannon's warmest
friends. 1t is even limited that the
speaker himself has a hand in put
ting them forward, his reason being
that with a number of his friends in
the race he could withdraw gracefully.
The first of those to enter the lists
was Gerrit J. Diekema of Michigan,
who succeeded William Alden Smith
when that gentleman was elevated to
! the senate. The universal objection
heard to Diekema's candidacy is that
he is too new a man, this being his
second term. His ability is not ques-
TONED, however, as he was appointed
by President Mckinley a member Of
the Spanish treaty claims commission
and was at another time chairman of
the Republican state central commit
tee. He has also been orator on va
riOus scholastic and patriotic occa-
sions.
Is Roosevelt Candidate.
Perhaps the most sensational sugges-
lion as to the speakership of the Sixty
second congress is that concerning
Theodore Roosevelt. The proposal is
made with all seriousness that Mr..
Roosevelt be elected to the house next
tall from the First district of New
York, in which his home at Oyster
Bay is situated. 1t is said that Will
liam Willets Cocks, the present repre-
sentative from that district, is willing
to step aside in Roosevelt's favor and
that the ex-president has agreed to
make the race. 1t is also asserted with
great circumstantiality that the speak
ership is the only position in public
life for which Colonel Roosevelt cares,
as he has already declined to run for
United States senator and for mayor
Of New York, and it Is believed that
he will repel the suggestion that he
make the race for governor His
closest friends are equally sure that he
xviI In hannn,a nd Iof for
president.
The Big Stick For GaveI.
There is precedent for an ex-presi-
lent entering congress, as John Quincy
Adams served for many years in the
house and was there at the time of
his death, and Andrew Johnson had
Just been elected senator from Tennes-
zee when death overlook him. Con-
lidering Mr.. Roosevelt's temperament
and experience, he should make an
IDEAL member of the rough and tunble
house. As to being elected speaker,
however that is another question, de-
pending slightly on whether or not he
sould get the votes. 1t is not usual to
put man at the head of the house on
his first entrance to that body, though
| believe Henry Clay was so honored.
vt. r." did not always hit 1t off with
The membership of the body, especially
On the occasion of his secret service
message. And, say some of the timid
congressman, If there is a roar about
Uncle Joe and his gavel what would
there be about Teddy and the big
stick. Despite these plants, however,
It is probable that the colonel could
and the place if he went after it.
Blacksmith JIM Tawney.
In the inner circles of the capitol
It is whispered that Cannon's sure
enough candidate for speaker is none
Other than the man who succeeded him
rs chairman of the appropriations
committee, the same being the Hon.
James A. Tawney, Blacksmith Jim,"
Of the First Minnesota district. Every
body agrees that Tawney is a very
able citizen, and, in my own humble
opinion, aside from any question of
party or faction, lie is one of the very
hblest men in the house. Yet for all
that there would be almost as much
Of an insurgent howl at Tawney as at
Cannon himself. Another regular who
Is being pushed into the fight is Mar
lin L. Olmsted of Pennsylvania, a
member of the Ballinger-Pinchot in
vestigating committee. From New
York Serene f. Payne and ]. Sloat
Fassett are being discussed, and there
b also talk of James T.. Mann of ILL
iois and Judge Walter !. Smith of
Iowa.
Insurgents For Measures, Not Men.
As for the insurgents, they are say /
ng little about the next speaker. being |
TOO intent on licking the present one.
There is no secret that they expect ac- /
LESSONS 10 their ranle In the next con-
Eress. and as they already have the /
balance Of power they might have no
nconsiderable voice not only In choos-
eg the man who should preside over /
them. but in determining the rules by /
which he should do the presiding. /
There are two or three things the In
urrectos would IKE TO change In the
house, one Of these being the method 4