The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-05-25
MIR. REED NADILEMMA
Our Washington Correspondent
Makes Suggestions.
STILL THE SPEAKER HEsITATEs.

Walter weilman Tells what the Bil
Brainy Man From Maine Is Thinking
About-And the Speaker VIII Read 1,
With Pleasure.
WASHINGTON, May es. - Especial. :
| There Is great deal OF discussion here Al
| 20 whether or not Speaker Reed will nc
| cept the vice presidential nomination IN
case the Republican national convention
| proffers him that honor. OF course tn,
| speaker himself refuses to discuss the mat
ter. He Is still "a candidate for first piacs
| on the ticket and could not, with propriety,
take under serious consideration any prop
osition concerning the second place. But
Mr.. Reeds most intimate friends do talk
about IL, and have discussed the matter
with several OF them. The best that can
be- said at this time is that the speaker has
not made up his mind concerning the vice
| presidency He does not want 1t. lt Is
not place which appeals 90 his ambition
| In any way. Yet he may decide to take IL
| In case the party drafts him. He does not
! view the suggestion with the scorn and
| disgust which some people have supposed.
| He does not look upon the vice presidential
talk concerning himself as an Insult, as
| indeed, there is no reason why he should
Three Broad Avenues.
As nearly as can get at the heart Of the
case the friends OF the speaker and Mr..
Reed himself have given up hope of his
nomination for first place In the st. Louis
convention. But Mr.. Reed has not by
any means abandoned his ambition To be
president of the United States. He Is
only waiting and trying TO shape his pres
emit course with that objective point in
view. Considering that he still has White
House aspirations, the speaker now has
before him three courses from which to
choose. These are:
First-To come back tn the house as
the member from Portland. seek re-elec-
ton 10 the speakership and continue bust
ness at the old stand
Second To retire for time from pub
lie life, go TO New York city and take up
the practice OF law with view To the
rapid requirement Of fortune and also
TO mingling ultimately In the politics of
that state, and perhaps becoming the New
York candidate for the presidency in 1900
or 1904.
Third.-To accept the vice presidential
nomination, in case the convention thrasfs-
IL upon him, go to the senate ard endeavor
TO make a record there<
Between thess three suggestions the
speaker kesitates. As to the first, 1t Is
likely Il would be his choice without much
further discussion II he were only assured
of the speakership in the next congress
But he is not. While the probabilities are
he could be reelected, IL is admitted by
the speakers friends that he has made
many enemies during the past winter. In
carrying out his policy he has found Ii
necessary TO offend a great many Repub-
licans. Mr.. Reed is not as strong a leader
now as he was at the beginning Of the SEES
sion. No one can tell how great the oppo
sition to his reelection might be. 1t might
easily become large enough 10 end in his
overthrow, and TO come back to the house
and fail to secure the speakership would
BIO great humiliation, an unfortunate
ending Of brilliant career.
Tired of the speakership.
Even II successful in obtaining the
speakership for another congress, Mr.. Reed
now knows that the speakers chair is not
the most advantageous place from which
TO pursue the presidency. A speaker must
necessarily make more enemies than
friends. He is constantly surrounded by
pressure OF a thousand sorts, and he must
set his face against nineteenth twentieths
of it. The life OF a speaker of the house is
described by one Of Mr.. Reeds most in
innate friends as an approximation to
hades on earth. He knows no rest, no
peace. They are after him all the time
They waylay him on the street, invade his
rooms at his hotel, besiege him at the cap.
itol. THE little bills are always in evil
dence. Mr. Reed has tired of this sort of
thing and it is question with him
whether the game Is worth the candle
The second proposition appeals strongly
to Mr.. Reed. He is poor man. Proba-
bly, els, 900 or SEQ, 900 would cover all his
earthly possessions. He wants money
with which to be independent, with which
to assure the future of his family. He has
been told that he could earn ESQ, 900 OF
$50, 600 year II he were to go to New
York city and practice law. Heis advised
that he could do this, too, without drop
ping out of the public notice. The ex-
perience Of Roscoe Conkling is constantly
held before his eyes by those friends who
want him to adopt this course. Mr. Conk
ling made money rapidly and could easily
have returned to politics had he desired
The argument is that in few years Mr.
Reed could acquire independent means,
and then, by identifying himself with
New York politics, he might reach the
presidency through the commanding in
fiuence which the Empire State holds in
the nation. He would not forfeit the sup
port of Maine and some Of the other New
England states. Mrs. Reed, who does not
like public life, is using her influence In
favor of this course, and IL Is considerable.
Until within the last ten days the proba.
bilities have seemed to favor a decision in
favor Of temporary retirement from the
political arena.
He May Accept Second Place.
OF late, however, It is discovered that
Mr.. Reed has looked with more favor upon
the vice presidential scheme. Every one
here says that unless Reed does something
TO stop 1t the national convention will
nominate him by reclamation, and some
Of the speakers most intimate friends
have about reached the conclusion that he
will not stop It, While he is not anxious
for the place he could accept 1t as evidence
of his devotion TO the party. He could place
1t upon the basis OF obeying command
rather than as thing which he had de
sired. No doubt this would be- wholly cor
rect. Nor can there be any doubt that the
party at large would appreciate the mo-
tres which might induce Mr.. Reed to sac
rifice his pride to some extent in order to
go upon the ticket. 1t would popularize
him immensely. As candidate for vice
president he could stump the country,
thus getting nearer to the people and look
ing to the future. As vice president he
might easily contrive to effect some re-
forms Or changes In the senate along with
the Republican majority which that body
Will have after March next, and In this
way broaden his reputation and appeal
once more to the admiration Of the people.