The Portland daily press., 1896-04-24
REED PROSPECTS BRIGHT.
Good News from Washington BY
Massachusetts Men.
ROSE COLORED VIEW OF THE
SPEAKERS CHANCES.

Chairman Lyman of the Republican State
Committee, and Curtis Guild Visit the
Capital and Return Much Encouraged
Boston Herald Interviews Both These
Gentlemen.
Boston, April ga special despatch
from Springfield to the Herald, says:
George H. Lyman, chairman of the Re-
publican state committee returning from
a careful canvass of national sentiment
as it finds expression at Washington,
bears the tidings that in the presidential
nomination race Thomas B. Reed bids
fair to breast the tape first at ST. Louis.
Curtis Guild. Jr., also who was with
Mr.. Lyman at the capital also takes
a rose oolored view OF Mr.. Reeds chances
of capturing the coveted plum, and feels
that the Mckinley supporters ara indulg-
ing in claims which will be rudely laid
bare when the convention casts its first
ballot.
Mr.. Lyman. having accompanied Mr..
Guild from Washington to this city,
where the latter addressed the board of
trade this evening, alighted from the
Wagner coach of the New York express at
the Springfield station this afternoon to
bid au revoir to this companion of the
trip and to clasp the hand of Col. A. Fl.
Goettling, who stood smiling on the
platform.
A Herald reporter aocosted Chairman
Lyman on the subject of Mr.. Reeds
chances In the national convention, and
met with anrenthusiastic response. Ellis
chances are all right" said the helmsman
of the state organization. "Despitc the
CRY of the Mckinley supporters Mr..
Lyman went on to say, the Ohio man
will not be nominated on the first, the
second or third ballot, and, if he isn't,
New England's candidate will probably
be centred upon."
While in Washington Mr. Lyman took
copious draughts at the fountain of
political wisdom and returns with the
firm conviction that Mr.. Reeds strength,
which, in his opinion. has been greatly
underestimated, will be augmented from
this time on.
Assuming that Mckinley is today in
the van, is Mr.. Reed sacond?'' asked the
reporter.
81 cannot answer a question contain
ing An hypothesis which I will not admit
to be true,' was Mr.. Lyman's reply.
ME-, Lyman has conferred with the
leaders of the Allison, Morton and other
booms, and feels assured that McKinley's
friends are rejoicing without their host
in other words, indulging in the practice
| Of counting chickens not yet out OF the
incubator.
To-, - b
t1culars elements of strength possessed by
Mr.. Reed, Mr.. Lyman said that, above
verything, the people, irrespective of
classes, have an unfaltering faith in the
Maine congressman.
There is no doubt where he stands on
any of the vital questions, said Mr..
Lyman. "There is no need to ask what
he will do. Everybody knows what he
will do If nominated and elected. He
will follow the same course he has al
sys pursued"
One other thing was mentioned by Mr..
Lyman. He said that in all his inquiries
he found universal respect for Mr.. Reed.
True, many of those with whom he
talked prefer the other candidates, but
Mr.. Reed. They united in saying that
he had conducted clean, dignified cam
paign, and would come before the con-
-vention without a smirch and above sus-
picion. The feeling obtains-whether or
not it be founded upon fact is immaterial
SO far as its effect is considered-that GER
tain candidates have had recourse to
methods not in consonanoe with the
character of the men for whom they are
working, and this may initiate against
their Candidates at the critical moment.
Mr.. Guild said to Herald reporter
that many Of the delegates to St. Louis
would die in the last ditch before they
would vote for Mckinley, and Mr.. Lyman
seemed to regard the statement as true.
The outlook from all parts of the country
particularly in sections where the choice
up this end Of the campaign with
especial care. In the estimation of men