Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-01
Is He Aiming to be Blaine's Sue
cessOrY

Is He Aiming to be BIaine's Sue
cessor?
There is one feature of the new Repub-
ican programme at Washington that is
of special interest, and that is, has Hon.
Tom B. Reed made up bis mind to be
the successor of the Hon. ]. G. Blaine
1t has been an open secret for years
that Mr.. Reed has been restive at the
overshadowing influence of Mr.. Blaine in
their common State of Maine. Unlike
Frye and Hale, and even the venerable
Hannibal Hamlin, he has declined to be
regarded as mere lieutenant of the great
chieftain. His position in the House oi
Representatives has been for years that
of the leader on the Republican side.
This has been accorded to him almost as
fully as it was to Blaine in the heyday oi
the latter's dashing Congressional career,
and in far larger degree than Garfield
ever succeeded in attaining.
In an article contributed by Mr.. Reed
to the North american Reyiew during the
latter part of last summer, on modifying
the rules of the House of Representa-
tives, that gentleman clearly prefgured
the present contest. When ne wrote
that treatise he knew perfectly well that
death alone could prevent his being
elected the next Speaker. He fore
shadowed, in unmistakable terms, the
purpose OF himself and of his party asso-
ciates to take from the minority, ire
spective of party, the rights of obstruct-
ing legislation which they had so long
enjoyed, and this great practical revolu.
ton in legislation was to be accom-
plished by modification Of the rules,
ostensibly in the interest of quick
dispatch Of business.
The Hon. Roger Q. Mills followed up
Mr.. Reeds article by another, in the
same magazine, in which he predicted,
with unerring sagacity, that the Repub-
lican party had some deep laid plan Of
mischief on hand, or such contribution
as that of the Maine Congressman
would never have been written.
Mr.. Mills was unquestionably right.
The shrewdest of the Republican leaders
has at last disclosed his hand. His in
difference to the leadership of Blaine is
shown by his contemptuous disregard of
the rulings of that gentleman on the
force bills. Mr.. Blaine, when Speaker
of the House, distinctly and unequivo-
cally ruled that member could not be
counted to make up quorum who was
present and who declined to vote. There
must be something of special moment
ahead to lead Mr.. Reed to contempt
uously disregard the ruling of a states
man from his own State, belonging to
his own party, and at the present mo-
ment the premier of a Republican ad.
What, then, is Mr.. Reed aiming at
In our judgment his position can be very
readily OWNED. and his motives, though
diverse, are easily analyzed. To begin
with, he sees that the Republican party
is in very bad way. 1t has run out Of
issues, and that upon which the last
Chicago Convention staked the fortunes
of the party, high tariff and cheap
whisky, is seen by the clear-headed
leaders of the party to foreordain defeat
at the next election. No one knows
better than Reed the necessity of how
for the continued existence of the Re
publican party. 1t does not make much
difference what it may be about but il
must be loud, deafening and incessant
Your ordinary Republican politician
must have, besides, the feeling, delight
full to his vanity and his pragmat.
ical instincts, that he is meddlipe
in somebody elae's business. Given
these postulates, Mr.. Reeds plan is tt
take up the contested election cases and
create great clamor about the interfer
ence by the Southern whites with the
right of the negro to vote. The new
Speaker probably has no great confidence
in the issue which he has raised, but ht
knows how vital it is to infuse somethint
resembling principle into the moribunt
political organization of which he has
made himself the leader.
Thus far his plans must have pros.
pered beyond his expectations. He has
not only succeeded in rallying his party
associates to man behind him, but he
has also compassed what was probably
a leading point of his programme, viz,
he has concentrated the attention of
the whole Republican masses OF
the United States upon Speaker Reed.
The significant fact has been developed
that the Republican majority, though
small, will stand round their new leader
like stone wall. They will all vote solid
on every election contest and every other
issue. This will be in marked contrast
with the action of the Democratic ma
jority of the Fiftieth Congress-, who, on
the vote on the first election contest, that
of Lowrie VS.. White, broke to pieces,
thirty-seven Democrats voting for the
Republican. White, although there had
been an unbroken Democratic report in
Lowrie's favor.
We can safely look for some interest
ing developments in the present House
OF Representatives The monotony of
Harrison's Cabinet Councils will not be
repeated therein.
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