The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-08-18
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A MAN FOR THE PEOPLE.
Speaker Reed Growing Rapidly In
Public Favor.
[CIncinnati Commercial-Gazette.l

cincinnati ommercial-Gazette.l
WASHINGTON, August II,
No man in public life more richly deserves
his rapidly growing reputation than Speaker
Reed. Every day makes known new ele-
ments of fitness for his high place. For the
last month his unceasing contest with Demo-
cratic side led by its smallest, and so its
most provoking characters, has placed the
country under constant obligations. 1t is
not Republicans alone who owe him thanks,
but the practical, working, business citizens
of the land. In the large sense public affairs
are non-partisan. The work of legislation
is ponderous labor for the nation. Every
taxpayer is interested In its smooth prog
ress. Every wOrkingman suffers when 1t is
needlessly delayed.
For more than month the small men on
the Democratic side have been venting their
petty spite on the Speaker of the House at
the expense Of national business. Through
it all he has kept on without once finching,
and though these 0bstructionists have been
able to cause delay, they have not succeeded
IN bringing the Speaker to a halt Through
their parliamentary devices, and over them
he has safely piloted the business of the
House and kept 1t steadily moving forward.
He grows rapidly in the estimation of both
party friends and party enemies. Those
who denounce him most bitterly admit their
the opinion of the country their abuse is
construed as the best form of sounding his
praises, it would be well.
1t is live question whether the country is
not already prepared for a step forward In
what the Democratic side is pleased to call
the Speakers despotism, his tyranny and
his arbitrary ways.
When he first proposed his rules there
were a good many Republicans who EST
tated about full Endorsement of his meth
d. Dx.Ae No. al
made known that, as is generally the case in
reforms, the people were In the lead. 1t was
clearly evident that they were sick of the
delays in public business; tnat they cared
nothing for parliamentary precedents, IL they
were venerable with age and had received
the blessings and the worship of the fathers
of the Republic. The plain, practical, every
day citizens of this land are undoubtedly in
favor OF despatch in the public business.
They do their own work by the shortest
methods and with untiring energy and appli-
cation. The days and hours resound with
the clang of the mighty work of developing
the continent and building up the nation.
The millions whose hands are barred and
arms uplifted and faces beaded with the
sweat of their giant tasks, look with proper
contempt and Indignation upon the narrow
minded, aimless, senseless and wicked waste
Of time which should be most industriously
devoted TO keeping pace with the public
business.
Tits plain by their commentator of the
new methods under the House rules that they
will further applaud every effort to promote
dispatch in legislation. Let Speaker Reed
put on his thinking cap and see what he can
do for the pe0ple-not for party alone, but
for the great-hearted, earnest, practical peo-
pie who want public affairs to move forward
without captious delay. Let there be more
comprehensive rules against dilatory pro-
ceedings OF every class. Let 1t be made pos
sible to take up every measure in its order
and proceed to fair and uninterrupted de-
bate, and a vote upon 1t. The majority
rules in this land, in theory, at least. In the
House Of Representatives, where every
member is acting under an oath to observe
and defend the constitution, the majority
has no claim to control. 1t has the right to
be heard, and after that the right to vote.
1t has no right to obstruct simply for the
purpose OF obstructing, or because it does
not like the way In which the majority In
charge of national affairs is conducting its
business.
II the House committee on rules proposes
the most stringent means OF controlling fill
clustering in all of its we'll known shapes
they will find the best sentiment of the coun-
Try solidly sustaining them. The plain peo-
pie are undoubtedly ready to have the
Speaker and his associates lead on.
Inls quick and favorable response Of the
country to the provisions of the new House
rules rules may be observed with profit by the
Soenate. Inc time for the liberation of ever
lasting tax in that body has passed In the
county, mere Is no desire anywhere to fix
anything but the most liberal limits to Sena-
torlal depate. But that there should be
limit which will make it possible to perform
the public business is too clear and fair
proposition not to receive solid support from
such population as our own. Fiiibustering
is no more palatable to the American people
when coated with Senatorial dignity and In
fltcted upon suffering people in what te-
dious and prolix Senators choose to style de-
bate.
The time has come la the history of the
Senate for stamping filibustering out of exis-
tence. 1t is no longer tolerable in this mat
ter OF fact country. The people have no pa
thence with Senators who spend their time
In bowling and turning in the stately figures
of parliamentary minuet, Let the Sonata
come up. abreast of Speaker Reed. and it
will receive the plaudits of the nation.
IA "