St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-31
MIR. REEDS SCHEME.

/ nUeI me lljie, 'ObSIucllun ia tit
National House, Congressman TON
REED. of Maine, contributes an article
20 the North American Review iii
which he favOrS such changes in the
rules Of the house of representatives as
would render the minority entirely
helpless and the majority entirely des-
pOtic. This is fairly well understood to
be a bid by Mr.. REED FOR the support Of
his Republican associates for the speak
ership. and the very fact that ne would
descend 10 such a low trick is the best
evidence of his disqualification. Alr.
REED has been the leader of MS party
in the lower house OF congress all the
wears that it mas been in the min
0rity, and if he was impressed
with the necessity for such change as
he now proposes in the rules of the
house, the proposition would have come
from him with a great deal better grace
then than now. Coming, as it does now.
when the Republicans are nervous about
their slender majority in the lower
house. and are in dread Of the compact
organization of the Democratic minority
with its Shillful leadcrship.itis apparent
that Mr. REED imagines that his Repub-
Iican associates are willing to go any
length, no matter how aiSrepuJable and
infamous their course may be. 10 bind
and gag this strong minority; and he
gTatuitouSly offers himself Is the instrlI-
ment with which to perpetrate the in
fanny. That is the way his article will
be read between the lines.
But Mr. REED doesn't sJoD there. lie
expresses his willingness to 20 still fur
thcr in this revolutionary movement
by ignoring the existence Of any rules
at all. and virtually asks his Republican
associates to make him dictator until
such time as the house, by the aid of
his manipulation, can adopt such rules
rs will render the minority entirely
helpless. He says 1.-The house will meet
without rules and will have none until
It adopts them itself" This PROPOSE
ton demonstrates the reckless spirit in
which Nj. REED would have the Re
publicans approach the subject, and
is an assurance that they can rely
upon him as their willing tool
to accomplish all the dirty work
that they want done. Mr.. REED is UNI
mindful of the fact that the house will
assemble and organize under rules as
clearly ascertained, as strictly defined,
and as sacred in their character as the
principles of the common law. There
is 10 government on earth where the
ordinary parliamentary rules, az they
have obtained for centuries, are not APP
piled in the legislative assemblies in the
absence Of any written code, and Mr..
REED mistakes the temper Of the Amer
lean people if he supposes that they will
submit to such q system Of despotiSIn-
"A, anarchism-as that which he pro-
poses to establish. The reckless spirits
who gather under the led flag of an
archism never gave expression to 4
more un-American sentiment than
Tom REED has INDUCED in this bid for
the speakership. Ii the Republicans
are wise they will want some other man
than Mr.. REED in the speakers chair.
Those who are SO eager to exercise I'M
restrained power dc not represent the
patriotism of the country. The Repub-
iicanS have too slim 4 majority in con-
gresS to humOi such caperS as Tom
REED would be likely TO cut in the
speakers chair. 4 change OF a very
few votes would change the position of
the parties in the house, and W hen the
next congress assemblies the Repub!i-
cans may need the protection Of the
rules which Mr.. REED is now 81 eager
10 abolish