The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-07-12
MR.. REED IN NEW YORK.
What He Says of the Maine Canvass
and Politics in General.
Novel Reasons why the outlook In
the First District is Disturbing.

When Congressman Thomas b. Reed
passed through New York on his way to
Washington last Friday, he was seen by a
representative of the New York Tribune,
with whom he had this conversation:
"What about the Maine canvass? Did you
hear anything OF the prospects Whlle you
were at homer
ssNot very much. made few inquiries.
7 iudge that matters are going on fairly
well. The canvass has not been really en-
tered upon as yet. The State will go Repub-
lican, as usual, and the majority may OF may y
not be large, according as the canvass is
made a vigorous one or otherwise. Inc size
of the majority will depend good deal on
how much stir the Democrats make. Inc
more opposition they give US the larger the
majority will be-"
soldiers showing opposition to the Republl-
can ticket" ..,
in it. The speech of Gen. Hall, about when
so much has been said, might resolve itSeI. ;o,,
into an expression of Gen. Hairs opinion
that the soldier has been ignored In his Con-
gressional district. :. homo o.,
ssNo: / expected to see him at the centen-
nal, but he was not there. he Is taRihg MAI a
loving the rest that any man would ENJOY az
ter SO many years of arduous service, and al
ter having completed history such as ne
has written" -, ,,.
as it not remarkable what hold MIR.
Blaine still retains on the puDHcf
"Wbat about Congress? What are the is
sues that are to come before the people out
of the session."
''From present appearances we shall get get
back to the old issue of the tariff and the
issue of the capacity or rather the lack of
capacity, of the Democratic party to con-
duct the government OF the country: Iney
started in proposing to do certain things tor
the benefit of the country which their own
administration and their own people had
recommended them to do. They are closing
their session without doing any OF these
things. In the first place Mr.. Illden said
some very sensible things in regard to fortlfl-
cations and coast defences. HIS letter upon
that subject was indorsed, not only by his
party, but by the country. His recommen-
dations are likely to be ignored. Inc Secre-
tary of the Navy earnestly urged upon Con-
gress to begin the construction OF a navy
H. urged that shipbuilding be entered upon,
but Congress has done nothing. The Secre-
tary of the Navy, himself, up to the present
time, has not even completed the plans for
ships that were ordered by the last Congress
and for whose construction appropriations
were made. He has not even asked Tor bids
for the construction of these ShlpS so that
nothing has been done by him, even under
the power that he already possessed, 1t is
doubtful if Congress will give him any fur
ther authorization in view OF this dilatori-
ness.
The Democratic party seems to be incapa-
BILE of doing anything with regard to the tar
iff or anything else. The majority OF the
Democratic party is free trade in its tenden-
cies. That majority in the House puts IN
their chair speaker who is in accord with
its own views. That Speaker also appoints
a Committee of Ways and Means which, rep.
resents free trade. The practical result OF
this appointment is that the majority OF the
Committee of Ways and Means originates
tariff bill which cannot pass the House,
while, at the same time, they prevent the
orignation of any reforms which can go
ssWRat is President Cleveland's notion in
yetoing the Pension bills?''
81 can give you my opinion about 1T.
think that like all other New ork Govern
ors, who have won more or less. renoWn by
yetoing bills at Albany, he thinks he can 90
the same thing in Washington and with
more renown in the national field"
'Do you think there IS any Southern lnhu-
ence back of his action?
mo doubt the fact that such things car dc
him no harm in the South, which IS the
stronghold Of the Democracy, is one OF the
elements of the situation"
Sin your opinion is the drift of things in
| the country favorable to the return OF the
Republican party to power 2"
.tAs l told you, getvery little information
| about the drift Of things over the country.
| It seems to me that the natural tendency OF
| labor troubles in the country, and of these
| Knights of Labor organizations, would be to
| help the minority party. Yet, in localities
where had a little practical observation the
Knights of Labor go over to the Democrats.
| No, the statement is hardly correct. The
| Democrats are in such a state of mind that
| they are going over to the Knights of Labor
| The Democrats, in fact, are fishing in every
| direction"
'About your district, are you going back tc
| Congress?"
sWell, L guess so, though, to tell you the
| truth, am the least bit alarmed by the fact
| that things look so well at home. | have
never seen time in any month of July pre-
| vious to my contest for election when things
| looked so favorable for me. l have several
| times seen the outlook in August so gloomy
| as to disturb all my friends. The present
| excellent outlook is therefore somewhat dis
| turbing."