Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-17
WHAT REED SAID
10 A REPORTER ABOUT BIS TRIP TO
EUROPE.
He FsvOrs Mills, Of Texas, for Spsaksr-Hs Also
Likes CTisp-WhOsVr is Elected Should
Make the Republicans Toe
The Marx.
" z. Worla, PortIand. lfs.. SpseiaL

MuOAC bGuiO3 coiu 4uoudS ID. hecu,
Speaker Of the Fifty-frst Congress,
slapping his chubby hands upon the
arms Of the big armchair in which he
sat, or rather sprawled. after the man
ner Of Talleyrand in the well-known
picture. mot a trick. Play whiSt?"
Eyes"
Then you understand what it means
to take the thirteen tricks. Well,
that's what we did. Nothing got away
from us"
"Do you expect to see the next
Speaker play the same game?"
81 hope so. If the game of politics
is worth joining in at all, it should be
played with the best skill and judgment
that one possesses. Politics? It's bus
inesS-all business. How about the
Speakership? You see, I've been
away"
"Crisp and Mcmillan show strongest
on the surface at present." answered
the correspondent. They are both
working hard, through their friends,
securing votes"
And what about Mills?"
Hes keeping very quiet-has been
In hiding down at a small Asbury Park
hotel for some time. Nobody can lind
out what Mills is doing; but the friends
OF the other two men insist that he isn't
in the hunt.
II am sorry for that" was the
thoughtful reply. II like Mills. He is
man Of sincere convictions. always
found him a fair OppOnent-thOugh l
did have 10 call him down once, when
he and Rogers, of Arkansas, got 70
catawaumpuSsing about the floor OF the
House one afternoon.
A SINTED WORD.
That's a new word, Mr. Reed" said
the correspondent. "Did you find that
at Herculaneum? But its meaning is
evident. You suggest iii Synonymous
for 'flibustering?'
''Not exactly, replied the ex-Speaker,
seriously. Then, turning his head, he
called twice: Anthony! Anthony
The butler didn't come, but large
Maltese cat skipped into the room,
landed on the big mans knees, then
Jumped 10 his left shoulder and slipped
down into the seat behind his master
taking long chance at being convert
ed into a sandwich between the chair
and It's occupant. A word of command
sufliced 10 extricate the cunning feline,
however.
To put it terSely, the Maltese cata-
waumpussed the conversation for sew
eral minutes. But the occasion afforded
time to take a good look At the ex-
Speaker, by some people irreverently
called 1.-THE Gar"
THE SPEAKER AT HOME.
He had been encountered few min
uteS before on the street not far from
the corner where stands his house. He
greeted the stranger to Portland warm
ly and asked him TO walk home with
him. II seemed very natural-Quite
like old times at Washington in 1886,
when the big man was plain "TOm"
Reed, and when the writer often used
10 walk down the Avenue from the
Capitol with him and listen to the la
ment Of the Congressman because he
couldn't get bicycle strong enough to
carry him. That seemed his only Sor-
row In those days.
The house is 4 neat red brick. The
door opens into wide hall, at the right
of which is large parlor, and, behind
It, the library. AT glance one would
know that it was the lounging-rOom Of
Studious lover of literature.
just as he had tossed his straw hat
upon the bench in the hall, the ex-
Speaker flung himself into Gargantuan
chair. he shook his locks, passed his
fingers through them as if to comb out
the cannon balls lodged there dur
ing the great campaign in the House.
10 frrk 81 ~ huf ?
toned at the neck and as be threw his
massive head back into the cushioned
chair, his face glOwed with the bronze
of VesuviuS, and the ripping waves at
POrtici or Sorrento again Sparkled in
his eyes. The picture of Tallyrind in
his chair constantly required TO me, as
I have said, though the men haven't
single trait in common, save, perhaps,
genius
A cry Of Rats in the street took
Anthony ont by way OF a side window
and the conversation was resumed.
WHY HE WAS RIGID.
ITO explain" began Mr.. Reed, after
the catawaumpusS, just as naturally as
if he had only halted to take breath,
"flibuStering in 1850 may have been
all right, but in 1890 il had developed
inuo absolute obstruction. Such meth
DDS always OutgrOw the intent and pur-
pose for which they were created.
Familiarity with men develops unex-
pected traits. The slightest advance
beyond or invasion Of vested or cOnsti-
tutiOnal rights is a dangerous step, not
in itself, perhaps, but because OF what
il may lead 10. This very language
was applied to me time and again,
know: but, God bless me. l was only
trying TO hold down rather turbulent
and numerous minority to the bedrock
Of parliamentary forms from which
similarly situated minorities had been
allowed TO slip in the past. I was
simply 'hOldin' 'er nose agin the shore,
If the metaphor isn't too strained.
And did it. Now, I say, let Crisp, or
McMillen, or Mills do the same thing.
If the next Speaker has 'the sand he'll
make Us walk the chalked line. The
last election spoke with considerable
vigor regarding some matters, and the
majority ought to hear the echo. But
we'll make things interesting for them,
nevertheless.
BE FAvORS MILLS.
(Which Of these men would you pre-
fer?"
II am on good terms with all Of
them" was the reply. Personally,
without any diSrespect to either of the
other two. I would be glad to have Mills
the next speaker. He has capacity for
the place, is a good parliamentarian,
and, as 1 said before, a sincere and
frank antagonist. Crisp have always
found 8 quick, ready man. Last session,