Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-03-23

The first historical fight for the
speakership came in 1s4s. at the be-
ginning Of the Thirty congress.
The slavery question, even at that
early day. had begun to destroy
party lines. There we're 112 Demo-
Gratis in the house, los Wings and 10
Free Sellers, the latter holding the
balance Of power, just as the group
of five Independents hold it now.
Robert Winthrop Of Massachusetts,.
speaker Of the preceding house, was
the Wing nominee to succeed him
self. as is the case with Speaker
Champ Clark now. Howell Cobb Of
Georgia was the Democratic candi-
date.
Battle Becomes Warmer.
Eight of the Free Sellers refused
to support Winthrop because he had
ignored the anti-slavery sentiment in
naming the committees of the Thir-
tieth congress. After SO ballots had
been taken Winthrop declined
to permit further use of his name.
Believing Cobb could not be elected,
the Democrats formed coalition
with the Free Sellers to elect Will
lam j. Brown of Indiana. When the
fortieth ballot was taken Brown
lacked only two votes of election.
Then, however, it was stated that he
had bartered the control of impor-
tant committees for the Free Soil
support, and the Democrats deserted
him. The house was the scene of
wild disorder and there was fear of
bloodshed. Finally, after three
weeks of wrangling, resolution was
adopted providing for plurality
vote, and Cobb was elected on the
sixty-third ballot.
There were two great speakership
contests preceding the Civil warm
1856 and 1859. This was after the
'irrepressible conflict" had begun
and when the shadow of civil war
was already heavy over the country.
The Whig party in 1855 was dying,
and the Democrats were torn by
divisions. Party lines were almost
obliterated. There were five candi-
dates for speaker when the house be-
gan to ballot in December, and the
highest received only "A votes. The
deadlock ran along for two months.
Men slept in the chamber, sectional.
ism had made them bitter, and the
country was in an uproar. The Dem
ocrats, believing that q suf1cient
number of members would support
their candidate, passed a resolution
providing for a plurality election,
But their plans did not carry. Ma
thaniel P. Banks of Massachusetts,,
on the 133rd ballot. received 1O3
votes to 100 for Aiken, the Demo
cratic candidate, with II scattering.
Precedent required that q plurality
election be ratified by resolution, but
the clerk of the house, fearing that
another vote, such as would have to
be taken on the resolution, would
defeat the question, resolved upon
the heroic action of declaring Banks
elected. Governor Aiken. to the sur
prise Of some. acquiesced and escort
ed Banks to the chair.
Ended After Two Months.
Thus ended the struggle of two
months and one day. during which
the government was paralyzed. On
December 81 President Pierce had
sent his annual message to congress
but no congress existed. since the
house was not organized. and the
house declined to permit its reading.
Congress had been reduced to 80 low
a state that two eminent members
seriously proposed that the members
resign their commissions and that
new elections be held, so that the
country might send a house that
could act.
The next deadlock was In 1859.
Congress met on December and did
not elect a speaker until February 1.
nearly two months later. 1t was the
same story as in 1855. On some days
not single ballot was taken. be-
cause 1t was known to be useless.
The house became a debating society.
On December p President Buchanan
sent in his annual message, but the
house laid 1t on the table unread. In
January it became known that So
members had signed an agreement
to prevent an election by plurality
in case a majority could not be OBJ
tanned. and thus to prevent any or
ganization whatever.
In the house there were 100 Re-
publicans. SO Administration Demo
Gratis, 23 Southern Americans and 4
Northern Americans. No party had
a majority. The Republicans did not
agree upon a candidate for speaker
at first, dividing their strength on
the opening ballots between sixteen
candidates. G.. A. Grow Of Pennsyl-
OhiO