The Portland daily press., 1896-03-14
CURRENT COMMENT.
THE SILENT TRUSTEE.
New York SUM-


On Tuesday the Republicans of both
Kansas and Ohio declared themselves
for Mckinley. Next Iowa puts forward
the name OF Allison. its favorite son.
New York will be heard from for Morton
one week from next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Hon. Thomas Brackett
Reed continues to attend to the duties of
his cffioe with the regularity of ma
chine.
This tranquility and this eontin ued at
tention to business on the part of the
Speaker must arise either from private
information satisfactory to himself, or
from supreme and disinterested sense
of duty and responsibility to the Repub-
lican party. We prefer to believe that it
is the latter. Writing to the Boston
Daily Advertiser, Congressman Gillett
of Massachusetts presents his picture OF
the Speaker who silently and uncom
plainingly is now bearing on his sholders
the tremendous burden of his party's
future:
LAS working legislator Mr.. Reed is
little seen by the great mass OF Congress-
men this session whether he is felt is
quite a different question. Current
gossip says that he is; that the general
policy OF all important measures is out
lined by him, and that the legislation OF
the session will bear deeply his impress;
that he counsels with the Chairmen OF
all the ranking committees, and that lit
tie which he tdisapproyes will bacon
law. If this ia true it is, in my oplnione
vastly to his credit, for the work OF this
House of Representatives proves great
eng cheering skill and shrewdness. 1t bias
grappled with every problem set before it,
and met emergencies with promptness
and decision. The Senate has, to be
sure, nullified much of Its action, but the
faulty of the Senate should not blot
from recognition the sagacity of the
House. The tactics by which the tariff
and bond issue were mst demonstrated
at once remarkable shrewdness and a
broad patriotism, and no one doubts that
Mr.. Reed was the responsible endorser,
If not the original maker of this policy.
Mr.. Reed has in this session shown tho
different capacity. of outlining and form
ulating the whole work of Congress and
taking comprehensive view of the needs
of the country, and though hostile
Senate has booked his purpose temper
arily,s yet its wisdom is manifest, and he
has shown those qualities of prudence
and energy and sagacity which make a
sound as well as brilliant Chief Execu
| tive
| We print this remarkable tribute from
| most intelligent Congressman because
we believe that it is sincere 1t has a
different ring from Foraker's recent
eulogy or MCKINLEY. The main purpose
of the Hon. Thomas Bracket Reed is
to steer the unwieldly Republican ma
jority of the House through the perils OF
a session Immediately preceding Presi-
dentiai election and to shape the course
in such manner as to render possible a
Republican victory at..the polls in Noyenl-
ber. He is working not Mr.. Reed, but
for the Republican party. If he falters
or falls, not his fortunes alone are blast
ed, but those of Mckinley, OF Morton. of
Allison, and Of Quay. II his hand
leaves the tiller for single instant to
grab for delegates for himself. what be-
comes of the Republican party? What be-
comes of MoKinley's boom, or of Nor
toms boom. or of Allison's, or of Matthew
Stanley Quay's?
The Speaker is the silent aud faithful
Trustee of the interests of all his rivals
| The situation. considered in this aspect
| is certainly unique, and the always large
form of Thomas Brackett Reed looms III
| in heFoio dimaDsinns