The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-07
"A Little Bit Of Personal
Mention.
Tom Reed and Senator AIdrich at the
Capital.
The Maine Man and the Rhode Is
lander as Party Leaders.


Special Correspondents Of The News.
WASHINGTON, Jan. There is many
Republican who will wish that he could be
with you when the Lincoln Republicans
meet him at their adjourned reception. 1t
occurs to me to write to you about this
man as he Is, the central figure in Repub-
lican politics now, possibly the leading
candidate for the Presidency, surely
the New England candidate, the big
pugnacious Speaker soon to be Speaker
again. He is an orator peculiarly con-
vincing, as you know-as everybody
knows who has heard him. He lis a
fighter, that is his reputation. But about
Tom Reed personally, as one finds every
day going in and out unconcernedly, l
want to send you word.
1t is undoubtedly true that something
of change has come over Mr.. Reed in
the last few months. The supposition
that he might some day be candidate for
President seemed for many years to be
joke with him. Indeed, he used to joke
about 1t himself, with more wit probably
than anybody else could use. But now
this business is serious, and it is
serious with Mr.. Reed as with his
myriad fighting supporters. So the old
Tom Reed Is somewhat changed. There
Is the same humor in him, the same affa-
bility, the want of affectation which is apt
to characterize the politicians; but the
big ex-Speaker seems to realize that he
also may have a Congress on his hands,
that he is looked to by Republicans
everywhere to give the proper
cue in legislation and in Republican
politics for the next year or two, which Is
either to determine that Republicans will
win In '96 or that they will lose. For,
while now IL seems inevitable that Repub-
licans should win, 1t is nevertheless ad-
mitted-it is feared by some-that
mistakes may be made, that
this tremendous power is the great
est danger and that the most
discreet leadership will be required. In
these lines Tom Reed Is thinking, as his
his friends are and as all Republican
leaders Of consequence in Washington or
elsew here are thinking. -
So ono finds this responsibility of
leadership, and with it no doubt this
honorable ambition to be President
weighing, not heavily upon Tom Reed but
still evidently weighing upon him. He
thinks like lightning and acts without
fear; but many an assault is magnificent
that isn't war, and this Is a two years.
contest; first, of protection against free
trade all over again, and second of
sound finance against wild cat finance
which perhaps after all is but variation
Of the tariff issue but which just now en-
cages the most attention. Who shall
formulate the proper Republican policy
with regard to the tariff, the currency, or
anything? Evidently Speaker Reed will
have much to do about 1t. So he doesn't
rollick 90 much, doesn't have 80 much
fun with his antagonists, seems more
acts with more considera-
tion.
The ex-Speaker lives at the Shoreham,
his very clever daughter, Miss Kittie
Reed, now 10 (but 80 in politics. are with |
him. They help him in every way, especi- |
ally the daughter, with his speeches,
his letters, his policies even. 1t
Is said to be q fact that the ex- |
Speaker never feels quite certain that a
magazine article or a speech or letter is |
all right until 1t has passed muster with
his daughter Kittie. She seems to have |
the very intuition Of politics, and perhaps |
Mr.. Reed feels his own lack In this respect, |
for great as he is intellectually, |
he has never seemed to pay attention |
mnch to the smaller affairs of politics,
which are really all important, especially |
In waging an important campaign, or an
all-important campaign, as one for the
presidency might be. Mr.. Reed
goes over his mail in the morning
Of course. Then he goes to the
Capitol, walking sometimes. You know
what he does there--and he comes down
again. In the evenings he is much invited
out to dinner. lie is always the wittiest
one at the table, always is listened to
without seeming especially to care
TO be listened to. SO though the
Reeds have nothing but the Congressional
salary to depend upon and cannot enter
tain lavishly in return, they are much
sought after in every way; indeed, quite
rs much OF their time rs they can afford
is given 10 these amenities of social life
In Washington.
want TO say a word also about Mr..
Aldrich, your Senator-not that you don't
know all about him. But see he was ut
the meeting of the Young Republicans in
Providence tho other night and take 1t
he may have been the ono TO induce Mr..
Reed to meet the Lincoln Republicans and
speak TO them. But here is this man,
not claiming the arts OF statesmanship,
not lawyer. just q, plain business man.
who really dominates the Republicans OF
the Senate more than any other possibly.