The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-28
The Candidacy of Thomas o. Reed.

The Candidacy Of Thomas o. Reed.
The formal Endorsement by the Re-
publicans of Massachusetts of the
presidential candidacy of Thomas Il.
Reed calls renewed attention to one of
the stalwarts Of modern Republicanism.
Mr.. Reed has been of the dimensions OF
presidential timber for at least eight
years, but was during Mr.. Blaine's
lifetime necessarily pushed to one side.
The presentation of his name this year
by New England may not be followed
by his nomination at st. Louis, but 1t
will come as well-won honor, and 1t
will be milestone in a great mans
steady growth in popularity and favor
| The qualities which have made Mr..
Reed one of the conspicuous leaders of
political activity in his generation are
qualities which command admiration
| but do not inspire fervent enthusiasm.
They rest, not 80 much on personal
magnetism and diplomacy as on sheer
| frmness and abundant, fertile brain.
In great emergency Reed would be as
| tower among men, and would eXer.
| else authority by the very supremacy
| of his militant and aggressive charac-
| teristics. But in an era of complacency
| and calm, like the present, the angles
In his makeup lead men to give their
| preference to some one else--to some
one less positive. less dominant. less
given to the cracking of heads. The in
ferior position which his presidential
candidacy has assumed as compared,
for example, with that of Major Nc
kinley Is not due to any superiority on
the latter's part but in part to sheer
popular delusion as to the comparative
influence of the two men In securing the
enactment of certain protective legis-
lation, and in perhaps greater part to
the prevalent idea that Mr.. Reed is too
much of political pugillst to make a
first-class president.
This later idea comes from the fact
that Mr.. Reeds first rise to national
publicity and prominence was achieved
In connection with his famous battle
over the counting of Quorums in the
house Of representatives. That epi-
sode was merely an incident in his ca
reer and called into play only part of
his magnificent equipment for political
leadership, but it illustrated his daring.
his determination and his invincible
habit of keeping at a purpose until he
accomplishes it. In that protracted
and exciting contest for the expediting
of legislation by the candid recognition
of known facts without regard to ami
able tradition, 1t is we'll known that
Mr.. Reed had to fight not only the
Democrats but also many Of his own
Following. There were times i'm the
struggle when 1t seemed as II the speak
er's defeat were inevitable. A man of
tlmid will would, in the first place.
never have undertaken such q courage
GUS initiative, and in the second place,
II we concede the possibility Of his hav-
ing ever taken such a step, would
speedily have been frightened into in
continent and unconditional surrender.
The manner in which Thomas B. Reed
faced the odds. practically single
handed, and by sheer force Of his in
trepid and masterful personality, drove
the opposition before him exhibited one
phase of his characteristic spunk, his
obstinacy, his self-assurance. But
there are other phases no less valuable
for being less generally understood.
In the popular acceptation Of Mr.. Reed
as party fighter there Is likely to be
obscured or minimized the fact that
he is constructive and an originating
statesman of the very first rank. In
two congresses as speaker he has domi-
mated the situation and practically
edited the work of the various commit !
tees. His touch upon the details of |
congressional work Is more direct than
that Of any predecessor in the speakers
chair. He enjoys the sense Of power |
and likewise the responsibility that goes |
with 1t. He Is in an unusual degree the |
whole Of congress, centered In one man. |
The qualification Of such man for the |
exacting ana wearing duties of the
is self-evident.
Mr.. Reed may never be president. In
point Of actual, net fitness for 1t he is
probably so far above most Of his COM
petitors that this very superiority may |
destroy his chances, as it destroyed the
chances of Clay and Webster and Sew
ard and Blaine. But If he ever should
be elected. look out for an administra-
tion which would move steadily to its
ends though the world in arms were
opposed.
By the way, 1t seems to us that Grov-U