The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-09-05
| WELCOMED.
Mr.. Reeds Greeting by Portland
Friends and NeighborS.
Hundreds Unable to Get Into the
Crowded City Hall.
The Speaker Greeted With a Storm
Of Applause and Cheers.
His Eloquent Speech on tho Work
Done by this Congress
Received With Enthusiasm by the
Vast Audience.


numbers and enthusiasm anything Of the
sort seen here for many years. Like as a
parent welcomes the return of long absent
child, was the warmth and affection of the
greeting. Like unto the welcoming years
ago of hero home from the war seemed the
tumult and enthusiasm of the occasion. And
this time it was surely hero welcomed
home. the man who had calmly presided
over many wordy strife, and always been
victorious. Portland people never before
had the opportunity of receiving one Of its
did they improve 1t last evening.
The hall was crowded densely. People be-
gan to assemble before o'clock, and at s
o'clock every bit of available space was oc-
cupied, men and women standing in mass
together near the doors and crowding down
the aisles. Hundreds were unable to obtain
glimpse Of the interior Of the hal, and were
obliged to return home without even glance
at the Speaker. s-.fir .e.4 y s-- v..
Previous to the opening of the meeting
Chandler's Band. stationed in the gallery.
playing several pleasing selections. Prompt
ly at the appointed hour large company of
citizens filed upon the stage, among them be-
ing Hon. George w. Woodman, Thomas P.
Shaw. ID. B. Kicker, Alderman Thompson,
Councilman Charles Clark, Henry Fox. Eben
Corey, T. J, Little, City Treasurer Libby,
Hon. Ell. III. Burgess, Alderman John +.
Rand, A. I. Laughlin. President Foss of the
Council, Hon. Weston F. Milliken, w. r.
Wood, VI. o. Short, Hon. III. G. Briggs,
Frank Crocker, 0ren Ring, wv. Allen, Jr.,
Hon. George P. Wescott, Hon. Clark Barker.
Of Abilene, Kan. George #. French, NJ. A.
Blanchard. A. F. Gerrish, President w. G.
Emerson and and a large delegation from the
Young Mems Republican Club, F. W. Wa
terhouse, f. M. Higgins, City Clerk George
G. Burgess, w. Fl. Sargent, ex-Mayor O. j.
Chapman, Hon. b. ID. Verrill, Ex-Governor
Perham, E. s. Rounds, Alderman Bagley,
Jacob S. Winslow. l.. A. Goudy. Alderman
Lewis, Councilman John Cousins, Fl. r.
Virgin, FL. N. Jose, Stephen Berry. E. F.
Tompson, s. w. Thaxter, DIR. w. S. Dana.
The gentlemen were hardly seated when
the familiar form Of Mr.. Reed was caught
sight Of, coming up the stairs. He was pre-
ceded by the chairman of the city committee,
Hon. Wilbur f. Lunt, and Hon. John III.
Fogg. and entered the hall in company with
Mayor Melcher. His appearance was the
signal for tremendous applause, prolonged
for several minutes, then gradually dying
out, only to lbreak out again with greater
force. All this time the band was playing,
but above the din it could no more be heard
than pistol shot in battle. The greeting
was Of the heartiest and most cor
dial character. Again, when the
chairman of the meeting, Hon. j.. IA.
Fogg, introduced Mr.. Reed as ''the illustri-
GUS Speaker of the House." the applause
was still heartier than before. The great
audience jumped to its feet, men waved their
handkerchiefs, hats, occasionally an UNI
brella. and anything upon which their hands
happened to catch, shouting all the time
with an earnestness which indicated their
honor and esteem Of the Speaker as nothing
else could have done, There was continu-
GUS roar Of cheers. But the men were not
alone in their exhibition of enthusiasm. for
the women also joined in the tribute to Port
lands distinguished son, waving; their
handkerchiefs with just as much enthus-
iasm as did their sons and husbands. All in
all, it was great meeting, remarkable par
ticularly for the fact that there was not
move made among the audience toward 60
ing home until the last word had been spok-
en-. The deepest interest was manifested
throughout the speech, which
was punctuated frequently with
much applause and hearty laughter
The Speaker reference to the delight it af-
forded him to be welcomed home to Port
land was received with every indication of
good will. And then his resume of the work
Of the House during the present session was
listened to with the closest attention. When
he mentioned all the members of the House
as orators in their own country at least. the
laughter was hearty. lie made several tell
ing points on how obliging the Republicans
had been to the Democrats by first getting
along without rules. as they seemed to de.
sire, and then when they cried for rules,
they obliged them by formulating some, and
still they were dissatisfied. Then in his own
peculiar way he told how they 'cleared the
decks for action" being frequently inter-
rupted by laughter. His mention Of Major
McKinley's and Ex-Gov. Dingley's work on
the tariff measures was applauded The
comparison of the conception of
the Mills bill in darkness to the
formulation OF the Mckinley bill after
many hearings Of the wishes of the people,
was as amusing as it was instructive In
mentioning the Supreme Court decision in
reference to "original packages" and how
Congress met the need with an appropriate
bill he spoke the familiar phrase with such a
genuine Yankee twang as to evoke great
laughter. 1t was good point. All he said
about lotteries was heartily endorsed. His
peroration in,closing was listenedSto with
wrapt attention and was Of such degree of
| oloquence that the audience, In its eagerness
| to catch every word, calmed down to the
| stiffness OF vast forest and then like the
| rushing of hurricane into the trees came
the burst of applause which suddenly broke
forth as it was seen that he had finished. Il
was powerful speech remarkable for the
| great number of measures which had beer
before Congress which were reviewed there
| In, since Mr.. Reed spoke only -ftttle- more
| than an hour.
In calling the gathering to order Hon. w
| +. Lunt, chairman of the Republican cit,
committee. introduced John ii. Fogg, ESQ.
as chairman of the meeting. Mr. Fogg spokI
as follows:
Mr.. Fogg's Speech.
Fellow citizens: 1t would not be becomln,
in eupon this occasion to make any OK
tended remarks. and take II for granted
that the best service / can render this vas
audience here assembled ton light is to be ex
ceedlDgiy brief, that you may have an oppor
| tunity to listen TO the person who Is to adj
dress you, and the one that you all want tC
| hear.
| The citizens Of Portland, take 1t BY this
here, and that interest is to extend a hearty
welcome and cordial greeting to our Illus
trious fellow citizen who has by his sigma
| ability his determination, and his undaunteC
| courage, gone forward and achieved tha
great reform of which we have read and O
whichwe all HapproVe, and he has eur heart
| felt sympathieS for what he has accomplished
J in the halls Of our national legislature. ZAP
DlauSP He iS nne of those persons Whf