The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-02

Was Done In the House-McKinley
Would Make Nice Vice President.
Washington, May 1.-The talk recently
put forth about Mr.. Reed as second on
the Republican ticket comes from the
Mckinley managers. Undoubtedly the
principal reason they have is to help
along their own work by casting doubts
upon the aggressiveness of the Reed cam
paign. They show desire to make talk
upon the subject; and have even gone so
far as to approach Mr.. Reeds friends,
with the obvious intent OF keeping the
subject to the fore. They were promptly
met by the statement that Mr.. Reeds
friends thought Mckinley would make
an excellent second ON the national ticket
with Mr.. Reed as the head. Mr.. Reed
himself has made no statement, because
the proposition is too assurd to be enter
tanned.
The Vice Presidency, while undoubted-
ly honorable,si not such an Office as any
statesman Of the first rank would seek in
| these days. The Vice President draws
a salary OF So, 600 yearly, as does the
| Speaker. oftthe House and cabinet officers.
Socially the Vice President is quite
prominent, largely perhaps because the
office has in recent years been held by
men of wealth with families ambitious
for social distinction. The social promi-
| nence of the Mortons was especially
noticeable during the Harrison admins
tration. But as factor in the govern
ment the Vice President is mere alter
nate. He may vote in the Senate in case
| of @ tie, it is true, but chances for doing
any effective work in this way do not
come oftener than once in a generation.
| When tie occurred in the Senate on
| the passage Of the Walker tariff bill, Vice
President Dallas voted and insured the
passage of the bill. But even that i'm
portant act is remem bered chiefly because
Dallas was Pennsylvania protectionist
and voted against the wishes of his con-
stituents.
There, has been some talk Of late to the
effect that strong man is needed to pre-
side over the Senat g, in order that OBJ
struotion in that body may be put down
% 41As LtCOA Ai1eo POu AZ 0OHh 4iA etAS
House. But the problem in the Senate is
not at all like that in the House. There
the Speaker is elected by the majority,
! and he is supposed to have and does have
a majority back of him in what he does
When Mr.. Reed counted the quorum he
knew that he had sufficient support
provided the members of shis party had
| the courage and will to sustain him.
And, charmed by his boldness and con-
strained by tho chaos which the other
alternate would present, they did sustain
him, although if caucus had been held
before the event it is doubtful if the plan
| would have commanded the support of a
majority Of the Republican members.
| The President of the Senate is not the
| leader of party on the floor. The Sena-
| tors have no voice in his selection, and
| be in turn, has no patronage or power
that weighs with them. The Speaker Of
the House, once seated, holds a lever
which controls vast and indefinite power.
By the rules of the House-rules created
and approved by the wisdom of a century
the members to certain extent deliver
themselves bound to the Speaker. They
must ask, even entreat, his favor, in
order to do the work which their constitu-
situation because the power is in no sense
personal to the Speaker. 1t is a poI'er
| which he exercises in public way for
the public good.
| The President Of the Senate has no
such power. He does mot appoint the
ohair1nen of those committees, and there
fore does not have that body of lieuten-
ants on the floor more or less devoted to
his views and wishes, that distinguishes
the organization of the Honse.
| The NUM- Der Of the Senators-less than
a hundred-also prevents great strug-
gle for recognition which in the House
! makes the Speakers nod SO powerful
| Tt is therefore evident that the Vice
| Presidency is no position for a man who
has been used to exercise power and judg-
mont. 1t may be that Republican Vice
President may at some future time find
himself supported by body of Republi-
| GILL CSH1bct5 SuOuSus uultou OuOuBA
and earnest enough to support him in
striking the shaokles of obstruction from
the limbs OF that body. But that time is
not now, nor will it be in the next four
ears. An able man in that chair mus
be Samson shorn of his locks.
Even the bilndest of the Mckinley
boomers see that Mr.. Reed is man
whose every sentiment and impulse
would revolt at such an office.
On the ether hand Mr.. Mckinley would
be very we'll fitted for the Vice Presi-
dency. His character is not one that
courts responsibility. He is suave, keeps
all his corners we'll sandpapered, and can
plough with horses that pull in both
directions Of the furrow. He would not
be tempted to overturn any traditions Of
the Senate unless tho majority in favor
of such course were obviously SO large
as to make the proceeding undoubtedly
and safely popular
But there is as little likelihood that
Mr. Mckinley would want the, Vice
PrnSidancv Hhot NJ, Dad would Ono