This existing system where everyone knows how everyone else voted is anti-Democratic as we can now plainly see. Votes for the Speaker should be private, so no one can coerce people by retaliation after the fact.
I just watched a very interesting video podcast in which the commentator describe how until the 70's, preliminary votes (I think committee votes) were taken in secret.
In this way, special interests couldn't be sure if their pet project was introduced, discussed, fought for, etc.....and by who. Also, the parties couldn't be sure who voted as they were instructed to in the committees.
People will be motivated by three things when voting:
1.) Incentive
2.) Fear
3.) Conscience
Secret ballots take away the incentive motivation and the fear motivation by preventing the special interests and political party bosses from every truly knowing how someone voted. The only motivation left is the conscience motivation and if all members of congress used that motivation to decide important votes, we would be much better off. In fact, I think a strong argument could be made that ALL congressional votes should be secret.