Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-11-22
THE SPEAKERSHIP.


Before every session of the legislature there is al
ways spirited for the speakershp and yet politi
cal history shows that it is members disadvantage
rather than his advantage be elected speaker The
real contest for the control of the committees and the
candidate for speaker tire 'goat obtain that
troll. Usually also the speaker is made the 'goat' in
the amount of blame he receives if the session is not alto
gether successful. If ,mber be candidate for
speaker and develop enough strength to be used for trad
ing stock and then trade with the successful candidate
he is fortunate selfish than is the man
who is actually elected Nevertheless many become
candidates for speaker we'll knowing that it brings much
blame and little honor because they wish the
mttees of the house organized in the interest of reform
These have usually had to the disappoint
ment their work condemned at the end of
the session.
C. B. Cheney, political writer of the Minneapolis
Journal gives interesting history of the speakershp
and points also the Importance of the contest
He says:-
Considering the political reward stake is rather
surprising members of the house should spend
effort the contest for the speakershp The office is
of temporary authority for three four months The
extra pay is enough campaign expenses The
speaker deprived of opportunities for debate and shap
ing legislation in committee that are enjoyed by able
further political advancement Only speaker in the
recent history of the has gained higher honor S.
R. Van SAINT, who speaker in 1895 became governor
aferward but spent six years in winning the
orshp and suffered defeats before the prize
reward for his persistence
W. E. Lee, who speaker in $685. has been a
candidate for governor two three times but has failed
to land. J. u. JONES' who held the gave in 1897.
from speaker senator The course was taken
by Frank Clague and A. j. Rockne. who held office in
1905 and 1909 and they still in the senate. Neither
gained the political advantage that he expected
reap from the senatorshp though both ambitious.
A. N Dare, who speaker in 1885, served afterward
as state printer is in private fe NJ J. Bowling
held the Office in 1901 and in the 1902 session.
tried make it stepping congress, but failed
L. w. Babcock dropped into political oblivion after pre-
siding at the session of 1908 L. H. Johnson met a
similar fate after the session of 1907 and tried
cessuly be elected at the next session H. H. Dunn
had trouble finish of the 1911 session. ALLEN
ated many of his friends and is glad to back
plain member this time, free of the speakers The
office has been bed of and seldom has given
the holder any lasting political prestige.
'It is mistake to be talking about the speakershic
CONTEST says old member. 'It is not really speak
ership fight at all. 1t is contest for the committee
places Very few of the members who is speaker
but they all chairmanshps and good committees,
they try get behind the who they think will give
them the best assignments There is a good deal il
this If the Office of speaker the only thing at stake
there would not be tenth of the interest taken
the race The speakership is the prize hung up for
man. there many other rewards in the way of com
mtee places patronage The whole house organiza
ton is involved in the contest to the speaker.