The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-12-06
SPEAKER REEDS CHARACTERISTICS.

His CauStie WIt-HlS Wonderful Powers In
Debate-The speech That Made Him
Famous,
EscAaUOt
Physically Tom Reed Is the biggest
man in tue House, or at least he was in
the Last Congress, He must weigh about
as much US Grover Cleveland, and he
has the latEeFs advantage in being
taller. He is a finished French scholar
aud reads everything published in that
language. Mr.. Morgan, the Washington
correspondent Of the Boston Globe
Dem wrote alter the last session Of
Congress: "Reed rarely misses session
Of the House, and while there Is busy ut
his correspondence, and the same char
aCteristlc Is noted OF his handwriting as
Of other men OF generous proportions, 1t
Ia small and almost w6manly, As you
look down from the galleries and gaze
upon his shining bald head, his baby
blue eyes and his Childlike counten-
anCe and see him sprawling all over
bis desk apparently paying not the
slightest attention TO what Ia going
on about him you would be apt to think
that he was not OF much Importance In
the legislation OF his country. But
wait, The Democrats are pitching into
some uDlucky fellow on his side OF the
house, There 10 considerable noise, and
members are crOwding the well In front
OF the Speakers desk. The 6rst signs Of
the coming storm are like the bugle notes
to an old charger. Reed tidgets in bis
seat, Then heslowly rises and surveys
the scene, He gets up and moves into
the aisle. Remember | am describing
one OF the many scenes | witnessed last
winter.) The House knows what Is
coming. There Is a half cynical, half
COntemptuous smile on the big fellows
face. Then his hand goes up
very much In the attitude Of a
school boy asking his teacher
to BIZ allowed 10 speak and he drawls
out, 'Mr. Speaker. Thea Reed opens
fire. It Is seldom he talks more than
ten minutes, but when he finishes the
House feels that there has been some
aqua f6rtis scattered round. Sometimes
u man is found bold enough to try and
answer him. II he is wise he never does
1t a second time. The late Sunset Cox
and Reed used 10 have some lively spar.
ring matches, but Dick Townsend, OF
Illinois, who died last spring, was his
pet aversion. Whenever Townsend got
up Reed was sure to follow him, and the
why he used to go for Townsend was a
caution. Now YOU know something
about the man, but only little"
How Tom Reed awoke one day, or
rather read the newspapers one morn
ing, to find himself famous has been told
by the admirable Washington Star.
Eighteen words did It,, Not long after
having taken bis seat In Congress he
was making d little speech, when some
member interrupted him with an annoy.
ing question. Reed answered him, aud
then III his high nasal tones drawled out:
"And now, having embalmed that fly
in the liquid amber Of my remarks, l
will go on again.
This shaft Of wit hit the newspaporial
bulls eye and from that time Tom Reeds
name was a familiar one throughout the
country.
MIR. Reed in bis domestic relations is
sivnally blest. His wife (nee Susan
Merrill, OF Centre Harbor, Me.) Is a we'll.
read, cultivated, refined lady Of medium
height, dark hair and eyes, possesses
fne conversational powers and Is SO.
cially charming, She is popular with
the ladies' OF Washington, where for the
twelve years Of her husbands Congress-
ional life she has passed her winters.
Tom Reed has sharp, apt, pungent
wit. And this Is not all, for behind his
wit are brains, and plenty ofthem. His
high standing 10 no result OF witty arch.
cry, but it Is the logical sequence Of fine
intellectual gifts supplemented by hard |
study and indeiatigable. And yet he
lacks the arts and tinesse Of the trained
diplomat or politician. He is earnest,
blunt, straightforward, aud, shalkT say
1t, willful. Once having made up his |
mind 10 d certain line OF action, he
clings 10 1t with logged tenacity. This
trait has moro than once nearly lost
him his Congressional election. He |
knows II, but nevertheless Is bound to
do his own thinking and his own acting
all the same. " is not in Ills nature To |
be all things 10 all men.
But whether on the floor Of the House
or In the Speakers chair, the Hon.
Thomas 3. Reed is intellectually, as well
as physically, big man.