Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-10-13
Thomas b. Reed of Maine.
How lie Felt when the Democracy Were
Raging at Him as ''the Gar"


Raging at Him as 0the CzRr."
The leading feature of McClure's maya
zine for October is an article on ex-Speak-
er Reed, by Robert p. Porter the e1itor-in-
chief of the New York Press, who reveals
Mr. Reeds personality in a decidedly
breezy and straight-at-the-work sort Of
way. These opening paragraphs are es-
pecially entertaining
at was at dinner in Washington that
had the good fortune to find myself seat
ed next to Thomas b. Reed of Maine. Be
fore the conversation had gone beyond the
serious point, remember asking the ex-
speaker how he felt at the time when the
entire Democratic press of the country had
pounced upon him; when he was being
held up as The Cara man whose iron
heels were crushing out American popular
government. Oh he promptly replied,
you mean what were my feelings while
the uproar about the rules of the Fifty-frst
Congress was going on, and while the
question was in doubt? Well, | had no
feeling except that of entire serenity, and
the reason was simple. | knew just what
| was going to do if the House did not
sustain me- and raising his eyes, with a
typical twist of his mouth which those
who have seen 1t don't easily forget, he
added, when a man has decided upon
plan of action for either contingency, there
is no need for him to be disturbed, you
know
"'And may ask what you determined
to do if the House decided adversely?'
Il should simply have left the chair, re-
signed the speakership, and left the House,
resigning my seat in Congress. There were
things that could be done, you know, out
side of political life, and for my own part
l had made up my mind that if politics al
life consisted in sitting helplessly in the
speakers chair, and seeing the majority
4 poweress to pass legislation, had had
enough of it, and was ready to step down
and out
after moments pause he turned, and,
| looking me full in the face with a half
smile, continued: Did it ever occur to you
that it is very soothing thing to know
| exactly what you are going to do, if things
! do not 60 your way? You have then
made yourself equal to the worst, and have
only to wait and find out what was ordain-
ed before the foundation of the world
"'You never had a doubt in your own
mind that the position taken was in per-
feet accordance with justice and common
sense?' ] ventured.
=
being creatures of use and wont, are nat
urally bound up in old traditions. While
every court which had ever considered the
question had decided one way, we had
been used to the other. Fortunately for
the country, there was no wavering in our
ranks
"'But how did you feel said |, when
the uproar was at its worst, when the
members of the minority were raging on
the floor together?'
"'Just as you would feel, was the reply.
If a big creature were jumping at you,
and you knew the exact length and strength
of his chain, and were quite sure of the
weapon you had in your hands.
This conversation gives a clear insight
into the character of Thomas b. Reed 1t
shows his chief characteristics: Manly ag-
gressiyeness, an iron will-qualities which
friend and foe alike have recognized in
him-with certain serenity of temper, a
broadness, bigness of horizon which only
the men who lave been brought into per.
sonal contact with him fully appreciate.
standing as he does, in the foremost
rank of public men, one of the leaders OF
his party, the public has certainly a right
to know something of the man. First OF
all, one thing about him has to be empha.
sized; he lacks one of the traits that popu
lar leaders too often possess. He cannot
be all things to all men. He is bound
to be true to his personal convictions, and
he is not the man to vote for measure he
detests, because his constituents clamor fol-
it. Everyone knows how public men have
at times voted against their earnest con
victions, and then gone into the cloal
room and apologzed for it; but it woulC
] n a Of Mr
composition in this role
ITO judge a man well, to know his hes
side, it is necessary to see him at home
and Gull from notes made several week
ago, during a visit to Mr.. Reed in Port
land
81 found Mr. Reed in a three-story corner
brick house, on one of the most sight,
spots in town. Over the western walls O
that modern, substantial New Englan,
home there chambers a mass of Japanes
ivy, which, relieving the straightness o
the architectural lines, gives a pleasing
, something, an artistic touch, to the ensem
BILE. Its owner having, shown his pride il
that beautiful ivy, straightway took IN
to the roof of the house, TO admir-
the superb view of Casco Bay and tn
, picturesque eXpanse of country aroun
Portland.
The stamp of the mans character
plain everywhere in that house. Tn
. rooms are large, airy, and unpretentousl
!, furnished, yet with sOlidity and that certail
: winning grace of domestic appointment
! in old New England. Much of Mr. Reed
- work is done at his desk in wee bit of
room on the second floor, where crowd
ed book-shelves reach to the ceiling. Hi
library long ago overlooked the confines G
p ] nd Dnly1 4 IL.
d the rooms on every floor; books, bough
{, not for bindings nor editions, but for tn
t contents, ranging from miscellaneous nov
els to the dryest historical treatises, fror
poetry to philosophy"