Evening star., 1894-12-22
Democrats in the House Surprised at
His Magnanimity.
DOES NOT CHAFF THEM ON DEFEAT
He is an Intensely Busy Man These
Days.
A PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITY


irence as presidential possibility and the
recent triumph of his party. He may be
little less in evidence on the floor of the
House; he may hold himself a little in
reserve but this seems to come from his
having other occupation than that Of sit
ting in Judgment over the majority and
making their declining hours miserable.
There is one thing that the democrats have
been greatly surprised at. They came back
to Gle an up the last session of this cox
gress shame-faced and in dread of the
taurts they would have to endure from
the republicans, especially from Reed. They
Traced themselves for the trying ordeal
ard assumed an awkward air of defiance
to help them in facing 1t out. To their
utter establishment Reed has scarcely
given them any notice. and from the gen.
eral bearing Of the republicans it would
be difficult to find any indication of the
triumph they feel. There have been very
few references by the republicans to the
election, and the democrats have not had
their sensitive feelings seriously disturbed.
This magnan nimity was unlocked for. They
do not know how to account for it. They
have been waiting every day for the 'jol-
lying" to begin, but there has been none
of it, and they are beginning to feel that
they are going to be permitted to pass
away In comparative comfort.
Reeds Magnanimity.
In this h disclosed a trait of Mr. Reeds
character which Is not generally recognized.
Every one is so in the habit Of looking upon
Reed as a fighter and bitter satirist that
the idea of his being magnanimous Is not
suggested. He has a playful way of tor
menting men of light weight who try to
pose as statesmen, and in a contest with an
equal he Is aggressive and uncompromising,
but he always stops fighting when his ad-
versary is down. He is not given to the
habit of Growing over a fallen foe, and he
is not apt to remind the democrats of their
bad plight unless an occasion arises where
such reminder Is necessary. He Is not
given to small actions. His conduct
toward the democratic Speaker who sue
ceeded him in the chair has been remark
ably considerate for the most part, seldom
trying to throw unnecessary difficulties in
his way. His exultation over his victory in
compelling the democrats to count a quo
rum was carried only to the extent neces-
sary to impress the fact upon the record
and to make ii clear to the public that his
own course while Speaker had been vindi-
Gated to that extent Burrows and Dalzell,
the two republican leaders next in rank to
him, are equally averse to petty exultation,
so that the defeated democrats have got off
quite easy with their sore feelings.
Doesn't Appear to Have ..a Bee."
A man with 1.-The bee" In his bonnet can
usually be identified in crowd. 1t Is ira
ditional that nothing else puts a man
much en- his guard, brings out so much the
amiability and suavity of his character or
makes such a coward of him. A bland,
conciliatory smile becomes set expression
of his face, and to show Difference to the
Views of others and to hide his own opir-
ions becomes a habit. None Of these char
acterfstic symptoms OF the candidate have
appeared In Reed. He Is no more than or
dinarily amiable. shows no signs of trying
to cultivate popularity and Is as pronounc
ed In his opinions and seemingly as free to
take a position on any question as he ever
WAS. In his short speech on the railroad
pooling bill he showed clearly enough that
he was not disposed to play the dema-
gogue and If he has not yet appeared much
in the proceedings of the House there is
no evidence that he Is trying to avoid TAX
ing a position on any question. The most
noticeable change in his bearing lies In his
appearing to be always busy. During the
two Congresses, up to this time, that he
has been out of power he has been con-
splcHous on the, floor for his attitude of
Incidence and the satirical expression of
wearineso which rested on his face while
the democrats were foundering about in
their efforts to do something. He would
loll back in his chair like lazy giant,
either watching over affairs with only an
occasional evidence of interest, or sur
rounded by group OF admirers, who listen
ed to his indolent irony. receiving his re-
marks with loud bursts of laughter.
An Air of business About Him.
Now he has an air Of business about him.
His expression of countenance Is more
serious, and his frequent conferences with
his friends are conducted with heads close
together and are not accompanied with
poals of laughter. He is more frequently
In the cloak room than in his seat; but
whether in the cloak room or in his seat,
he is usually in earnest conversation with
some of his colleagues. His influence with
his party associates Is directed toward
holding them down, with the view of as
Sembling all their reserve force to deal
with the problems confronting them in
their progress toward complete restoration
in power and to avoid errors which are apt
to come from impetuosity. He does not
want them to assume any responsibilities
which do not belong to them, or to make
any attempts to do the impossible. Though
1t is assumed that he will be Speaker of the
next House. he has not yet disclosed his
purposes In this particular. 1t is possible
that he may decide not to take the speak
ership. but this is not regarded as at ell
probable The Importance to his party that
the majority in the next House should be
kept In check and guided by a mastery
hand is too evident to admit of his taking
the risk of abandoning that position of
power.
Presidential Aspirations.
While Reed never can be led into saying
anything about his higher ambition-unless
IL Is 10 thoSe cOnTdentlal friends who are
working to bring about its qualification
neither he nor his friends seek in any way
to make 1t appear as a matter of doubt
whether he will stand for the presidential
nomination. Apparently, they will go into
this in the same busnesslike manner that
he went into the fight for the speakership
of the Fffty-first Congress.
At the opening Of that memorable con-
test between Reed and Mckinley the
Maine man had all his plans carefully laid
and never for minute doubted the GER
tainty of his own success. He is in a GER
tain sense a fatalist. After he has mapped
out what must happen" with certain
conditions to start under, the thing Is to
his mind good accomplished. When
he once makes up his mind to thing he
is never troubled by doubts apprehen-
sions. 1t is said that in looking ahead to
the fight for the presidential nomination
he has no fear whatever of Mckinley or
Harrison, but regards Allison as q more
dangerous rival should there be hard