Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-01

III the states west OF the MISSISSIPPI
many Republicans have graduated in
to Congress from the state bench.
Judge Walter /. Smith-there are three
other Smiths in the HOUSES one of
them. Like Norris, of Nebraska, he
is comparatively young man. being
now almost As years old He has a
good Republican majority of about
5000 behind him and, if he chooses to
remain in the House, promises to have
a career that is worth watching. Just
now he is probably the most prominent
Republican in the House from West of
the Mississippi river. The recent
House uprising has placed him in an
excellent position strategically. He is
Il forceful debater and is generally
popular with his colleagues.
The Fast does not easily obtain
much advantage these days in the
House. because the House is essentially
Western. Since Speaker Reed re-.
signed, the West has been in the sad
die and, only in The event of Demo-
cratic House, is the West likely TO be
ENDORSED there. The Western men
who are in control, prefer TO give the
opportunities for advancement chiefly
To members from their own section.
And Vet at times they are forced to
give some recognition 10 the stalwart
states Of New England and Of New
York and PENNSYLVANIA. That natur-
ally Republican section of the coun-
try has a big block of Republican
votes which must be reckoncd with,
especially since Ohio and Indiana have
been straying off after Democratic
doctrines
one New England man, in the per-
son of George F. Lawrence. from the
Berkshire section of Massachusetts,
comes INTO greater prominence by rea-
son Of the recent rules upheaVal
He too, is a former judge Of district
court and comparatively young in
years. being now little less than 81.
The popular vote of the House Repub-
lican caucus, in which he ran third in
the number of votes received-tffe
other two ahead of him having been
members of the old rules committee
indicated that he was exceedingly we'll
thought of. at the south end of the
Capitol. That sort of support helps
representative tremendously ana as the
work of the rules committee, at least
for time, will be the subject of pOpu-
lar interest, Judge Lawrence promises
to loom in House prominence. He is
known for much good sense and has
had an active part for some years in
the legislative work of the House. He
is one of half dozen good presiding
officers upon whom Speaker Cannon
relies ard is frequently called to the
chair to preside in committee of the
whole.
There has been little change in DEM
ocratic eminence because of the House
uprising If anything, Representatives
Champ Clark of Missouri: Oscar w.
Underwood of Alabama, and John J.
Fitzgerald of Brooklyn. stand forth
more than ever as the big three on the
minority side of the chamber. FitZ-
gerald belonged to a small contingent
of Democrats who have not been much
in accord with Champ Clark's leader
Ship but the activities of recent weeks
and The ability of the Democrats. for
once, to act as unit. has done some
thing to bridge Democratic factional
differences.
There is naturally gossip around the
Capitol over what would happen, if the
next House were Democratic. and opin-
ion has been divided whether Mr..
Clark would gain the gavel by I'M
animous vote or whether Mr. Under
wood might not prove serious COM
petitor He is an old member, although
still a young man, comes from the iron
and steel manufacturing district OF
Birmingham, has demonstrated his
ability as a parliamentarian. and with
all is popular. More likely he would be
chairman of ways and means in
Democratic House and preside over the
efforts of the Democrats to formulate
a new tariff bill.
AS whole the present House minor
ity is not strong in the ability of its
individual members. One could count
on the fingers Of hand the Demo-
Gratis of the present House who have
shown particular adaptihlity for con-
structiVe legislation.