The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-09-04
Speaker Cannon Still Fruitful
Subject for Gossip at
the Capital.
REED FIGHT IS RECALLED
WHEN He WAS CHOSEN cANDi.
DATE FOR SPEAKER WAS LAST
TIME REPUBLICANS HAD A
GENERAL MIx-UP.
fAmerlcan News serylcc.l

american News Servicc.)
Washington, Sept. 3.-In political
circles here Uncle Joe" Cannon con-
tinucs-to be fruitful topic OF discus
sion. The recent outburst OF Repre-
sentative Nicholas Longworth, of
Ohio. In a declaration that he will not
support Cannon for another term In
the speakers chair. In the event that
the Republicans elect the majority OF
the next house. recalls the fact that
there has not been cancus fight for
the speakership on the Republican
sidc Of the house since December,
1889, the beginning Of the fifty-first
congress.
In that congress the candidates for
speaker were Reed. Of Maine: Hen.
derson. OF Iowa. Cannon. OF Illinois;
Burrows. of Michigan. and Mckinley,
Of Ohio. Afer a sharp fight. Reed was
elected. He served through the
stormiest United States congress oil
which history tells.
The next two congresses-the fifty.
second and .fifty-third were Democrat
&c. BY reason of having been speaker
IN the fifty-first congress. Reed re
ceived the speakership nomination In
those two congresses, which carried
with II the Republican floor leadership.
In the fifty.fourth congress. which
was Republican, by an overwhelming
majority, the Maine statesman was
nominated for speaker In the caucus
by reclamation. which was repeated
In the fifty.hfth congress.
Hopkins Trims Cannon.
Before the end of his term Mr.. Reed
announced his purpose to retire from
public life. This announcement came
after the elections In November. which
continued the Republicans in control
Of the house. Very soon after Reeds
announcement Of his intended retire
ment Henderson, Of Iowa. announced
his candidacy for the speakership. So
did Sherman of New York. Dalzell OF
Pennsylvania. and Hopkins and Can
non. Of Illinois. Hopkins beat Uncle
Joe" to 1t by several days, with the
result that he divided the Illinois del
egation.
When the delegation met to caucus
and decide on Hopkins or Cannon,
"Uncle Joe" withdrew In favor OF
Hopkins. remarking at the time. that
Hopkins was the weakest man in the
race
All this took place during the in
term. and when congress met. In De-
cember. the various state delegations
had decided how they would vote; so
that when the Republicans met In
caucus Henderson's name was the
only one presented for speaker.
This was the first time that the Sc
lecting of a speaker. where there were
rivals for the honor. had ever been
settled outside OF a party caucus.
The same course was pursued after
Henderson announced his retirement
from congress, which was before the
November election. 1902. Mr.. Can.
mons candidacy for the speakership
was known, his friends presenting his
meme to the members imediately after
the public announcement from Speak
or Henderson that he would not be a
candidate for congress, although he
had been renominated.
Cannon wins eeaetly.
Several other Republicans entered
the field against Cannon, but the var
ioua state delegations. especially the
older members, thought that Uncle
Joei' ought to have the post and so
announced their intention to vote for
him. He was unanimously chosen In
the caucus which met In November
1903. He was also selected In the two
ancceeding congresses as the unani.
mons choice In his party; but when
the sixty.frst congress met he en-
countered the opposition OF some %
or 30 insurgents. who had breathed
vcngeance against the Cannon rules
TIA Cannon organization. however
weathered the storm.
m precedent is followed. should the
hoNse be controlled by the Democrats
s'Uucle Joe" would be honored with
the caucus nomination. which carries
with II the floor leadership. as 1t Il
hataly probable that the leading Re
publicans whose names have beer
mentioned as candidates for speaker
woald make determined fight for the
caucus nomination. which Is regarded
asrnn empty honor for the minority.
N will be noted that the Ave Repub
licans who aspired to be speaker In
the hfty.nrst congress were successful
in going higher In the political world
Mckinley became governor OF his
state and later president: Burrows
vas transferred to the senate, and
Reed, Henderson and Cannon served
a. speaker. Cannon will have RECORD
CT four consecutive terms when the
present congress expired. March 1
1911.
laAAARN "a lMllAMA6Al lC